Maya Erskine on ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ Emmy Nom, Becoming a Mom of Two and What She’ll Work on Next

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, I can honestly say that watching Maya Erskine‘s journey from playing a 13-year-old on PEN15 to being nominated for her performance in Mr. & Mrs. Smith feels like leveling up in real life. Just like in games, each role she takes on adds depth to her character and skill set.

During a conversation with a contractor, Maya Erskine received a call about the Emmy nominations. “We’re transforming our garage into an office,” she shared. Their discussion revolved around color swatches at that moment.

Erskine, famous for portraying a 13-year-old on the show “PEN15”, has been nominated for her acting role in Amazon’s modern adaptation of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”. This remake, co-created by Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane, is a reimagining of the 2005 film. In this series, Erskine and Glover play John and Jane, a spy couple skilled in combat yet struggling to keep their marriage afloat. The show garnered 16 nominations at this year’s awards ceremony, including one for best drama series.

“Erskine expresses a sense of victory, stating, ‘I’ve already won,’ after being nominated. He finds it hard to believe and exclaims, ‘That’s so unbelievable!’ Now, he feels as though he can relax and rest easy.”

After you joined the Smith family, it seems you played a significant role in shaping Jane’s personality. Which traits or characteristics of hers do you think were primarily shaped by your influence?

Jane’s quirks are a blend of traits from me, Fran, and Donald. My actions influenced Fran, and what Fran produced in turn affected me, creating a sort of dance between us. In the fight scene where John tells Jane, “Fuck you,” and she responds, “We don’t say that” – this exchange mirrors a habit my parents had when they first started dating. During heated arguments, my mom would say, “Fuck you,” and my dad would respond, “Alright, I’m ending it. We’re not going to speak like that.” I found this intriguing and decided to incorporate it into that particular scene.

From time to time, John and Jane’s bond seems almost like a third entity to me. What part of their relationship do you find most intriguing or endearing?

In a peculiar yet intriguing manner, Jane might come across as closed-off in her relationship, but it’s during moments when John teases or roasts her, or when they both share laughter at her expense, that genuine joy sparkles between them. This exposed vulnerability she exhibits, despite her fear, seems to be something she secretly cherishes. The interplay of their dynamic was an engaging aspect to explore.

What’s your process for finding a character once you’ve said yes to a project?

1. The initial step is to read: scripts, treatments, anecdotes – always start here. Then, the key to transformation lies in physicality. I begin by altering my environment, clothing, and posture – all these aspects contribute to shaping who I am within. As I embody the character more, it gradually merges with my true self. It’s quite intriguing to observe this process.

Did your approach to Jane change over the course of the story?

We primarily shot scenes sequentially, with a few exceptions, but it felt like the process itself was reflective of our relationship dynamics. Initially, Donald and I were simply friends exploring each other, gradually developing into close companions. Towards the end, there was greater liberty to portray our hidden, complex aspects. I believe our bond evolved as we progressed through the project.

In your opinion, the series you worked on were particularly intense due to filming numerous scenes with only one other actor, Donald, and in the case of PEN15, collaborating closely with Anna Konkle. Does this kind of close-knit collaboration appeal to you?

I’ve never been posed that question before! It’s accurate. With Anna, there seemed to be an all-or-nothing approach. The same can be said for this show – you put your heart into it every day and rely heavily on the other person. For me, what matters most is collaboration, so anyone who shares that enthusiasm for collaboration truly excites me. And that’s what working on Mr. & Mrs. Smith was like, making it a truly valuable experience.

Have you seen the finished show?

At first, I hesitated. I didn’t want to spoil the enjoyment for myself by overthinking it. However, my spouse was eager to watch it, and I felt a sense of obligation towards the creators who put so much effort into their work. They mean a lot to me, and I was curious about their latest creation. To my surprise, I ended up loving it! It was unusual for me to appreciate something despite my initial reservations.

As a devoted fan, I’m eagerly anticipating Season 2! By any chance, do you have any insights about your involvement in it? Could you perhaps share some updates that might tantalize us fans?

I’m not sure, as I’m not fully aware of the details. I do know they are in a writers’ room, and I suspect they are working on some writing tasks.

Jane differed significantly from the characters you’re accustomed to portraying. What other roles are you eager to explore next?

I’m eager to explore various roles across different genres. For me, it’s crucial that a character undergoes a significant transformation throughout a story. Whether it’s in a romantic comedy or a dramatic piece like “A Woman Under the Influence,” I yearn for complex and multidimensional characters. I thrive on portraying characters that often go unnoticed within society, and I’m excited to bring these diverse personalities to life.

After the birth of your first child, you went on to film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and now you’re expecting your second. Has becoming a parent influenced how you approach your work?

Becoming a parent shifted everything for me. It felt like if I wasn’t around him, then both my work and colleagues had to be exceptional. They needed to bring joy to my day, and that’s exactly what working on the set of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” did. It was the only way I managed to juggle parenthood and my career.

As a creator, I find immense joy in having control over my own writing schedule, a luxury I don’t always get during filming. The freedom it offers, like spending quality time with my kids at home, is something I cherish deeply. Thus, this aspect of my career as a writer has been truly rewarding, allowing me to explore various dimensions of storytelling.

Speaking of writing — any updates on your The Perfect Nanny project you’ve been talking about?

As a game enthusiast, submitting my project to HBO felt like hitting the ‘submit’ button on my latest high-score attempt. The day of the Emmy nominations arrived, and now all I can do is wait and see if my creation makes the cut. They might say they don’t like it, but at least I gave it my best shot, poured in countless hours of hard work to make this happen.

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2024-08-05 21:25

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