INTERVIEW: Holland Roden Talks About Her Latest Movie ‘No Escape,’ Future Projects, Her YouTube Channel, ‘Teen Wolf,’ and the Message She Hopes to Give Fans
Holland Roden continues to amaze with every role she takes on and is constantly making each one of them memorable in her own unique way.
The actress is best known for her role as the lead female, Lydia Martin, in the hit MTV series Teen Wolf. The show aired for six seasons and had a huge following. She most recently starred in No Escape, which is out now. Holland was also the lead in SyFy’s Channel Zero and Amazon’s Lore, which was based on the popular podcast of the same name. She freshly starred in the CW pilot Jane The Novela, a spinoff of Jane The Virgin. The actress also wrapped Escape Room 2 not long ago for Sony Pictures. Read our exclusive interview with Holland below to find out more about No Escape, her acting journey, what genre she’d like to explore in future projects, her YouTube channel, Teen Wolf, new projects, and more.
GLITTER: Where did you grow up? Are you still there now?
HOLLAND: I grew up in Dallas but have lived in Los Angles since college.
GLITTER: How long have you been acting?
HOLLAND: About 12 years.
GLITTER: Do you remember your first role? What drew you to it in the first place?
HOLLAND: It was this dark comedy called 12 MILES OF BAD ROAD for HBO. Ironically it was about Dallas – I was so excited because I got to work with Lily Tomlin and Leslie Jordan.
GLITTER: Your newest film, No Escape, just premiered in theaters, drive-ins, video on demand, and digital. What was your favorite memory from filming the movie?
HOLLAND: The cast melded so well- everyone was such a team player in front and behind the camera.
GLITTER: What do you love most about the horror and thriller genres? How do you separate yourself from the subject matter when filming a horror film? Especially with psychological thrillers or horror films, it must be hard.
HOLLAND: I just filmed a movie about the law enforcement that caught Ted Bundy – that definitely gave me nightmares for weeks. Otherwise – no, I can keep it pretty separate from my life.
GLITTER: Is there a genre you’d like to explore more for future projects?
HOLLAND: I would love to explore the 1700s – a period piece from that time in Europe. I’ve been reading a few books about that time period and what the average women’s life was like and I find it fascinating.
GLITTER: How do you prepare for a new role?
HOLLAND: It honestly depends on the role – every role is very different.
GLITTER: Has a script ever made you emotional when reading it for the first time? If so, is that an instant sign that you want to play that character?
HOLLAND: Absolutely! It depends on the characters arc, but most likely if it moves me I want to be a part of it!
GLITTER: You also have a new YouTube Channel called Holland Roden x Hollandays. What made you want to start a YouTube channel?
HOLLAND: I have wanted to build a tiny home/van for years and learned so much from watching other peoples’ builds. I thought with Covid happening, it’s the perfect time to go for it and document my journey especially for someone with zero building experience. Hopefully, it will inspire others to do the same!
GLITTER: You were part of the virtual Teen Wolf reunion over quarantine. What was it like getting to get the cast back together like that? Also, we have to know what drew you to play Lydia in the first place? Did you have to do anything in particular to embody her character? Do you think Stiles is still with Lydia now?
HOLLAND: I get to see a lot of the cast on a regular basis so it wasn’t that abnormal to see everyone. Still, during COVID-19 we talk all the time even if we can’t see each other in person. Haha, who knows if they are together still – Possibly running a detective agency and getting paid for their work in beacon hills, is what I say! I loved that Lydia was not the typical archetype of the ‘popular girl.’
GLITTER: What do you hope that Lydia taught female viewers watching?
HOLLAND: How to let your walls down is, I think, Lydia’s strongest characteristic that really grew over the course of the show that I hope viewers got to learn from. I loved that she always knew the answer as well!
GLITTER: Did the Teen Wolf set feel like home to you after being on it for six seasons?
HOLLAND: It felt like my college years – my actual college experience was quite lonely and just consisted of working and studying. Thus booking this my senior year in college was such a blessing and to then have a blast on the show made it an amazing experience.
GLITTER: You were the lead role in SyFy’s anthology series Channel Zero. What was that experience like for you and what was your favorite part?
HOLLAND: I loved the people involved on this project- having a sister on a project for the first time in a long time was quite lovely for that connection. I feel like Olivia and I could be actual sisters. Arkasha and Nick created such a bizarre quirky and eclectic horror piece. I was honored to work for both of those brains – they are so special.
GLITTER: You were in Amazon’s Lore, which is based on the podcast. How did you prepare? Did you listen to the podcast before auditioning or after you got the role?
HOLLAND: I definitely got a voice coach and did as much research about Bridget as possible. I was honored to be an American on a mostly British and Irish cast.
GLITTER: What is the most challenging thing you had to do for one of your horror genre projects?
HOLLAND: I’m usually decent at stunts and my biggest pitfall was struggling with a stunt in Escape Room 2. I just couldn’t get it – it was the first week of filming – I was mortified. It’s my job to do my job and when I couldn’t jump high enough and fall the way I needed to…I cried for days haha.
GLITTER: What is the scariest horror film you’ve seen and why?
HOLLAND: Hmmmm….MOTHER was pretty horrifying because it was a mirror onto our society with social media and narcissism…I found it fascinating.
GLITTER: What attracted you to the CW pilot Jane The Novela? What is filming a pilot for a new show like?
HOLLAND: Well first off Jennie and Brad are such fun bosses to work for!! I loved the dark comedy aspect – playing Marcia Cross’s daughter was also a dream.
GLITTER: How have the virtual conventions differed from the in-person conventions? Are they as effective?
HOLLAND: I really miss the in-person ones :-/
GLITTER: Is there a special fan moment or experience that really stuck with you?
HOLLAND: Everyone has been incredible – but when people make art of Fievel (my dog), it’s my Achilles’ heel.
GLITTER: You’ve used your platform to discuss very important topics such as The Black Lives Matter Movement and voting. What is your reasoning behind that?
HOLLAND: Because that is my duty when I have a platform.
GLITTER: Also, speaking of voting, how important do you think it is for young voters, and voters in general, to get out and vote this election?
HOLLAND: With 15 million turning 18 – it is everything! Literally.
GLITTER: Have you had to film anything during the pandemic and, if so, what were the safety precautions taken?
HOLLAND: Yes and it was beyond safe. We were actually the first of 4 films allowed to shoot in Los Angeles. We had zones, shields, the works.
GLITTER: What was your quarantine like? Was there anything that you have done that you usually wouldn’t have time for normally?
HOLLAND: Build a van haha.
GLITTER: Any hidden talents?
HOLLAND: I’m left-handed, O negative, green-eyed and red-haired – I don’t know if it gets any more recessive! 🤦♀️Not necessarily a talent.
GLITTER: What message do you hope to give fans looking up to you and following your acting journey?
HOLLAND: Keep living an interesting story.
GLITTER: Daily beauty routine?
HOLLAND: Nothing in particular. I feel healthiest when I’m exercising.
GLITTER: Favorite current song?
HOLLAND: The band – “Atlantic City.”
GLITTER: Most recent book you read?
HOLLAND: Catch Me a Killer by Micki Pistorius.
GLITTER: Favorite snack?
HOLLAND: Cherry Lemongrass & Coconut Kombucha.
GLITTER: Coffee or tea?
HOLLAND: Both. Very much both!
GLITTER: First place you want to travel when everything gets better and it’s safe?
HOLLAND: Paris.
GLITTER: What is one role that you’ve done that will always hold a special place in your heart?
HOLLAND: Lydia of course! Bridget is a close second.
GLITTER: What pushes and motivates you on a daily basis?
HOLLAND: Fievel and that fact we get to be on this earth healthy and breathing.
GLITTER: Best advice you were ever given?
HOLLAND: It’s a privilege to get to live.
GLITTER: How would you describe your fashion?
HOLLAND: Non-existent haha.
GLITTER: One highlight of your career so far?
HOLLAND: Being a part of the Teen Wolf family for almost a decade.
GLITTER: Glitter has a celebrity #SelfLoveCampaign. What does self-love mean to you?
HOLLAND: People put so much emphasis on looks – To me, it’s just not top of the priority list – I hope we start to raise girls with just a different mindset of what they value when they think of themselves.
GLITTER: Any projects you’re working on next? Can we see Escape Room 2 soon?
HOLLAND: Yes in 2021! I also have AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN coming out as well- and lots of traveling in the van!
GLITTER: How can fans follow you on social media?
HOLLAND: Hollandays on YouTube is where I am able to interact with people the most and on Instagram – @hollandroden
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