LARISSA CAMPOS TALKS FURIOUS

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

'Furious' follows two women pursuing their own versions of justice, as the lines between right and wrong blur on either side of the law. What of this arduous, complex material made you want to take it on?

What drew me to 'Furious' was the moral complexity of the story. There’s no easy “good guy” or “bad guy”, and both women are pursuing what they believe is justice, even when their choices become difficult to defend. I love stories that make you sit with that discomfort and ask yourself what you would do in their position. As an actor, that kind of complexity is really exciting because there’s so much to discover beneath the surface.

Not holding back any punches in this performance at all, where did you have to go to portray Isabel Luna?

Isabel required me to go somewhere pretty raw emotionally. She carries so much intensity, anger, and determination, and I felt like I had to completely trust myself and let go of any instinct to protect myself as a performer. There were definitely moments where I had to dig pretty deep, but that’s also what made the role so rewarding. I tried not to judge her, but instead to understand where everything was coming from and allow her emotions to be as big and messy as they needed to be.

After a heavy role like this, does the state a performance leaves you in ever stay with you after you leave set?

Definitely. With a role this emotionally heavy, you can’t always just say “cut” and immediately leave everything behind. Sometimes a scene or an emotion will stay with me for a little while, especially if it hits somewhere personal. At the same time, I’ve learned that taking care of yourself outside of work is really important. Whether that means spending time with people you love, listening to music, moving your body, or simply doing something completely unrelated to acting. You have to find your way back to yourself.

'Furious' series creator Elizabeth Meriwether has an interesting voice, spanning from a dark relentless show like this to everything from 'New Girl', 'Dying for Sex' and 'The Dropout'. Inspiring how much range can come from the same creative voice. What stories and characters are you passionate about regardless of genre?

I’m really drawn to stories that have complicated, layered people at the center of them. I love characters who can surprise people, who aren’t easily defined by one thing, and who might make choices you don’t necessarily agree with but can still understand. Genre is almost secondary to me. Whether something is dark, funny, dramatic, or completely unexpected, if there’s emotional truth and something human at its core, I’m interested. I think that’s also what makes Liz’s work so exciting. There’s always a strong sense of character underneath the story.

Speaking of having many layers to talent, you act, sing and you dance?

I’ve always loved performing, and acting, singing, and dancing have really grown alongside each other for me. I don’t remember ever feeling like I had to choose one, they have always felt like different forms of the same thing, storytelling. One opportunity would lead to another. And each discipline taught me something that I could bring into the others. I love that they all challenge you in different ways, and having those different outlets keeps me creatively curious.

A creative life can sometimes be a lonely pursuit. Did you grow up within an environment where it felt supported and like a natural thing to go after?

I was very fortunate to grow up in an environment where being creative felt natural and supported. Having people around you who encourage you to dream big can make such a difference, especially because a creative career comes with so much uncertainty. I think that support gave me the confidence to follow something that did not necessarily have a straightforward path.

Would you like to bring your dancing and singing into your acting and combine all of your creative outlets in one role?

Absolutely. I would love to find a role where all of those parts of me can exist together in a way that feels organic to the character and the story. There’s something really exciting about being able to tell a story through acting, music, and movement all at once. I think each one reveals something different about a character. So combining them can create a really rich experience.