ROSE & IVY AnnaSophia Robb On Her Career Evolution, The Roles That Mean The Most To Her and Her Newest Projects 'Dr. Death' and 'Lansky'

It’s lovely To meet yOu! I’d lOve to start by asking when your childhood spenT ACting became your adult dream as wEll?

I ask that question more now than when I was younger because it felt like, of course, I was going to keep doing it. In college, I was asking myself that question, as well, but I was also enjoying myself. Once I was in school, I realized it was what I wanted to do because I loved theater, storytelling and the process of storytelling. I loved collaborating with people and so my interest started to become more mature. I have asked myself, what would I do if I weren't an actor, and I think I would stay in the film industry. It’s a tough business but it’s all about working with other people—it’s about art and being creative in a way that is constantly trying to reinvent itself. When you take from it, it also gives constantly. I love playing different characters; it’s never boring.

Was it a hard decision to step away and go to college, or did you work throUgh school?

I continued to work, but could of would of should of, I think in hindsight 20/20 I wouldn’t have worked, I would have just focused and not concerned myself with working because I was trying to find the balance. I went to Gallatin (NYU’s School of Individualized Study) and they were supportive of my career. I did the show Mercy Street on PBS, which took place during the Civil War and I wrote an entire paper on women during that time period. It was a character study but they encouraged us to use what was actually going on to help your studies. I loved that part of my education but I put a lot of pressure on myself to do both. My best grades were in my senior year when I said, I’m not going to focus on anything else, I am just going to enjoy. I was going to get eight hours of sleep; I was going to stay up late writing papers and I wasn’t going to think about my next project all of the time. It was the happiest time.

I’m sure it can be hard to step away since you said the film industry is a challenging one.

I don’t think I realized at the time what a big deal it was to decide to go to college. I had a lot of momentum and had been building my work since I was a kid, then I had my own TV show, The Carrie Diaries. I don’t think I understood what type of platform it gave me and what a unique position I was in—I was grateful—but I had no idea. My representatives were really supportive but I think looking back and seeing how hard it has been to create that momentum again, especially in a period of time for young women where there are either teenage roles or mom roles. There is not a lot of in between; it can be a bit confusing so to step out in that transition was a bit puzzling but I am happy where I am now.

*AnnaSophia is wearing a top and bottom from Chelsea Mak; shoes by Roger Vivier*

You've had such a great career playing roles in ‘Little Fires Everywhere’, ‘The Act’, and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, What is usually the driving force inspiring you to sign onto a new project—is it plot, genre or collaborators?

It’s a bit of all of the above. I am focusing on material, the script and also the collaborators like, who is the director, the writer or the producer also, who my character would be. Being a lead in something is fantastic but for me I like to be part of really good projects, of course I want to star in something, but it’s also about working with a great group of people. My favorite movies to watch are always ensemble pieces; I love watching all of these characters emerge and overlap. When I was younger, I was a lead in many projects and that isn’t a goal for me now. I ask, who are the other people, even if it’s just a scene, I want to work with them and learn from them.

Was there a role that you signed onto that you felt you grew the most as an actor?

I feel like that has been the case with a lot of roles. Soul Surfer was one, I was 16; The Carrie Diaries was also another big turning point, as well, as Little Fires Everywhere. Those were probably the three biggest transition moments.

What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started?

I’ve had the good fortune of working on great sets with great people. I grew up with my mom on set, she doesn't mince words, I wasn’t allowed to behave badly. I didn’t know a lot and everything felt so new and exciting. I would have told myself, when I was a kid to keep in touch with more people when I was younger to continue to foster those friendships and relationships because it is such a small industry. You end up reconnecting and so many of my friendships are people who I have worked with as an adult but there is a whole world of people I have lost touch with. I wish I still had those relationships.

I understand thaT completely. Now to talk about ‘Dr Death’, congratulations on such an amazing performance. In the 8-part series you portray real life district attorney Michelle Shugart. Can you talk more about playing her ? were you able to connect with her prior to shooting?

I love playing real people, it’s such an honor and I take it very seriously. I love it because if I can pick their brains and try to get to know them and connect to spirit—what their essence is. It’s a lot of fun, especially when the writing is good, the scripts were so fun to read and they captured her so well. Our showrunner and our writers paid so much attention to the real people, so it was easy. I had never played someone who is such a boss; she’s not soft-spoken. There is this scene when she meets Dr. Henderson and Dr. Kirby for the first time. She told them her plan and she said, I might be young and a little too woman for your liking but she kept moving past it. Michelle is that way, she’s like okay, it’s a bit of a man’s world; it’s an intense case with a lot of moving pieces and all of the odds are against her but she stays tried and true, so it was empowering to play her. I always felt hopeful because she was that way.

You’ve said you found this to be an ‘empowering” role because your real life character was underestimated.

Yeah and underestimated in the way that she isn’t trying to prove herself. She knows her own worth so she doesn’t have to prove it, she knows she’s the right person for the job; she will care more than other people and she will go above and beyond for the victims. She is competitive and wants to win. What was really refreshing about playing her was she wasn’t about herself, some characters have this inner turmoil and they want to prove it to themselves, but in her case, she wants to prove the case for the victims. Her whole energy flows out and my job in the scene was to be able to communicate clearly.

What was your process like of getting into the character, did you have to learn all of the legal jargon?

Yeah I had to learn what the hell I was talking about (laughs). My boyfriend is a lawyer, so I had a lot of questions. I spoke to Michelle and had a lot of conversations with Patrick (Macmanus), our showrunner. I did a lot of Googling words, laws, penal codes so it was a basic understanding so I could say things with confidence.

You also star in ‘Lansky’ about the notorious monster Meyer Lansky. It’s a darker role, also based on a true story. can you talk a bit more about it?

It’s a fun mob movie, a crazy sad story based on a real person. I play opposite John Magaro and he is so tremendous. He’s an incredible actor and kind person. I wear this beautiful 1940s wig and have dark brown hair and vintage costumes but she is a tortured soul, but I had fun playing her.

How did you navigate the last year, when the world came to a pause?

The beginning was painful to watch—I felt very grateful for my family, my health and I had a place to stay. Then I felt extremely depressed and disillusioned like everybody and then during Black Lives Matter, it was a whole cultural reckoning and it was just depression and fury. Then I just wanted to be able to do something because not feeling empowered was very frustrating. I realized how much I do like to work and I need to work and to be on set with good people. Also, projects continue to happen, obviously I want to continue to work hard—you need a certain level of focus—but just not burning out. I didn’t know how to use downtime, I still don’t—I was so anxious and didn’t know what the hell to do with myself. Now I have some downtime and I am going to spend time with my family and I am vaccinated so I can travel. I will wait to find the right project before just jumping to do something. The hardest part now of getting back is we were at such a rigorous pace and then it slowed down, but now trying to ramp back up, it’s hard and I don’t like it. I feel like I am way less present. I want to have less because I don’t want to go back to how it was.

I feel that way too, it DOESN'T Feel right to go back to BeiNg overworked. Outside of acting you’ve used your platform to raise awareness about voting outreach and women’s rights. What are you most passionate about today in regards to making the world a better place?

I struggle to find a focus because there are so many different things. It tends to be whatever presents itself and I will say, that’s important and let’s focus on that now. I am working with this company called Wild Elements and we are doing a mini-documentary on The Urban Growers Collective and highlighting their work. They are a community garden based in the South Side of Chicago with eight different gardens. There is something so tangible about growing food especially in low income areas or food deserts—you plant something, you watch it grow and it feeds a family. That is something that is very real.

Follow AnnaSophia Robb on Instagram

Stream ‘Dr. Death’ on Peacock TV

Stream ‘Lansky’ on youtube

A very special thank you to this team. This interview was edited slightly for clarity.

AnnaSophia Robb On Her Career Evolution, The Roles That Mean The Most To Her and Her Newest Projects 'Dr. Death' and 'Lansky'