June 6, 2024
Post-'Schitt's Creek,' A Busy Emily Hampshire Captivates in 'The Mattachine Family'
Frank J. Avella READ TIME: 12 MIN.
EDGE: Emily, you're one of those actors who pops up in a show or in a film and you just blow us away with how diverse you are. And your character is usually the one we enjoy most.
Emily Hampshire: That's so sweet. That's really very special. Because (with) every part I do, for the most part, there's something in the character that I want for myself that I don't have. It's less about me putting myself into the character and more that I think they're either the coolest or they're more confident than me or more something than me.
EDGE: Let's talk about "The Mattachine Family." Love the relationship between you and Nico. It's the heart and soul of the film. Can you tell me about establishing that important bond with him?
Emily Hampshire: That's what I love about the script when I read it. And the minute I met Nico there was no work that had to be done. It was really instant. I feel like I naturally get along with people like Nico. It was just instant. And I don't know why, but I feel like we've known each other forever.
EDGE: How did you get involved in the project?
Emily Hampshire: I was going to L.A., and I was sent the script. And at the time, I was very busy. Fortunately. And I was like, I can't do anything. But my agent really pushed me to read the script because he thought it was really special. And I read it on the plane. And I could not stop crying. And I sent the director a video of my destroyed face after reading the script. And I was like, all I wanted was a one-day break, but now I have to do this movie. (laughs) I just felt it was so special. It was so authentic and true.
They made this video, Andy, the director, and the writer (Danny) are a couple, and they wanted to have a baby. It was really personal to them.
EDGE: The film asks these interesting questions about the definition of a family. Really important today when it feels like we're going backwards in so many parts of the world and our country, which makes it all the more relevant.
Emily Hampshire: Yeah. I'm so happy this movie is getting out there now, because we did it a long time ago. And I did a lot of movies since then and this was one that just kept sticking with me. I'm like, when is this coming out? I've seen it and I think it's so important...For me, personally, chosen family is everything. I don't know how you can dispute that...
EDGE: You've always been a great champion of LGBTQ work. Can you speak a little bit about the importance of queer-theme projects to you?
Emily Hampshire: It's the importance of anyone's story being told authentically... There are so many movies out there that are very specifically a cis het person's story. And it's told in a way that then makes it universal. As an actor, that's always a mantra of mine, that when you make something really specific, it becomes universal. And I think that with queer stories it's the same. It's telling a really personal, honest story. The only difference that makes it more important is that it hasn't been done enough. And I think visibility is really everything when you can see something on screen and be like, oh, me too. To be seen just takes any ridiculous shame away and makes it okay to be you.
EDGE: You do a lot of comedy and you're also incredibly adept at drama. I'm wondering if your process and your approach differs for each project.
Emily Hampshire: It does differ for each movie. But there are some tent poles that are always the same, that are usually embarrassing because I do things like make a playlist for my character and, well, I used to cut out magazines, but magazines don't exist anymore, but I make a Pinterest board. There's a lot of nerdy things I do, because that one of my favorite parts. Two favorite parts of acting. It's the before -- the creating and getting ideas and collaborating. And then the 'in the moment,' the chasing that that tiny magic that can happen when you feel something real. But I guess the only difference, though, for comedy and drama is that I think in comedy, I look for the serious thing and in drama, I look for the funny.
When I was shooting "Schitt's Creek," I was doing this other show at the same time called "12 Monkeys," a sci fi drama. But I think I had funnier things in "12 Monkeys" and more heartfelt things in "Schitt's Creek." Because they're not mutually exclusive. When the worst things happen, you need comedy the most. That's usually what I turned to, inappropriately usually, and I get in trouble, because I'm laughing at dark things. (laughs)
EDGE: It's interesting you were filming both together because I recall you're being quite moving in many episodes of "Schitt's Creek," and you were often hilarious on "12 Monkeys!"
Emily Hampshire: I'm so glad you've seen "12 Monkeys," because I love that show so much. That character. I keep feeling like I'll never get anything as great as having both Jennifer, who could be anything, and Stevie at the same time. Yeah, I'd shoot "Schitt's" during the day and 12 Monkeys" at night. That's why my brain, to this day, doesn't work very well. (laughs)
EDGE: In the upcoming film, "Humane," which I've seen, you play one nasty bitch.
Emily Hampshire: Oh, that was fun!
EDGE: Can you tell me a little bit about being cast in that crazy ensemble. You'd worked with Caitlin Cronenberg's dad on "Cosmopolis."
Emily Hampshire: So, Caitlin, I've known for a really long time as a photographer in Toronto. She does all the photos for TIFF (Toronto Film Festival), and we've been friends and she sent me a DM saying, would you be in my first feature? And I said, Yes, exclamation point, exclamation point. And then I was like, ooph, I hope it's good. (laughs)
Then I read the script, and it was amazing. And I was like, well, the only person who can play my brother is Jay Baruchel. We've done a lot of movies together and we've never played siblings, which is weird. Because that's our relationship in life. We're so like that. So, then she got Jay and it just felt like a family affair. It was really fun. It was like doing a play, though I wouldn't call doing a play fun, because I haven't done one since high school and I think I'd be terrified. But in that situation, it was fun.
EDGE: I'm not usually into thrillers but I really enjoyed it–the crazy dystopian future and the post ecological collapse...
Emily Hampshire: I do think that's the future that's not too far off. Frighteningly, so.
EDGE: "The End of Sex" is another gem with a terrific performance from you.
Emily Hampshire: I cannot believe you've seen all my little Canadian movies! Jonas Chernick was the writer and star of that. We had done a movie 10 years before called "My Awkward Sexual Adventure," and this was kind of a spiritual successor of us being older. He's such a great writer. And, again, it's that Canadian thing of my entire career before "Schitt's Creek," which I don't think anyone knows exists! (laughs) But I have been working since I was 12 and it was all doing a movie with one directorN, and they'd hired me for something else and a friend writing something for me. So, working with your friends in this community, in Canada, (was) my entire resume up until "Schitt's," So to get to do that again with Jonas and Sean Garrity, the director, was really great.
EDGE Isn't it funny that one project can happen and just catapult you. And then you have to figure out how to deal with it.
Emily Hampshire: Yeah. I think I was really lucky that I had worked a lot in Canada where it's really blue collar. As an actor, there's no star system. You're working, you're happy. But I'd been in things like Cronenberg's movie ("Cosmopolis"). We went to Cannes. It was with Robert Pattinson. It was gonna be the biggest thing ever. And then it just wasn't. So, you have this kind of roller coaster that you get used to. And in a good way when something like "Schitt's" happens, it blows up out of nowhere! I mean, we were done. (laughs) The show was done by the time everybody started watching it. It makes it a lot easier to deal with, that it's just like par for the course. And you also know that that's not gonna last...Just keep working.
EDGE: Do you have a favorite role--one that has stayed with you?
Emily Hampshire: Oh, yeah. Jennifer, "12 Monkey." What's funny is that when "Schitt's" broke out, anybody I'd meet would expect me to be like Stevie, who's very cool...But they'd get Jennifer! I am much more (her). Also, it was time travel. I got to go to every time period. I got to sing Pink's "U + Ur Hand" to Hitler. I got to do "99 Luftballoons" in German, the greatest party trick I could ever ask for. Also, the showrunner, Terry Matalas, is a genius...Jennifer, I love her so much. We've been talking about trying to do a spin-off of some kind of, like, primary Jennifer thing.
EDGE: That would be amazing. I don't think enough people saw it.
Emily Hampshire: I, too, don't think enough people saw it. And unfortunately, a few years later, when the pandemic happened, it was like it was science fiction when we shot it and then it became reality when that happened, because the whole thing is based on a virus that takes over.
EDGE: Please come to New York and do a play!
Emily Hampshire: Oh my God! I love musicals! I became an actor because I saw "Les Mis," and I wanted to be Eponine. I got the red hat, and I wore it all the time. (laughs) It's funny in "Schitt's," I got to do "Cabaret." Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" was my dream role. Any show I do, at the beginning, I'm always like, maybe we could do a musical episode! And Dan (Levy) was like, yeah, maybe someday. Then when I found out the town was going to put on "Cabaret," I thought Stevie would be one of the girls in black moving furniture. I never thought she would get to sing "Maybe This Time." But to me, the dream come true in stuff like "Schitt's" or "12 Monkeys" is that I know I'm not good enough to do Broadway. I'm not a real trained singer. I'm not a dancer of any kind. But I would commit. I. Would. Commit!
EDGE: But neither is Sally...
Emily Hampshire: I know! That's why I always wanted to play Sally because I saw Jennifer Jason Leigh do it. And she's not a great singer. She's just not. (laughs) But what a performance! It was amazing. You didn't want her to be a great singer. She was just the best.
EDGE: It's back on Broadway as we speak. You should have your team contact the producers!
Emily Hampshire: I'd be terrified. If it ever happened, though, I'd call you and be like, you have to sit in the front row. Every night.
EDGE: I'd be there. So, what's on the horizon? What can Emily Hampshire fans see you in next?
Emily Hampshire: I have the second season of the show, "The Rig," coming out on Amazon in January. That is something very different than anything people mostly know me for. It's set on an oil rig in Scotland. I love that cast so much. It's with Martin Compston and Iain Glen. Everybody's Scottish. I can't understand them. Aside from that, I've been doing a lot of writing. I'm doing a series for Elliott Page. Now that I'm writing I kind of love it. It's the greatest thing. Just being in my own head alone is, like, my happy place.
"The Mattachine Family" is available to stream on all major digital platforms via Giant Pictures.
This interview has been edited for content, clarity and length.
Frank J. Avella is a proud EDGE and Awards Daily contributor. He serves as the GALECA Industry Liaison and is a Member of the New York Film Critics Online. His award-winning short film, FIG JAM, has shown in Festivals worldwide (figjamfilm.com). Frank's screenplays have won numerous awards in 17 countries. Recently produced plays include LURED & VATICAL FALLS, both O'Neill semifinalists. He is currently working on a highly personal project, FROCI, about the queer Italian/Italian-American experience. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. https://filmfreeway.com/FrankAvella https://muckrack.com/fjaklute