‘Sex Lives of College Girls’ Is Back: Newcomer Mia Rodgers on Working With “God” (Mindy Kaling), Reneé Rapp’s Absence

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As a young actress fresh off the boat from Essex College, I can confidently say that this role in ‘Student Body’ has been nothing short of life-changing. Coming from a small town where dreams are often bigger than the local fish and chip shop, it’s mind-blowing to find myself in the midst of Hollywood’s bright lights.

Hooray! Fans of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” will be thrilled to know that the students have returned to Essex College for a fresh season full of women’s adventures and escapades.

Following a two-year hiatus, Amrit Kaur, Pauline Chalamet, Reneé Rapp, and Alyah Chanelle Scott reappear as the delightful and unruly girl group consisting of Bela, Kimberly, Leighton, and Whitney in season three of HBO Max’s popular sitcom. This beloved show is the creation of comedy mastermind Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, who serves as the showrunner.

Fans might have been curious as to when these four would be together again and back in their usual chaos, maybe at a peculiar themed fraternity party. However, beginning on November 21st, a fresh episode from the newest series will air weekly only on Max.

The show left off last season with the group finishing up their freshman year, though the loose ends were nowhere near tied up. Whitney catches Kimberly’s kiss with Canaan, unbeknownst to the pair, and she swiftly reneges her decision to room with Kimberly. Bela is fired from college comedy troupe The Foxy and requests a transfer to another school (though, as the season three trailer showed, she recommits to Essex: “This is sophomore year. We’ve got to step up our game,”) while Leighton quits Kappa before reconciling her relationship with Midori Francis’ Alicia.

Fans were disheartened to learn that this would mark Rapp’s final season as the intelligent yet dry character Leighton, with the multi-talented actress-singer choosing to pursue a thriving music career instead. Her flawless comic timing will be greatly missed — so who’s going to take over?

Mia Rodgers, a 24-year-old Brit and recent graduate from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, landed her first major role after just two auditions. She will play Taylor, an international student at Essex College starting her freshman year. Alongside Gracie Lawrence as Kacey, they’ve been chosen to fill the void left by Rapp in The Sex Lives of College Girls.

In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Rodgers opens up about her character and the upcoming season’s developments. She previews what viewers can look forward to as the characters grow older, explains how Rapp’s departure mirrors authentic college experiences (“people move on”), and appeals for patience towards Taylor due to her defensive nature. “She enters the story on the defense,” Rodgers notes. “I believe this is one of the initial instances in [her] life where she encounters love and friendship, and she learns to appreciate its value and significance.

I’m really curious about the process that led to the creation of The Sex Lives of College Girls. It has such an American feel to its humor. So, how did you, being British, end up getting this leading role?

The tone of this is distinctly American and took me by surprise last December. I even received an email, seemingly out of nowhere, saying, “Mia, consider this: ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’. Would you like to record a self-tape? Here’s the scene, here’s the character.” They didn’t reveal any details; they merely mentioned that the character was British. If you dwell on such matters too long, it could be fatal. Then came Christmas, and everyone seemed to have forgotten about it. A month later, in January, my agent phoned me unexpectedly. I thought she was calling about something else at first. But this call was a total surprise – coming from left field. She said, “Hey, do you recall that audition you did a while back? They want to see you tomorrow. Are you available? Don’t overthink it. There are around 30 people auditioning for the role, and this is the second round.

In a rather awkward arrangement, I found myself surrounded by a makeshift setup. A large, aging lamp was my primary source of light, while a piano keyboard, a laundry basket, a tray, and finally my laptop perched precariously on top served as my workstation. It was an incredibly unconventional setup, almost comically so. The call I was in, attended by approximately 25 executives and everyone else involved, was quite the gathering.

That must have been so daunting. Was Mindy Kaling present?

No, she wasn’t on that call. Mindy is obviously extremely involved but she’s honestly like a God, the way everyone looks up to her and loves her. But Justin [Noble], the showrunner, he was the main big dog that gave me my moment. But [Mindy] is super involved in the cast and the edit and in post. She makes those set visits.

I had a really great time [at the second audition]. We were on for an hour and a half or something like that. We did the scene so many different ways, had a great, grand old chat, and then, I called my agent the next morning. She’s like, “How’d it go?” I was like, “Yeah, I just honestly waffled away.” And she was like, “Well, that’s amazing because you got it.” I literally had two auditions. I screamed, and then I fainted. I’m not even joking. It was years of trying and self-belief but also self-doubt, and everything rolled into one just hit me in that moment. I was like, “Oh my God, what do you mean? How is that possible?” But it was amazing. I still can’t believe it.

Were you a fan of the show before your audition?

Initially, I was eager to catch the show when it debuted in 2021, but unfortunately, being from the U.K., we don’t have HBO. Consequently, I resorted to watching clips on YouTube. Later, upon receiving the audition, I searched for it since I assumed they would need a British actor and was delighted to find that it was available on ITVX, which served as a helpful resource for preparation.

The team of writers is truly exceptional, consisting of approximately ten individuals who each take charge of a single episode. This setup is advantageous as it allows various contributors the chance to showcase their creative abilities. They are constantly present on set, consistently introducing fresh ideas, which keeps the atmosphere electrifying and thrilling.

Could you share some additional details about Taylor, who has recently become part of the team as a new, internationally enrolled student?

I adore playing the character Taylor. She’s fantastic! Originating from London, she’s a bit younger than the other characters. Specifically, she’s two years their junior. This places her at a pivotal time in life, around 18, when many people are exploring who they are while attending school and adapting to new environments – in this case, a different country or continent! Her journey is truly captivating, and I believe it resonates strongly with anyone going through the process of self-discovery, especially during those formative years. As for me, I’m still very much on that path at 24.

Through Bela, who’s portrayed by Amrit, she meets the other girls. This year, Bela is serving as both a Mentor and a Companion, or FAF as they call it. She’s like a buddy to a bunch of freshmen, including myself. And let me tell you, our initial encounter was certainly intriguing. Although we’re quite distinct personalities, the contrast makes our interactions really enjoyable.

In this program, each character showcases unique traits – Renee plays the role of Leighton with a touch of sassiness and dry wit, while Pauline portrays Kimberly as sweet but slightly goofy. So, what kind of dynamic does Taylor add to the group?

She undeniably infuses a fresh vitality into the group, carrying a distinctly British brand of humor. Her wit is sharp and understated, which might initially confuse people, but over time, she evolves.

Taylor approaches situations with a guarded demeanor, likely due to past experiences that have left her wary of others. This defensive stance leads her to anticipate negative reactions from people, and in turn, expect the same from them. However, this mindset also paves the way for character development. At a young age and still learning alongside Bela, their initial interactions are strained due to contrasting personalities – Taylor’s skepticism versus Bela’s enthusiasm. They clash at first, but there’s an undeniable connection between them that will blossom into friendship.

What was it like working with all these hilarious women?

It was an exceptionally positive atmosphere that I found myself in. Additionally, stepping into a well-functioning team was quite impressive; everyone already had established friendships and connections, having worked together for four years. This could be intimidating, but the welcoming nature of everyone made it a pleasant experience for me.

We shot in the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank in Los Angeles, which was just insane. It’s so funny, as well, being a Brit and having this idea of Hollywood and Los Angeles, you know — that’s where movies are made! And all that jazz. So when I was faced with that, I was like, “You’re joking me.” I am the cliché. It’s brilliant, but then actually being there is so different to this idea in your head. It’s amazing, but it is also so daunting. You walk in, and it is huge and incredible, and it’s surrounded by this incredible canyon. It has this insane landscape. And you walk in, and you’re just like, “Wow. I feel the history.” Here you have the Friends lot, you have the Gilmore Girls lot. You have Abbott Elementary, which is a huge show going on at the moment, and you’re just going around in a little golf buggy. And I’m like, “what is my life? Pinch me.”

There’s a lot of discussion this season about how Reneé is saying goodbye to her popular role as Leighton. I understand that you won’t be taking over from her. However, could we consider it appropriate to suggest that you are essentially taking up the responsibility she had with Taylor’s importance in the series, in a sense?

In my opinion, if I were to take on the role previously occupied by Leighton in the show, there’s no universe where I or anyone else could fill those shoes. Leighton is an iconic character adored by fans, and I feel that same admiration for her. I was fortunate enough to meet her a few times, although I didn’t get the opportunity to work with her, which was truly disappointing. However, it’s essential to understand that these characters are distinct individuals. It’s not like Leighton is passing the torch; instead, I feel more like I’m receiving an honor, such as knighthood. The reality is that university life is transient, with people constantly coming and going. Though it’s unfortunate, Leighton has so many amazing opportunities ahead, and I’m thrilled to now be part of her journey.

Was Reneé’s absence felt on set?

As a gamer, it feels just like having a friend who’s always MIA from our gaming sessions. It’s that familiar void in the group chat, and I can’t help but miss their presence. Yet, we all remain good friends, and I hope they return soon to complete our squad.

Does Taylor join as the fourth member of the core group?

There’s two new characters this season, myself and a girl called Gracie Lawrence, who plays Kacey. We both come in but have very different places, I think, within the group and the dynamic.

How was it being a student at Essex College? Do you have a favorite day or memory from the shoot?

Oh my word, it’s absolutely delightful there! The atmosphere of the show itself is infectiously enjoyable, which undoubtedly influences how things are managed. What makes it even better is the close-knit relationship between the cast, crew, and everyone involved. It feels like we’re all working together for 16 hours a day, which allows us to build strong bonds. Some of my dearest friends are part of this crew, and we still keep in touch, going out on weekends and such. It’s fantastic! For me personally, joining as the newcomer was like striking gold. I was just blown away by the whole experience. The friendships I’ve made, along with my dreams coming true, makes it a double win for me. Gracie and I hitting it off from the start definitely helped strengthen our bond. And all the other girls were incredibly supportive, taking us under their wings.

I think probably one of my favorite days from set is definitely when we’re all together. I think that’s really fun, just because then we all get to hang out, we get to bounce off each other, and I get to learn a lot from other people. I definitely have learned so much, especially from Amrit. I think because she was who I started off with and I’m very proud of myself, but also this is my first big job, so the whole etiquette of it, like how things are run, or what I can say… I can ask these questions. So that was really important for me [to hear] you can get involved with your character and have an opinion, and people are actually listening to it. That’s the thing with working with great actors and people in this industry: you’re always going to learn something new from every conversation that you have. And I think especially for someone like me, who’s just come off the back of drama school. I’ve done bits and bobs before, but this being my first big job, you learn more than you did at school.

What do you think audience reactions will be from the season ahead?

There seems to be a great deal of excitement for the show’s return, considering the extended wait due to COVID-19 and strikes. From what I’ve observed, everyone involved appears quite thrilled. It’s interesting because although the show has an audience in London, it’s not as big compared to the States. When I travel to the US, I feel a stronger sense of curiosity and anticipation from fans about the show and my character. There appears to be a lot of eagerness, with many expressing their excitement to see the series. I believe viewers will be satisfied as there are numerous developments and fresh dialogues. The girls have grown older, and new characters add an extra dash of energy to the series.

Is this your big break?

Oh, how I long for some divine foresight! This profession is unpredictable, and nothing is ever set in stone. All I can do is maintain an optimistic outlook, cherish the present, and express gratitude for the opportunities that have come my way. I’ve been pursuing this dream since I was 17, and now, at 24, I find myself in a position I never thought possible. Time has flown by, with many ups and downs along the way. It’s all still hard to believe, and I sometimes struggle with feelings of being an imposter. Here’s hoping that the thrill continues!

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2024-11-22 22:55