Linnea Currie-Roberts – All For One

By starrymag | June 1, 2016

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) How did you find out about the series?

A) I got sent out for an audition for Dorothy last summer. I went in and read for that role and I really liked everyone there. I didn’t hear anything for about a month and then they contacted my agent at the time and asked if I would send in an audition for Connie. I don’t remember there being too much detail for her other than “Dorothy’s love interest or crush.” I sent a tape for that and then they asked me to come in for a chemistry read with Gwenlyn [Cumyn].

Q) How was the backstory created for your character?

A) A lot of the backstory was figured out on set as we were doing it. Everything was kind of rushed because at first I wasn’t sure I would be able to do the series and when I found out that I could the read through was the next day. We began shooting shortly after that. It was a lot of fun! Once we got on set, it was figuring out her personality.

Q) What was your chemistry like when you were working with Gwenlyn?

A) I’ve known Gwen for a while. Obviously, it was a different thing getting to know her because I had sort of run into her at auditions for a couple of years and seen her at different events, but I’d never really gotten much of a chance to talk to her. So it was a lot of fun getting to know her. It was really great.

Q) We got to see Connie intermittently throughout the season. Absence definitely made the heart grow fonder!

A) For sure! I think that may have been strategic planning on the writers’ part, which I didn’t really clue into at the time. As I watched the show, I thought, “Oh that’s very smart. Leave people wanting Connie instead of getting bored with her.”

Q) It fueled the Dornie shippers that we got to tease a little bit between these off and on appearances of Connie.

A) I think it was very well done in the way they introduced the characters and then kept people wanting more in terms of everyone’s backstory. There is still a lot to be discovered with all the characters, which is really fun. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to do that in another season.

Q) We know Connie is related to Anne, but we don’t get to see her all season.

A) We used to say that if we get another season, we wondered if we’d get to see Anne or if she’d remain a vision in peoples’ head.

Q) Speaking of people we don’t see, at the end of the finale Monty showed up. It’ll be interesting too to see where that is leading.

A) Absolutely! I’m very excited to see these loose ends where they end up. If we don’t there will be all these questions that remain unanswered. It’s fun though. I feel it is a neat thing in shows because these people are so real and everyone watching knows they don’t exist until you see them on screen.

Q) So many things happen off screen like inner journeys and struggles, we only get these six to seven minutes or so per episode. Where do you really draw from for all of that character growth?

A) I think a lot of it is that they have built this story arc. Shannon [Litt] the director and the writers give hints about what happened, especially if you have a question. A lot of it is sort of making your own choices about how someone lives their life – decisions they have made. Like Connie and Monty breaking up. It is explained a little bit by Connie. There are conversations, but you are filling in a lot of backstory. You just figure it out with yourself. I think that’s the cool thing about not knowing the full story; making those decisions yourself. You can change depending on where the story goes. You can make choices and then realize that you made different ones. So, it’s made to be able to have that sort of control over your own character’s story.

Q) The dorm room feels almost like a character itself. Talk about the role it plays in the series.

A) Some of the other cast members have mentioned that it almost feels like a play because some have scenes all the way through which is very different from filming TV because you chop things up and aren’t always filming in ordering. So, this feels like you are being taken into this world. There are no special effects. This whole environment has been created. It’s neat because I think when we feel that way that the people who are watching can feel that way. And it is really neat to change the white board and put different socks on the House Elves sign.

Q) There are so many underlying themes in “All For One,” what are some of the important messages or lessons from the series that you really hope strike a chord with fans?

A) I think what I’ve always known and love is that the show addresses all of these things. It’s the whole show, but that’s not what it is about. It’s not about the fact Dorothy is bisexual. It’s a feminist show but it’s not this controversial show that’s doing all these things. It is just incorporated into their way of life and these things happen to be important to all of the characters of the show. I think that’s the way life should be and I feel like all of these issues, ideally of course they shouldn’t be issues at all. Obviously they are, and that’s why it’s so important that we keep talking about them and that content is created that addresses them. But I really like that it is these people are just the way that they are. The biggest thing is that when the photos are released and they kick Connie out of the sorority that she is in they address that, but everything else is just sort of a way of life and it’s important to them. I think they are all very positive messages, as they should be. I hope that people can look at that and strive to make that a way of life for themselves and the people that are around them. I think the kinds of attitudes the people have on the show are hopefully what all society can have one day.

Q) Most of your scenes have been in the dorm, do you have a favorite part of it?

A) Throughout the course of the show I spent most of her time in her bedroom, which is okay because I do like sleeping. I’m also a big Harry Potter fan so I like the House Elf sign. I thought that was a really cute touch. The attention to detail is great and Connie always has little jars of pretzels and candies on the table, which I really love. I think that’s really special, but I think the House Elf sign is probably my favorite thing.

Q) What has it been like getting that instant fan feedback social media provides?

A) It’s been really wonderful. I’ve always found that reading the comments section on any kind of videos that fans have been amazing. They are so supportive, loving and investing. It’s just been really great. I haven’t really had a negative experience. They are excited to see content that relates to them so it’s been really lovely. I definitely have tweeted more than I had before. All the characters on the show have their own Twitter, but to see the feedback from all of that has been really fun.

Q) Seeing the trans media accounts tweeting each other as your character and others must be interesting and a bit surreal.

A) I didn’t know that much about web series before this or watch them, but this whole world of trans media, Instagram and Tumblr is really exciting. It’s not new, but it is new to me. It’s a very exciting way to have more content in different ways that people can follow along with and you can see people interacting with all of the characters on social media, which is really fun to watch.

Q) What was your favorite episode to film?

A) I think probably episode two. There is a fun bit where Treville comes in and I sort of awkwardly walk over to Dorothy with the dishtowel. That was just really fun. They gave me some direction and then said to do what feels right. It was just goofy and fun to do. I think that was my favorite.

Q) What have you taken away from your time working on “All For One?”

A) I want to do more stuff like this. The issues that are addressed in the series are really important and are close to my heart. There isn’t enough content in media with these kinds of stories and unique characters. I think I’ve realized that’s really important for me too. If we get another season, I guess I would just hope for more of that, more of the same love and positivity and fun.