Jana Morrison – Astrid & Lilly Save The World

By starrymag | February 2, 2022

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

 

Q) Tell us a little bit about the audition process and landing your respective roles for the show.

A) My agent sent me the audition call in April and the description for the character was feisty and plus size, confident and very smart with a pretty intense sex drive…I was immediately drawn to the character because she sounded a lot like me! A month passed after I submitted, and I hadn’t heard anything until I got a call-back for the show. At that point, I read with a few girls who were up for Lilly. Then on June 9th, which I’ll never forget because it is my mother’s birthday, I got the call that I landed the role. I asked my agent if she was joking but she said it was for real. It was one of the best days of my life!

 

Q) What were your first thoughts upon reading the script for “Astrid & Lilly Save The World?”

A) I thought it was hilarious, heart-warming, real and the parts about opening the portal and bringing in these horrifying and quirky monsters from another dimension were really intriguing to me – I was immediately excited to see how the team would bring it to life.

 

Q) How did you prepare to get into your character Astrid for filming?

A) I read the script a few times and started to pick out different details that were not in the original character description from my audition – I learned that she and Lilly (Samantha Aucoin) were really into spying, Detective Olivia Benson (of “Law and Order: SVU”) and 90s culture. From there I started making a little “Astrid” journal where I would collage and write quotes from people that I thought that Astrid would look up to. I would write about other characters in the show from Astrid’s point of view.

 

Q) In what ways are you similar to your character and in what ways do you differ?

A) Astrid and I have a lot of similarities. We’re both confident in who we are, we are curious and we’re both sex-positive. Our relationships with our moms are pretty similar, especially when I was in high school. I wish I was as science-smart as she is! Astrid always speaks her mind and that’s something I don’t usually do in my life, but I’m learning from her and trying to implement it more in my own life.

 

Q) The show was written and created by Noelle Stehman and Betsy Van Stone, who have an impressive resume of work between them. What was it like getting to work with them on “Astrid & Lilly” and what guidance did they provide during filming?

A) Working with those two is hard to put into words because the amount of love and support that they gave us was the most valuable part of the process. They were on set almost every day – if they weren’t on set, they were probably writing or editing – and whenever they were there, they would always have our backs. They would always be present and be happy to answer any questions about the characters or the show in general. Women understand what other women go through for the most part and having women in the drivers’ seat really made a huge difference in how it was on set.

 

Q) Your characters are the only ones who can save the world and send the monster they summoned back to where it came from. In a world where heroes are overwhelmingly represented with a nearly flawless physique and style, why is it important to you to show that heroes can come in all shapes and sizes and stand up against the Hollywood stereotype?

A) It’s really important to me because in my own life I have heroes who don’t look like your typical superhero stereotype. I think it’s really important for people to see that you don’t have to look a certain way to stand up for what is right and to protect the people in your community. I think it’s important for everyone to see themselves represented on screen. If even one kid can gain some confidence from seeing somebody like them on TV – maybe a Filipina or a kid worried about their look or somebody who sees themselves as a nerd – then I think the show’s already a huge success.

 

Q) What are some standout episodes that you are excited for fans to see?

A) I’m excited for episode 8 – it’s a tribute to a really amazing movie and the monster in that episode is terrifying. The characters’ relationships are really tested in that episode, too.

 

Q) What were some of your favorite moments on set?

A) There were so many – it was such an amazing time! Moments when it was just Sam and me, getting to have fun together, get into our characters and explore the best friend dynamic. And all of the scenes with Ma-Anne Dionisio, who plays Astrid’s mom, were always really special because we had such a great relationship off-screen. It was really nice to have such a nurturing mama there to take care of me when I was feeling stressed or under pressure.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the show “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” that will make it a fast fan-favorite sci-fi series?

A) I think people will really enjoy the fact that these two young nerds are able to defy what people think they’re capable of, what the monsters are going to try to do to us and how we slay them! And I think they’re going to enjoy all the other characters that surround us because they’re all played by incredible actors and the scenarios that we all get put in are nothing like you’ve ever seen before.