A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? I read the pilot scripts that they sent out because thats all they had at the time. Netflix's 'Unbelievable' Retells a Confounding Story of Injustice How could you cast me as as this?. When it came to what was going on inside, it was strange I had recently said to someone that I wanted to play a detective. Im okay with that. Macdonald, a breakout star of 2017 Sundance Film Festival hit Patti Cake$, will next be seen in a starring role in Dumplin opposite Jennifer Aniston. I knew they were going to tell these stories the right way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um4P4b3i-eI&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiewire.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title. [6] Since she began her career, Wever has performed in numerous feature films, including: Into the Wild, Neal Cassady, Michael Clayton, Series 7: The Contenders, Signs, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Bringing Rain, Tiny Furniture and All I Wanna Do, among others. Thats important, because when we see someone who is sexually assaulted or raped, we assume they have to react a specific way. That partly has to do with how Merritt [Wever] and Toni [Collette] respond to the victims. The audio was produced and edited by Jessica Reedy. But obviously, it is such a delicate subject matter. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. I cant be that thing. She wrote back at length and what I took from it was, she can be all the things. She has also played supporting roles in such films as Michael Clayton (2007), Birdman (2014), and Marriage Story (2019). Beth Dubber/Netflix What's more, Stacy's partner on the greater sexual-assault investigation,. I didnt expect me. Everyone experiences very different reactions, and this show does that beautifully. How do you make this entertaining but tell a true story, but also give a voice to victims and survivors everywhere. You know this actually happened to people and I instantly wanted to see where this was going. "It is showing Amber's detectives were educated about survivors, they understand these cases, and Marie's detectives never really had cases like this before, and they didn't know.". With a cast led by Merritt Wever, Toni Collette, and Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable also features performances of staggering realism from its supporting players like Annaleigh Ashford, Jayne Taini, and Danielle Macdonald. I gotta go. The show finds the balance really beautifully. I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of it after talking to them, because they knew exactly what they were doing. Bye. Did you have to paint those conversations yourself with how Eric may have reacted to the assault or did you speak to the writers about that at all? In 'Unbelievable' Danielle Macdonald Gives Voice To - Deadline Unbelievable (2019) Merritt Wever and Danielle Macdonald in Unbelievable (2019) People Merritt Wever, Danielle Macdonald. And I think that that was really key in me wanting to do this. Her character's death toward the end of the sixth season of the series was controversial and sparked outrage on social media with many fans, most notably members of the LGBT community.[15][16][17]. Wever has also had supporting roles in other television series, including Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (20062007), New Girl (2013), and The Walking Dead (20152016). with anything other than the big thing, she says. I had never seen anything that was so clearly from a survivors perspective, and the trauma that they go through. I got to live in this sweet spot where I was able to pay my bills and get some really fulfilling, amazing jobs, but didnt really have to participate in this sidecar. I looked at all different types of trauma. AD: What I think Unbelievable does really well, from the very first episode, is telling the viewer to believe survivors stories. And there was something about making Run that brought into focus how I had internalized those messages more than I realized. I then read ProPublicas article that it was based on and the podcast, so I had a sense where it was going. I might regret saying, but I told someone that being in this business, doing this job meant that I had to agree to get hit over the head with a hammer and I had said, Thats OK. Shes also set for Netflixs Bird Box with Sandra Bullock. Emmys. I know that Amber is not her real name. She is someone who is very easy to feel joy with but this is such a carefully rendered portrayal of this young womans specific pain. Because I get it. The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. Did Amber feel like she needed to react in a certain way? I feel like anything that comes my way is actually a side effect of both Kaitlyn as an actor and Marie the real Marie and its my gravest and deepest hope that Marie somehow knows that any of the light that gets shined on this project is really borne of a deep care for and validation of her. DEADLINE: Next you have Falling for Figaro opposite Joanna Lumley coming up, and French Exit with Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Did you have that thought? When somebody is finally offered what it is that they crave or they need or theyve denied themselves of for a long time, they are not going to be able to keep themselves from taking it. As much as she wants Billy, I think that she also wants to feel like that person again. DM: Id carry it home with me a lot. This site uses cookies to serve you better. And we had briefly spoken about this before, but never in this kind of depth. I think everyone should go and look up the statistics, because thats where I was astounded. Unlike most TV shows, Wever and Gleeson carry most of the screen time together. It's based on a true story about a . I felt that was very important because, while I loved the pilot, it also doesnt focus so heavily on that the entire time so you are able to watch it. He wasnt trained. Aidan! Unbelievable (2019) - IMDb As a result, Marie was charged with a gross demeanor and had to pay $500 for court costs. When Wevers character interviews Amber for the first time, she is standing alone. Why do I have bumps all over my head? Kim Kardashian's 10 Met Gala Looks Ranked After She Walked Yara Shahidi Wows in Mermaid Gown at Met Gala 2023, Manu Rios Shows Off Perfect Smile at Met Gala 2023. Best Dressed at Met Gala 2023 - The Top 30 Red Carpet Looks, Ranked in Order! HBO's Run: Domhnall Gleeson & Merritt Wever Light Up Rom - IndieWire Theres less time with television than with film, I feel like. His battles with the church arent over, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! We filmed in LA, so I was at home. It helps with having compassion and what people have going on in their lives. If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone about sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673. Danielle Macdonald - IMDb I started doing this professionally when I was 15, and my first agent told me, Well, if you dont lose X amount of pounds, youll only ever play the best friend. And I remember thinking, Well, Id be lucky to play a best friend. Because I knew that stuff was bull and because I came from a community and an environment that didnt subscribe to those kinds of ideas, I thought that I could somehow participate in this business without having it affect me. Shes also worked as a social editor for House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook,CosmopolitanandSeventeen. What's more, of the sexual violence crimes not reported to police from 2005 to 2010, 13% believed the police would not do anything to help, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). It was crazy because when youre filming on set, youre surrounded by the same people every day. The true crime series, starring Toni Collette and Merritt Wever, is based on the real-life case of a rape victim the police refused to believe. Merritt Wever is an American actress who got her big breakthrough with an important role in the medical drama TV series,Nurse Jackie. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 'Unbelievable': Danielle Macdonald Joins Netflix Limited Series - Yahoo Details of Macdonalds character are not being revealed. hide caption. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Merritt Carmen Wever[1] (born August 11, 1980)[2][3] is an American actress. I think I internalized that maybe more than I had ever understood before this audition process. Titles Unbelievable. Im holding this bubble inside me and I couldnt let it go. Coming into a show, youre snippets. A lot of it is really heavy and the next time Id have a scene, a lot of stuff has happened, and I had to figure out how Id go from being fine to being at a gun range and hooking up with random guys other than my boyfriend. DM: Eric Lange plays the cop in the first case, and I think of how her case would have been different if he handled it. Starred in "Cavedweller", off-Broadway, with Dee Dee O'Connell. Is it just this cop? Part of it is how we deal with things as a human being and part of it is how its handled. DM: That moment crushed me. MACDONALD: Yes, theyre in post-production. All Rights Reserved. I know everything this girl has gone through and I cant release it because she didnt. She appeared in the films Birdman, Into the Wild, Neal Cassady, Michael Clayton, Series 7: The Contenders, Signs, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Bringing Rain, All I Wanna Do, and Marriage Story, among others. Or you arent speaking directly to the camera. People cope differently, react differently," Kaitlyn says. MACDONALD: I guess I cant really either because that wasnt my experience. If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. A lot of people think they are out to get them and they mistrust them. That shouldnt be something that even crosses someones mind, but it does. Netflix's Unbelievable is based on an ProPublica article - Cosmopolitan In 2019, Wever starred in another Netflix miniseries Unbelievable, opposite Toni Collette and Kaitlyn Dever released on September 13, 2019. When you call your friend to see if you can stay with her, we dont see your face, but we hear your voice breaking. Im also a bit of an introvert in an extroverts profession. Related: Unbelievable True Story: How Marie's Foster Mothers Reacted Netflix's Unbelievable features one of the most promising American actresses in the lead role, and the main female detectives will be immediately recognized by many viewers. I loved it very much. Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, and Danielle Macdonald at an event for Unbelievable (2019) And I am so incredibly inspired by her, truly, for the fact that she did come forward and did speak up. TVLine's Performers of the Year: Unbelievable's Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn You just have to work a little harder. DEADLINE: Was it important that this show was made by women? "I just started watching #Unbelievable and am already so angry. I read a lot of stories about how different women reacted to this. I didnt know anything about my role. Titles Unbelievable. Instead, shes at home and, like the rest of us, struggling to adjust to the bizarre reality of life in a pandemic. And I loved having that energy there. Thats terrifying and changes the course of your reaction. Grant, Chabon, Waldman, Timberman, Beverly and Couric executive produce. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 . The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article by ProPublica and the Marshall project, and an episode of the podcast This American Life, limited series Unbelievable follows the true story of a group of sexual assault survivors and the two detectives (Merrit Wever and Toni Collette) who track down their attacker. JOIN NOW. Thats rare for me. AD: Other than that aspect about the show, what do you want people to take away most from Unbelievable? Won the 2018 Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category for her role as Mary Agnes in. I think that what I do for a living just sometimes brings it into stark relief in certain moments. I found it very powerful. DEADLINE: Theres that scene where Amber is with her boyfriend Eric and we can tell youre silently nervous Eric will judge you for being raped, like its your fault. My whole life doesnt exist when Im on a set. [21][22], In 2020, Wever began starring in the HBO black comedy thriller series Run opposite Domhnall Gleeson. You didnt get to meet the real Amber, but have you heard any reactions at all? Thats not okay. She started her career by appearing in a number of low-budget short films. She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to win an Emmy Award for her work on the show. And thats another level of what people have to deal with after a sexual assault. It was honestly very fun to film and funny, and Jo is hilarious, and Hugh Skinner is amazing. Merritt Wever - Wikipedia Im lucky in that I got to be a working actor for many years and didnt have to do a lot of this. For that reason, the only thing I knew was what I read or heard in the podcast. I was like, Wait, why doesnt this make sense? Merritt Wever. But its new to me. Wever played a lead role in 2017's miniseries Godless as Mary Agnes McNue, a tough leader of a female-dominated town. That was my big thing. But theres something about the way that our business works, and the way that as actors were dependent on other people seeing us a certain way and choosing us, allowing us to do our work, that can sometimes make it OK for people to tell you those things very directly to your face. Titles Unbelievable. It follows the true story of an 18-year-old woman named Marie, who in 2008, filed a report claiming she was gagged, bound, and raped. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. And later there is a scene between Amber and Karen, but Eric is there and talking with Karen about the lack of probability that this guy will be caught. I think we all get the same poison. that you love and care about and being worried about their reaction of you is something that people really do face. After all, a review of research from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) finds that the prevalence of false reporting is very low between 2 and 10%. Danielle Macdonalds portrayal of key witness Amber Stevenson expertly conveys the unexpected aspects of trauma response, in that many people dissociate and are apparently fine instead of breaking down. Merritt Wever Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics - Healthy Celeb I can only speak to my own experience, which has been one of incredible emotional, mental and physical disorientation and grief and anger. Danielle Macdonald, left, and Merritt Wever in Unbelievable on Netflix. It starts with that. If I can keep this together, maybe they can catch him. DM: I didnt think of how she wouldve reacted if her cops were men, but I did think of how Amber wouldve reacted if she had Kaitlyn [Dever]s characters cops. DM: That was what I took most from the show. Jeffrey Mason and Jerry Rittgarn. Merritt Wever, left, and Michelle Dockery in Godless., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, understated but steely performance as Karen Duvall, stunned, 11-word instant classic of an acceptance speech, The unforgettable scene in Unbelievable between Merritt Wevers detective and a rape victim, Review: White House Plumbers reenacts the mishaps of Watergates operatives for laughs, Get ready for the 2023 Met Gala: Heres when, and how, to tune in live, Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon blasted at White House Correspondents dinner, Tom Jones review: PBS Masterpieces latest period drama is laid-back and enjoyable. I think all we can do after that is protect her identity and just really go with the facts of the story and what happened. [10], She has guest-starred on a number of TV shows, including New Girl, The Good Wife, Conviction, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Wire. Timberman & Beverly and Couric had been independently pursuing the rights to An Unbelievable Story of Rape and decided to join forces on the project. Its actually insane. Youre not fine. Danielle Macdonald Rich Fury Getty Images And it truly, really did perplex me, and thats what actually spurred me on to do a lot of research into the effects of trauma, because I think thats the thing that I learned the most about from Unbelievable. DEADLINE: Theres a scene where Ambers describing the rapist to Merritt Wevers character in absolute, calm detail. Amber is very calm and very courteous to her. Out of all the people I know, I know about one person that came forward and someone is in jail for that. If you would like to talk to Joey about cheese, corgis, or Julianne Moore, follow him on Twitter or Instagram. 'Unbelievable': Danielle Macdonald Joins Netflix Limited Series "It's not about men versus women, that's not what the show is doing," she says. And even though this is happening all over the world, Im homesick and heartsick for my city., In Run, Wever stars as Ruby, a dissatisfied housewife who reunites with college boyfriend Billy (Domnhall Gleeson) for a spontaneous cross-country adventure. 'Unbelievable' a credible, exceptional story of the system helping Merritt Carmen Wever [1] (born August 11, 1980) [2] [3] is an American actress. DM: Its strange. She appeared as a guest on the following television shows: Conviction, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Wire. Merritt Wever and Toni Collette play two detectives investigating a series of sexual assaults. By contrast, Jeffrey had only taken on two rape cases before Marie's, while Jerry worked as a technician in the aerospace industry before becoming a detective. Awards Daily: What drew you to this show? Macdonald is repped by CAA, Justice and Ponder and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson. It reminds me of an email I wrote Vicky after she cast me. Merritt Wever is managed by Santa Monica-based talent agency,Innovative Artists. Your arm is kind of draped on him, so theres a physical connection there. It's a difficult watch, but never gruelling, and never sexualised. 4 of 156. It affected my personal life. I feel like its probably one of the biggest shapers of who I am. I think its really important to know that, if you want to come forwardand it has to be your choicepeople will listen. Unbelievable on Netflix cast: Who is in the cast of Unbelievable? Merritt Wever was supposed to be on the promotional circuit for her HBO comedy "Run" this month, hitting the red carpet and dutifully fielding questions at press junkets. Toni Collette and Merritt Wever's Performances in - TVLine This content is imported from youTube. We have since debated fiercely among ourselves to come up with a winning trio whose collective work was unbelievably. He wasnt understanding what I was going through. Honestly, yeah. Deciding to play Amber as smiling and pulled-together post-assault, Macdonald leaned into a powerful desire to give a realistic voice to those survivors whose stories are so often disbelieved. Shes also set for Netflixs Bird Box with Sandra Bullock. Do you ever think of what it would have been like for Amber if the investigators were men? And it felt almost like betraying that truth, if I were to present it that way. The three ladies were also joined at the event by co-star Eric Lange, as well as showrunner Susannah Grant, producers Sarah Timberman and Lisa Cholodenko, and Netflix original series VP's Allie Goss and Cindy Holland. This content is imported from twitter. I think that when you do this kind of subject matter, it is really difficult to make sure that youre telling the story in the right light, and youre really giving a voice to the survivors and not trying to put your own opinion on it. Thats where, I think, the system needs to pick up. For Nurse Jackie she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2013, for Godless she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie in 2018, and for Unbelievable she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Miniseries or Television Film in 2020.[4]. Jamie Bell and Danielle Macdonald pose together as they arrive at the premiere of Skin on Wednesday night (July 24) at The Roxy Cinema in New York City. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich. Its very important that Unbelievable drives home to its audience that not every trauma is the same and neither is the reaction to that trauma, and that is something Macdonald learned while doing research on the real victims. Amber, who is an anonymous rape survivor in the original account, had Detective Stacy Galbraith (Karen Duvall in the series) on her case after reporting that she had been assaulted repeatedly in Golden, Colorado. Having played the role ofnurse Zoey Barkow in the medical drama TV series. In the 1880s American West, murderous outlaw gang leader Frank Griffin hunts for ex-protege Roy Goode. Featured Image by Thomas Attila Lewis / Flickr / CC BY-2.0. After graduating from high school, she got enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. I'm torn all over again," another said. Danielle Macdonald: It was sort of a combination of everything. DEADLINE: Kaitlyn told me she was so grateful to know that having it on screen had actually served as some form of healing. Meredith Blake is an entertainment reporter for the Los Angeles Times based out of New York City, where she primarily covers television. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Both Kaitlyn and Danielle think what's most important is that viewers of Unbelievable learn to accept that not all survivors are the same and that we must take their accounts seriously. So, the first thing I did was read the ProPublica article and then listened to the podcast. 'Unbelievable' Star Kaitlyn Dever and Danielle Macdonald Open Up About Performances like these are difficult to watch but essential, and Macdonald will make you listen and take action. She was raised by her mother as a single parent. The 33-year-old actor looked handsome in. Amber is courteous while she answers Wevers questionsthe trauma hasnt hit yet. It was with women, and that felt right for the story. I kind of used that aspect, as in these are the things I remember because if I remember everything that needs to be said to catch this guy, thats the right thing to do. All Rights Reserved. Promoting a show wasnt my responsibility. I was fascinated by that choice. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}'NCIS' Fans, Mark Harmon Made a Huge Career Move, See Iam Tongi's Journey on 'American Idol', Kelly Clarkson's See-Through Look Is Going Viral, Read 'Jeopardy! Plugging a show would be tricky for any actor right now. [12] Wever received widespread critical acclaim for her role on the show. Parker and Pruitt portray real-life investigators Sgt. She also "listened to the woman with a sense of alarm.". I finally found myself in a room of people who werent telling me that I couldnt do this or couldnt be that. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant, CBS TV Studios, studio-based producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly (Masters of Sex, Elementary) and Katie Couric. I thought that was something amazing. Marvel's feedback: 'I was kinda sweaty. With a cast led by Merritt Wever, Toni Collette, and Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable also features performances of staggering realism from its supporting players like Annaleigh Ashford, Jayne Taini, and Danielle Macdonald. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Born Name Ive actually thought about that place a lot over the last few weeks, as whats happening has exposed more and more. I am having to explain to someone how rape cases are handled so insensitivity by police in America," one viewer tweeted. Godless: With Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever. And I think that that was what I really loved about this story, is there are people that are out there fighting, which is important. I think I was prepared to come in every time, and it was just about creating what I could in my own life and coming in with that. Love is in the air at the Water Cooler this week. Its such an exceptional premise and was almost overburdened with possibility and potential.