Hysteria! Star Julie Bowen Talks Doing Her Own Stunts, Shoulder Pads & Cutting Off a [SPOILER]?!

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in various worlds and time periods, I found myself captivated by Julie Bowen’s transformative performance in Peacock’s new series, Hysteria!. The 80s nostalgia was palpable, and as someone who lived through that era (albeit a bit younger), I can attest to the authenticity of the shoulder pads and hairspray.

As I dive into the chilling world of Peacock’s latest series, “Hysteria!” (streaming now!), I can assure you that Julie Bowen’s character, Linda Campbell, is a far cry from Claire Dunphy on “Modern Family.” Linda is a suburban matriarch living in the quiet town of Happy Hollow, Michigan. When bizarre occurrences start happening around her, she finds herself questioning the boundaries of reality. Is it supernatural powers stirred up by Satanic worshippers, or just her overactive imagination? Either way, I can’t wait to see how this tale unfolds!

Bowen, a multiple Emmy-winning actor, shares with USA Insider that he feels drawn to Claire Dunphy yet yearns for a change. He expresses, “And oh, what a change this is!” Since taking on the role of Linda, a character whose mental stability is at risk, is something he hasn’t experienced before.

Matthew Scott Kane, a co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer, points out that they didn’t cast Julie in a role similar to Claire Dunphy. Instead, they intentionally cast each actor in a way that contrasted their usual roles on the show.

It’s fortunate that Bowen appears completely devoid of any demonic control, as she joins our Zoom meeting for a chat about diverse topics ranging from shoulder pads to trimming artificial ears.

Julie Bowen talks doing her own stunts and cutting off body parts in Peacock’s new Satanic Panic series, Hysteria!

Is there any particular explanation why the ’80s, at present, seem to be experiencing a resurgence in popularity? I’m curious about the reasons contributing to this nostalgic sentiment towards that particular decade.

Julie Bowen: In those days, cell phones and computers were scarcely available or had very limited capabilities. As a result, everyone found themselves immersed in the present, which created an environment conducive to storytelling – where false information could rapidly spread like an uncontrolled blaze. Today, we witness this phenomenon on the internet, but back then, without any other resources, experiencing it firsthand was incredibly impactful.

What was it like immersing yourself in the retro time period?

Back then, shoulder pads were definitely a distinctive feature. They were the essence of the era. Wearing them brought on an unmistakable style with a generous dose of hairspray. Once you put them on, your hair became rigid and untouchable due to its stiffness. It required dedication to maintain that look, but it was enjoyable. It was a great time. We were in a small town in Georgia that seemed trapped in the past, making it easy to slip back into that atmosphere.

Is it difficult for your character to endure all that strenuous activity on the program? I’m curious, how did you prepare for this demanding, largely-physical part?

It’s surprising, but that’s where I felt most assured. Our director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, had a vast experience in big-screen movies, so he was meticulous with all the charts and storyboards. Everyone was anxious about my using a harness, but I reassured them, saying, “I’m quite robust!” They nicknamed me ‘Sturdy’ throughout the production. Despite my confidence in handling physical tasks, I wasn’t certain if I could endure extreme scenarios. However, it seems… maybe I can handle the unexpected as well.

Any fun behind-the-scenes anecdotes from filming?

In my real life, I have three lads who are teenagers. Whenever I wasn’t working, I’d hop on a plane to head back home. If there were any mischief or antics going on, either on set or off, I might have missed them. Being more of a caregiver, I was concerned about seating arrangements when we went out for dinner. It seems I wasn’t too involved in the wildness or chaos if it occurred. However, let me tell you, Nolan North is quite the joker! The fun we had together was priceless. We’d be filming intense, emotional, and psychologically demanding scenes, but when they said “Cut,” I’d burst out laughing and laugh some more. That man deserves recognition for making me laugh so much during challenging times.

What was it like “cutting off” someone’s ear?

That was quite a struggle! I hadn’t thought about it until you mentioned it just now. It was incredibly tough because the fake ear they created was easily cuttable, yet the glue used to attach it to the real person’s ear wasn’t. So here we had this intricate ear connected to live blood, the whole works, and I couldn’t manage it. We rehearse it multiple times, not due to any flaw in the ear’s construction, but because the glue wouldn’t yield. You never know what obstacles you’ll encounter on a film set, but I appreciate such challenges. With so much reliance on CGI and visual effects these days, I find it refreshing that there are still handcrafted elements like this.

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2024-10-18 23:01