IN CONVERSATION WITH COURTNEY EATON

interview by JANA LETONJA

Courtney Eaton stars as Lottie Matthews in ‘Yellowjackets’, which premiered its third season on 14th February. Hailing from Australia, Courtney booked her breakout role in Warner Bros' massive box office and critically acclaimed hit ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ off of her first audition ever, and has been making waves in the industry ever since.

dress and balaclava PUPPETS AND PUPPETS
bra ERMANO SCERVINO
necklace LOREE RODKIN
rings NICKO REY
shoes PAUL ANDREW

‘Yellowjackets’ has been a massive success, and your character Lottie Matthews has had such a fascinating arc. How has Lottie evolved over the first two seasons, and what can fans expect from her in Season 3?

Season three finds Lottie more in the position of a wallflower. She’s detached herself from the group and herself. Having palmed off the responsibilities of the Antler Queen to Natalie, Lottie is struggling with the guilt that came with her power, and with the loss of Javi and Shauna’s baby. Struggling to trust herself and her connection to the “wilderness”, the big question Lottie tackles this season is who is she at her core. Can she accept herself and her flaws? Is she better off in the wilderness, or going home?

Season 2 was a breakout moment for your character, with the stakes getting increasingly higher. How did you approach portraying Lottie’s complexities and her journey as the Antler Queen?

Lottie is inherently part of me, so I think it’s always been easy to tap into her. I remember blacking out in my callback and I just knew that whatever had just happened was right. We’re on a similar journey of discovering ourselves, so it’s intuitive on set. There are moments where I’m stuck as an actor, for instance, in speeches to the group and feeling the responsibility of others, and that just comes down to the Lottie core feeling of feeling out of her depth and my own. Other than starting a cult and cannibalism, there isn’t too much that differs between Lottie and me, which is sometimes really interesting and fluid or intense and eye-opening.

bodysuit and shoes DIOR
earrings JENNIFER ZEUNER
ring LOREE RODKIN

The teaser for Season 3 promises even more intensity. What themes or dynamics are you most excited for audiences to see this season?

My favorite thing about ‘Yellowjackets’ is that the cannibalism isn’t the darkest part of our show. What excited me this season was the darkness that comes with some of the decisions the Yellowjackets make. It’s interesting that we see the girls perhaps doing things, like the hunts, when they don’t need to. Also, the divide that begins. Is going home really the best thing for them? Who are they truly at their core? I’m most excited about the questions and conversations that will arise for the audience. Who do they side with? What would their morals tell them to do? How would they survive?

The show explores survival, trauma, and relationships in such a raw way. What has been the most challenging or rewarding part of bringing Lottie to life in this unique narrative?

The most challenging part of portraying Lottie is that she is one character that very much walks a fine line of “Is it the wilderness?” Or is she unwell? Sometimes it’s a fine balance of making sure I don’t lean too far one way or the other. I have my own answers to that in my head, but sometimes in the moment, on set, I can second guess myself. I’m a chronic overthinker.

dress VERA WANG
shoes GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI
earrings JENIFFER ZEUNER
ring HANUT SINGH
ring KEVORK KHATCHERIAN

‘Yellowjackets’ has such a talented ensemble cast. Can you share any memorable moments or insights from working alongside your co-stars?

I adore our cast. Because we started filming season 1 during the lockdown, when the borders were closed, we only had each other, and we know each other’s ins and outs, and needs and wants. We function as a family unit. On set, everyone knows how each other likes to work, what we each need. It’s almost unspoken. My favorite moments always tend to be night shoots, when witching hours hit. It’s just banding together and losing our minds in the best possible way. They did such an impeccable job putting the cast together. I can’t imagine anyone else playing any of these characters. Everyone brings their own magic.

dress MUGLER
earrings and ring HANUT SINGH
shoes AGL

Your performance in ‘Parachute’ earned rave reviews, including a special Jury Award at SXSW. What was it like working with Brittany Snow on her directorial debut, and how did you prepare for such a layered and emotionally intense role?

I always say working on ‘Parachute’ changed my brain chemistry. I often find myself thinking about Riley, and how I still feel so connected to her. I truly can’t imagine making that movie with anyone else other than Brittany. She is kind, protective, fiercely smart, and loving. I’m really proud of the movie we made, and the story Brittany told. I was challenged and did things I never imagined I would have been able to do and express without crumbling, and I think that speaks to Brittany’s directing. 

coat and shoes LOUIS VUITTON
bra and panty set HERMES
earrings JENIFFER ZEUNER
rings NICKHO REY

From ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ to ‘Perfect to Newness’, you’ve worked on such a diverse range of films. How do you decide which projects to take on?

As I get older, I find it’s important for me to follow my gut and engage on things that I connect with on a deep level. I always want to be challenged and pushed, and I think the meaning of “challenge” is forever changing for me. I want to look back on my work and say that I gave it 100 % and tried something I would have never expected. Earlier in my career, I was still developing my taste in films and directors. I was also young and didn’t have a sense of self or found my interests and things that make me me. As I move forward and get older, it’s become really important for me to not only figure out what I like within this industry, but also who I am as a person. The more I grow, the more interesting things I can bring to the table and the more open-minded I am to different stories.

Looking back on your first audition for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and your breakout role in it, what do you remember most about that experience and how it shaped your career?

My experience with ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ was unlike anything I think I’ll ever experience again. Even down to the casting process. I was 15 or 16, I had never acted in my life and was a shy teenager. What I think that movie taught me was that maybe some of the things I thought were flaws or weaknesses are strengths. That it’s special I can feel so deeply and empathize with others. That being introverted and a watcher is sometimes better than being the loudest in the room. You learn a lot from being quiet and that quiet doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to say. I got thrown into the deep end, in the best possible way, and it started a hunger in me that I continue to chase. I was incredibly lucky that ‘Mad Max’ was my in to this crazy fun world and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

coat and shorts ZIMMERMANN
shoes JIMMY CHOO
earrings JENIFFER ZEUNER
bracelet and ring POCHE

As an Australian actress breaking into Hollywood, how has your background influenced your career and the roles you pursue?

I think being thrown directly into ‘Mad Max’, although it’s an Australian cult classic, I didn’t really get the experience of coming up through the Australian industry, which I wish I had. I immediately moved to the US, and this being my 10th or 11th project here, I feel like I’ve known nothing else. I’d love to dive into some Australian projects. I think being part Maori, Islander and Chinese, I’m sometimes conscious of things that maybe the industry thinks I can and can’t do. But when it comes to stories I want to help tell, it always just comes down to my gut feeling. 

jacket, short and shoes COURREGES
corset ACLER
earrings JENIFFER ZEUNER
ring HANUT SINGH
ring KEVORK KHATCHERIAN

You’ve been the face of campaigns for Cartier, Chanel, and more. How does modeling complement your work as an actress?

Modeling is a whole other character you get to put on for the day. Especially when it’s in tandem with your work as an actor. It’s a visual playground with different rules than acting, so it’s a fun physical challenge. I’ve come to love it and appreciate modeling and telling stories through still images. Growing up, I think it symbolized something a little different to me, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that it’s such a creative and playful world. I’m always excited when I get to dip my toe back into that world. 

Besides the upcoming season of ‘Yellowjackets’, what’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or personal ventures that you’re excited to share with your fans?

I’m excited for everyone to watch the latest season of ‘Yellowjackets’. It’s unhinged and I know that everyone gave it their absolute all, from our cast, crew, and writers. Personally, and project-wise, I’m ready to send it this year. I want to try anything and everything that feels right. I have some exciting projects I’ve been working on for a while now and can’t wait for what this year will bring.

jacket and trousers AREA
shoes ROGER VIVIER
earrings JENNIFER ZEUNER
rings NICKHO REY

TEAM CREDITS:

talent COURTNEY EATON
photography ASHLEY CHAPPELL
styling AMANDA LIM AT THE ONLY AGENCY
makeup FIONA STILES AT A-FRAME AGENCY
hair DEREK YUEN AT A-FRAME AGENCY
photography assistance JON LEO
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA