We had the amazing opportunity to speak with Annette Reilly, who is appearing in Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” Check out the interview below.
Hi, Annette! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your role as Sabrina Spellman’s mother in the Netflix Original “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” What should the audience expect to see in this series?
Thank you so much for the interview offer! It’s always a fun thing to meet new people and chat about Sabrina. 🙂
What should people expect to see in the series?… I would say, lots and lots of magic! In so many ways. The writers have worked magic, the production designer, the costume designer… really, every department has been working their magic to create a truly unique and special show. And then, of course, there’s all the fun spells and trouble that Sabrina gets into throughout the season. I can’t wait for people to see it!
Tell us about your character.
I play Diana Spellman, Sabrina’s mother. She is the mortal component of Sabrina’s dual nature. Diana died in a plane crash when Sabrina was a baby.
Was it a challenge to play your character? Did you have to pull from experience?
Some moments were more challenging than others, but as a whole, I feel like Diana and I share some pretty fundamental characteristics which mean I don’t have to stretch as far to bring her character to life. The fact that I’m a mother, and have a beautiful daughter, definitely means that I pull from that experience to enhance the relationship between Diana and Sabrina.
How did you get the role?
I auditioned, of course! Hahaha. It was all pretty secretive at the time. I knew I was going out for the new “Sabrina” TV series, but the role was just “mother”. There were hints in the audition scene that it was Sabrina’s mother, but nothing was confirmed until probably a week after I got the role.
The audition itself was pretty fun. I had a horrible morning leading up to the audition. I mean, I didn’t even brush my hair that day! My daughter, who is normally in great spirits, was a mess and crying all morning. I was missing my production work to be there. I just wanted to get it done and be on my way! Hahaha.
Oh! I also remember thinking that the audition scene reminded me of an audition I had when I was 16 years old. It was a really similar scene. They really liked me for that role back then, but because of circumstances beyond my control (that’s a whole other story), I didn’t get the role. The CAOS audition was redemption for me. I went in there and it felt great. I was laughing with the casting director, Sean Cossey, afterward about the crazy things actors have to do in auditions and how crazy we all are for liking it so much!
What do you enjoy most about your character?
I love the strength that Diana has. You have to be strong to marry a powerful Warlock, join a coven of witches, and still hold your own, you know?
What is going to surprise people about your character?
I think the first reunion between Sabrina and Diana will be a surprise. The location, the circumstance, and the mystery behind it will all be a fun discovery!
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybKUX6thF8Q”]
Without giving too much away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue and why?
Do you mean one of my lines or any line in general? There are so many good lines…Zelda has some of my favorites. My favorite line of Diana’s in the first season has to do with what happened to Sabrina when she was a baby. I can’t really say the line without giving a bunch away, but it has to do with Hilda and Zelda and something they did. That’s the thing with my lines. They tend to be snippets of information about Sabrina’s past. They’re all spoilers!
What was your favorite part about season one production?
There were so many great things that happened… I’m really not sure how I can choose! There was one day when most of the main cast was there for the whole day and we had so much fun. It’s incredible being part of a group of such kind, funny, and talented humans! But….if I have to choose just one thing, I’d probably say my friendship with Georgie Daburas who plays Edward Spellman is my favorite part of season one production. We’ve really gotten close since we started filming. Getting a friendship like that out of a gig is one of the best things that can happen!
In your opinion, what part of the series is going to blow people away and why?
I think the overall vibe of the show will be what blows people away. As I said, it’s unique. This show feels different than anything else ever made. There’s inspiration from other shows and movies, but CAOS is it’s very own thing.
The subject matter of the series is on the intense side. How does the production bring something fresh to the story?
This is Sabrina as you’ve never seen her. She’s darker. More complex. She is modernized and brings relevant issues to the forefront, fighting against patriarchy and questioning the status quo.
I think the team has also done a great job of incorporating horror elements without making it overly scary. There’s definitely great homage paid to classic horror films.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about the series?
It’s been an incredible experience and I can’t wait for season two! Fingers crossed 🙂
You founded Exeunt Productions, the umbrella in which you directed and acted in “A Typical Fairytale,” a short film partially funded by Telus Storyhive and “For My Daughter,” a documentary that emulates an intimate portrayal of her cancer journey, slated to begin its festival run this January 2019. Tell us more about “A Typical Fairytale.”
I also produced “A Typical Fairytale”! Remind me never to wear those three hats again at the same time…
“A Typical Fairytale” has been my passion project the past few years. The writer, Jessica McLeod, approached me about producing it when the script was a finalist in a local short film competition. We didn’t get that prize, but I knew this film had to be made. I spent the next year and a half developing it and attaching different people. It really has been my baby.
The film is a quirky take on the classic fairytale narrative, but with a twist when the princess tells her parents that she is actually a prince. The story unfolds as the parents figure out how to take this news. It’s a film about love and acceptance… and it’s all in rhyme! I like to say it’s a mash-up of Disney and Wes Anderson. They were definitely my artistic inspirations.
The Storyhive version can be found online, either on the website (https://www.storyhive.com/project/show/id/3683) or on their Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=A_CbmxjqCAQ) or on the Storyhive Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/storyhive/videos/vl.265733597391090/528187160966365/?type=1). We are currently adding a few more touches to the film for the festival run, which will begin January of 2019! We’ve already had over 11,000 views, but I can’t wait for more people to see it. I really am proud of what the team put together.
Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share that we haven’t mentioned?
I always have projects on the go! Haha. I have a short film that is a darker take on the fairytale theme that was found in my last short. This one is written by the very talented up and coming Abbey St. Brendan who story edited “A Typical Fairytale”. I am also developing a feature film based on a Shakespearean play with my talented director friend Kevin Bennett (who is currently working at the Globe Theatre in London), as well as an LGBTQ period piece feature set in 19th century America. These are all in early development at the moment. I’m focusing my attention on finishing up “For My Daughter” and doing the festival run of “A Typical Fairytale”.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do
If I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would travel the world with my family. I love exploring different countries and learning about different cultures. I want my daughter to grow up with an understanding of the world that I never had at her age.
About Author
