INTERVIEW: Hunter Schafer on her breakthrough role in the most talked-about teen show of 2019

American model and LGBT rights activist Hunter Schafer might have been an unknown performer in the acting world a few months ago. However, her current role on HBO’s Euphoria, has undoubtedly positioned her as one of the youngest actresses under 25 to take note of in 2019.

Hunter let us in on her thoughts about the adults-only teen series, which has just been renewed for a second season by HBO.

What can you tell us about your character, and what issues are they dealing with?

Jules is new in town, about to start on this high school endeavour, and quickly finds a best friend, Rue.

Jules has a routine as far as her sexuality goes. She wants to feel good about herself so she has developed a routine in order to fulfill this, of engaging with older, typically married white cis men in order to reach some sort of affirmation with her femininity.

While she’s got it down to a tee, it’s not necessarily healthy for her; it’s toxic, so when she comes to this town she has an opportunity to break that down.

What appealed to you about the show and how did you get involved?

From the get-go, it felt very real and accurate and something we could resonate with as far as the characters we were going for. This is my first acting gig. It’s wild! I saw the open casting call floating around on Instagram, which trans women were passing around to each other, and a few days later my model agency put my name in and it went from there. These were like the first full scripts I ever read…

How much did you draw on your own teenage experiences in preparing for the role?

I definitely didn’t have a parallel experience to Jules but as far as feeling the way she did and needing affirmation with femininity and how that affects even your subconscious, I got that. I’ve been there and I’ve also brought myself out of it. I don’t think I’m fully ever out of that kind of spiral but I could use that feeling in order to push her further.

What sets it apart from other dramas depicting teenage life?

We’re allowed to be complex in all the issues that it covers. There’s a unique connection to the internet I don’t think we’ve seen quite to the extent that it’s going to play out in the show.

How are you feeling about the show’s release?

My family live in North Carolina on the bible belt. My dad is the pastor of a church. My parents are on board but my dad talks to his congregation and thinking about these congregation members having a viewing party and watching what goes down? It’s a little weird, knowing I grew up with them and they’re about to see a side of me that did not come out at church. It’s pretty cool though; I hope it will be effective in some way.

The first five episodes of Euphoria, the most talked-about teen show of 2019, are now streaming first on Showmax in South Africa, with the last three episodes coming express from the US.