IN CONVERSATION WITH LIZZY CAPLAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Lizzy Caplan is starring in Netflix’s ‘Zero Day’, a high-stakes tech drama, premiering on 20th February. Her performance in ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’ earned her widespread acclaim and a recent Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Some of her best known roles include her breakthrough role in ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Cloverfield’, ’Bachelorette’, and ‘Cobweb’ amongst others.

full look PRADA

Your performance in ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’ earned you a Primetime Emmy nomination. How did it feel to receive such recognition for your work, and what does being nominated in such a competitive category mean to you?

It felt grea. I was totally surprised, it was definitely unexpected, but it mainly felt great because I loved making that show so much. I believed in that show so much, I was so proud to have been a part of it. Being nominated in such a competitive category meant it was pretty unlikely I'd win, so that should have increased the overall chill level of the experience, but sadly, I find very little chill in stuff like that, regardless of my odds.

We’ll soon be seeing you in ‘Zero Day’, where your role as a congresswoman at the heart of a global crisis is very different from Libby in ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’. What drew you to this role, and how did you prepare to play such a high-stakes character?

I think anybody who reads the paper and watches the news has ideas in their head about what they would do if they were in the seat of power, making the decisions. Exploring the inner machinations of how the government works, while shooting in some of those real locations, was a thrill and fascinating, and definitely left me grateful for my day job, which includes making exactly zero decisions about how this country is run.

full look CHANEL
rings E. LUNTZ
tights stylist’s own

The show is described as a high-tech drama with global implications. Can you give us a hint of what we can expect from your character, and how will her expertise and personal stakes drive the story?

I kind of can't, but I will say I thought the writers did a great job weaving together the emotional and the practical, the personal and the professional for my character.

As someone who’s known for playing such compelling characters in different genres, how do you find the balance between portraying a character’s personal journey while also staying grounded in the high tension of a tech thriller like ‘Zero Day’?

I mean, that's kind of the whole gig, you know. Trying to bring humanity to every character, regardless of their station, regardless of whether or not you personally agree with the choices they make. You play the person, not the job title. Everybody's a human, after all.

left:
full look CHANEL
rings E. LUNTZ
tights and socks stylist’s own

right:
full look VERSACE

sweater and skirt RACHEL COMEY
rings E. LUNTZ
belt DIOR vintage
loafers PRADA

With the increasing relevance of tech issues in today’s world, do you think this series will raise important questions about privacy, security, and technology in a very timely way?

I think it will. I think it will likely frighten people, it certainly frightened me.

Your career spans a variety of genres. How do you decide which roles to take on, and what is it about a project that makes you excited to sign on?

A variety of things really. Will I feel challenged? Do I think I can bring something to the role? In this case, I would have stood in the background saying nothing for 6 months just to work alongside Robert De Niro and Joan Allen, and everybody else in this insane cast. So that definitely plays a part as well. Also, now that I have a family and more logistics to juggle than I used to, the job has to make sense on a life level as well as solely on a creative level.

full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

How do you deal with the pressures that come with high-profile roles, especially when expectations are high, like with your Emmy nomination and the buzz around ‘Zero Day’?

I'm much more focused on the experience of making the thing than the result, the reception. Being on set is truly the only part of this job I love, the rest of it feels like the "work" part. As an actor, you have so little control over the piece as a whole, so I just want to get something out of the part I do have some sway over. The rest of it, whether or not something is successful, seems to be a combination of timing and dumb luck.
When you’re not working on intense roles like Libby, what are the things you enjoy the most in life?

Good food, long dinners with big laughs with the people I love.

After ‘Zero Day’, what’s coming up next for you? Any exciting projects you can share with us about?

Stay tuned.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent LIZZY CAPLAN
photography and direction KOLBY KNIGHT
art direction INGA ODETTE
styling ANNA KATSANIS at Walter Schupfer Management
makeup GITA BASS at The Wall Group using ELLEN MCGUIRE and BIOEFFECT
hair JACOB ROZENBERG at A-Frame Agency using RŌZ
director of photography NICK KOROMPILAS
film editor SHANNON MESERVE
hair assistant MICHAELLA GARFINKEL
music БУДЬ СО МНОЙ СТРОГОЙ by VIA TATIANA
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN