Linnea Currie-Roberts – All For One

By starrymag | June 1, 2018

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) What I loved this season is we got to see so many new dynamics within the group and everyone really had so many layers added into their characters. When you first read the scripts for season two, what were some of your thoughts?

A) I really liked Connie’s arc this season. I definitely can connect with the feeling of sort of floundering and then finding yourself in a position of working towards something you don’t want to do. So, I really liked that was portrayed honestly. [laughs] I read episode eighteen where Connie and Dorothy have a huge fight and I was like, “Oh no! Everyone is going to be so sad!”

Q) At the end of the season Connie really has gone through a lot of self-discovery.

A) It’s nice to see her taking charge of her own life. I was very happy that is how it ended up at the end of the season.

Q) What was the breakdown for Connie you were given for season two like?

A) Honestly, nothing. It wasn’t until I got the scripts that I knew what was happening with her and we got them pretty close to filming. There as not much prep time in terms of that.

Q) The beginning of the season there was such a lot of love and optimism and then midway through everything shifts with the election. We saw Connie go through a bit of a crisis with juggling so much in her life and her relationship with Dorothy faced a lot of turmoil. Can you talk about filming with the feel and tone of the season?

A) I think that the season benefited because of the way we shot it since they were single takes. It’s unlike most shows where things are filmed out of order. Obviously, we didn’t film every episode in order, but any scenes where you are going through an emotional arc you are doing that in real time, so I think that makes it a lot easier than having to switch back and forth. To my memory, filming a lot of the heavier stuff was done about the same time so we got to sit in one emotional place through the course of the day instead of jumping back and forth. It made it a lot easier on us.

Q) The house was divided most of the season due to the elections. Even though Anne is Connie’s cousin, the two don’t even interact as much. It was kind of nice that the house didn’t really come down on Connie because of her cousin.

A) I thought it was interesting that there wasn’t much interaction between Anne and Connie, which I thought was funny. But I’m definitely glad for that. [laughs] Anne was a big source of drama this season so in that way Connie was winning with all of her jobs since she got to avoid it.

Q) What I liked a lot is there was this really big flip for the audience when it came to Anne. In season one we built her up as this incredible inspirational woman who even though she was never on screen was a fan favorite. Then in season two she turned into kind of a villain and see a whole new truth and side to her.

A) I thought that was really fun. I didn’t expect it at all, but I thought Anne was a really delicious character in Erin who plays her. I’ve known her for a long time and she is just the loveliest person that you can imagine so it’s really fun to see her play…kind of…I’m sure not at the core an evil character, but probably through insecurity and anything else the character putting out not the best vibes to the people around her. So, it was really fun to watch Erin play that and she did a great job. I love the character of Anne. I think it adds something really different to a group of people who are all pretty great in general.

Q) For Montie we never saw her either in season one and she was kind of disliked by the audience, and then in season two she turns things around and she becomes such a fan favorite.

A) Oh yeah. I think that was really fun and I’m sure very much on purpose by RJ and Sarah to play with our emotions throughout this season. [laughs] But it was great. Both of them, Anne and Montie, are just very dynamic and interesting characters. I think that human beings are like that. You are going to go through love-hate relationships with everyone and I think that both of them can be very loveable characters, but obviously have their flaws as well. It’s been very fun to see that explored throughout the season.

Q) In the beginning of season two we see Dornie in this love bubble and then as the election goes on we see their relationship may not be as solid as we thought and we saw a lot of angst develop between the two. We see them from being smitten to struggling. Can you talk about the evolution and relationship arc we got to see for these two this season?

A) I don’t even know what to say! I sort of feel like with any relationship anyone has in their life that it can be easy to take them for granted sometimes. I think that definitely happened with Dorothy and probably with Connie as well as they got involved in the campaign or her job. I think what it came down to was really needing to listen to each other and spend time with each other. It’s really important to spend time to talk to the people in your life who are important to you. I think that’s sort of what they come to realize at the end of the season, but I guess at the beginning that wasn’t happening. Maybe had they done that Dorothy would have taken a step back from the campaign and that Connie would have realized that she wasn’t doing what she really wanted to do in life a lot sooner. I think it was a good representation of a relationship. I think that’s what happens in a lot of different relationships. You take each other for granted and you might actually be communicating, but not talking about what is going on. There were a lot of comments from people, especially after that big blowout fight. I’ve had arguments like that in situations like that with relationships. So, it was a nice honest portrayal of that it is important to be with your partner and listen to your partner.

Q) What really stuck with me this season was the theme of mental health. The speech and conversation with Connie and Alex really touched me. It’s such a relevant and relatable issue and I thought it was phenomenally well done.

A) I think it’s just done so well in the show. These are issues that are more relevant today than ever before. I could almost repeat the same thing about the relationships as these are issues that are important and discussed without judgement. People should know there are people out there (strangers, but also people in your life) that care and want to listen. We’re not as alone as we might think, even if it is a scary and intimidating time. I really liked the moment in the show where they are talking about making mental health the focus of their campaign and then it comes out that a lot of people have had situations in their lives that would connect with that and why it would be so important to them. So, I thought that was really beautiful and done in a really great way. It’s very topical and very important. It was really brave writing and I’m really glad it was a part of the season.

Q) In the finale we see Connie is going to be leaving for France and she comes to understand that not having a plan or direction doesn’t have to be a bad thing. That you can learn and find out a lot about yourself through being spontaneous.

A) I remember a trip I took probably five or six years ago to New York and I only had a few days. I meticulously scheduled everything to the second – where I was going to go, what I was going to do and how to get there. Some of the things I did was really great, but it was just so restrictive that when I came back I swore that I would never do it again. I think for me, personally, it is helpful for me to have a little bit of structure. I went traveling in Central America a few years ago and I had a rough outline of where I wanted to go. There were a few things I wanted to see and a few places I really wanted to go. Other than that, sometimes I’d just get on a bus on the middle of the day to another city and it was intimidating and scary, but a lot of fun. I think for everyone, no matter what your personality is, it can be such a release when you are experiencing things you hadn’t if you had been so structured. Also, the problem with things being so structured out is that things are going to go wrong and if you’re not someone who can go with the flow a little bit it would be very devastating. I think that’s what Connie was really struggling with. I completely understood because as I said I’ve been there, but when you make the decision to allow things just to happen you can really have a lot of fun and benefit a lot from the experience. So, I hope Connie has a wonderful trip to Europe! [laughs]

Q) I absolutely loved the live episode and couldn’t believe the election ended up being that close. We got to see Connie fight through some nerves, Montie step up to the plate and take charge, and we got to see a lot of great campaign reflections as well. Can you talk about what it was like filming this special episode?

A) I definitely got a few messages asking if Connie is nervous or Linnea nervous? [laughs] So, I guess I did my job well because I wasn’t nervous. I thought that was so much fun. I had a really great time doing the live episode. Good practice for Connie right before her voyage. I think it did as by the end of the episode we see her relaxing a tiny bit. I’m sure she will continue to freakout, but as with anything humans are so funny as we get scared about so many things. The one thing that might scare me might not scare you at all. It’s just so interesting what terrifies different people, but when people try new things they see, “I can actually do this, even if I make a fool out of myself,” – something Connie definitely did a few times.

Q) There are so many amazing intricacies and small details that really went into this season. Can you talk about some of the small, smart touches that we got to see and the details that RJ, Sarah, and everyone involved put into this season?

A) It’s interesting, as I said, we didn’t really get much time in terms of talking through what was the character arc in the season and stuff like that. We have such a tight filming period that there isn’t much time to sit down and have those sessions. But, as you said, it’s sort of evident in the writing and the finished product. I cannot imagine writing that much material and having to answer to different people to get it on various platforms. I just have so much respect for them. I think they are both so talented and funny, but also really able to delve into various sensitive subject matter like we saw in this past season. They bring it all to their work and I’m excited to see what they both go on to do next. I think we’ll see some really exciting things from them in the next few years.

Q) In the final episode Dorothy is given her grandmother’s diary and we kind of see things full circle in a sense for her. In season one she talked so much about her grandmother and now she will finally get a glimpse into her grandmother’s life at MST. Unless Lola Fronde has something to say about it…she seems like one bad glitch.  What did you think about the big twist?

A) I really didn’t know what to say. It was a completely unexpected twist at the end. It was really fun, and I like how the last episode took on the flavor of a horror movie. It was like a totally different genre! I’m super curious. We weren’t told anything beforehand. The only hint we had beforehand was that they were teasing about a new character. I think, originally, they were going to have Lola in the second season and then they decided not to, from what I understand So, I didn’t know who Lola was and then they brought this character on as this mystery twist at the end. I’m just as curious as you. It was a lot of fun to do.

Q) I always appreciate the clever call backs and bread crumbs we see with this series.

A) It was very clever and definitely left people wanting more.

Q) What do you hope that fans have taken away from watching this season?

A) For me, even just communicating with people who have enjoyed the show over the last couple of years it’s really wonderful for me to make something that impacts any life in a positive way. Whether it is just simply because they enjoy the show because it brings a moment of light and happiness before they go to work or it makes them feel like they do have help if they might be struggling with mental health issues…there is no better feeling than to be a part of a show that has positive messages and representation, which I know we do. So, to be able to show that to people and have it make a positive impact. However it does that’s all I want and I’m really grateful for that.