Conquering your fears with Lauren Hyland

The pod is back with a fun interview with Lauren Hyland! Lauren dominated in her role has Riley on Candy jar's "Private Lessons". We discuss how she got the role, fighting imposter syndrome, working with Joe Purcell and so much more! Follow Lauren on Instagram: @lolo_hyland

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:11

You guys, I'm super excited for this interview. I have the gorgeous and talented actress, Miss Highland, the star of Private Lessons, here today. Lauren, thank you so much for meeting me today. How are you today? I'm doing great. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so happy to be here. Yes, Lauren is the best, you guys. I literally rescheduled on her and she had no issues with it whatsoever. I felt like the biggest a-hole yesterday. I was like, oh my God. It's like everything was going wrong, and I'm just like, this is gonna be a hot mess, even if I get everything to work.

SPEAKER_01 0:45

It was the ending of Mercury retrograde, so I don't even, I'm not blaming you. It's something in the air. Mercury?

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Yes. Today I felt better. I don't know if you felt better today, but I felt a lot better today. Yes. Well, I am over here fangirling really, really hard because I loved Private Lessons so much that I actually paid for it. And I'm probably gonna pay for it again because I'm like, it's so freaking good, you guys. If you haven't seen it, you have to go see it. I've seen the commercials more and more because I've been talking to you, ironically. So I'm just like, damn, it's good. I need to watch it again.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Why it doesn't happen, though. Every time people have come up to me randomly and they're like, I see you because like we follow each other on Instagram or something like that, and I'm posting about it and they're like, your ad keeps coming up and up and up. I'm like, oh my gosh, this is crazy.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Yeah, they want you to get paid. That's what they want.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Yeah, they want people to see it.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

Yes, exactly. So I do want to ask you, like, how did you get onto this project? Like, what was the audition process like?

SPEAKER_01 1:45

For private lessons. So I had actually auditioned for Candy Jar, the um production or sorry, not the production company, the platform before I had auditioned for Keely, which was another plus size story, I think about now two years ago, but at the time it was a year ago. And so I guess they just kept me in mind for this project up and coming. And they sent an email to my reps, which I thought was super cool. It made me feel like special. I was like, oh my gosh, people remember me. Like that made me feel really good. Um, I was like, okay, I made a good impression, um, which means like the world to me, obviously. And um, I had done like a rush audition. I had gotten a call back and thought I'd bombed. I was like, I'm not hearing back from them. So like, oh, this was like such a cute project, and I literally lost it. Like I just watched it go away from me. I just lost it.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

Oh no, yeah, I definitely get those feelings sometimes where you're just like, I there's no way I got this, but I'm so glad that you did.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Yeah, and then you know, I got the chemistry read for it, and I was like, okay, I okay, I did something right, like I'm just gonna keep rolling with this. And I had the wrong script for the chemistry read too. And I was like, I don't know if the universe wants me to have this. Like, it felt like I was kind of I don't know what happening, but it was kind of trusting me a little bit. And I was like, you know what, whatever happens, happens. I am just gonna do my best, be myself. And if they like me and they think that I'm the right choice, then it's in their hands. Uh obviously from this far. So someone wants me to win, and if it's not my moment, it's not my moment.

SPEAKER_00 3:13

But you're mad. It's that's how you know what's for you is for you because that is crazy. The wrong script, I would have been like, okay, I tried, I'm going home.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Do I just like end the call? I don't know what happened. And then they're like, let's do a cold read. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like that's like the number one thing you should know as an actor. I feel like one of the few things. And I'm like, I am so horrible at cold reading, it's like anxiety. So my gosh. So what exactly is a cold read? A cold read will be like you're given a script and it's the first time you're reading it. So sometimes, yeah, they give you like five minutes to read over it, sometimes they give you like a minute or two to read over it. And I've never had I've never done a cold read for an audition. So it was also my first time doing that.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

So you guys did the chemistry read over like the internet like this?

SPEAKER_01 3:59

Yeah, we did. Basically, my gosh. So I was like, oh, it must have I I wasn't even looking at him. I was trying to read, be into it. But I could hear him, and I was like, I'm just going off of his voice, like, I'm working with his voice.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Yeah, no, he has a very intense voice.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

I know we for seconds, I was like, hi Joe, and he's like, hi, and that was it.

SPEAKER_00 4:22

Yes, no, uh, you guys have such great chemistry. Like, first of all, I want to say I get ads all the time for um like little mini-series like that, and the acting isn't always great. And you guys are a stellar, like, I wish that it was an actual TV show that you guys have. It's I know to get paid. We need to like I actually want to petition for it because it's so good.

SPEAKER_01 4:45

But I did it was funny. You guys had fun on set. We had so much fun, and I I'm really glad that people think that we have great chemistry. I think like for me being in it, I'm like, I can't see anything but myself, and I'm just like focusing on what I'm doing. But to hear that people think we have great chemistry, I'm like, that's that makes me feel even better as an actor. I'm like, okay, I'm doing my job, and he was doing his job, and it worked.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

Absolutely. Did you actually watch it back? Because I know some actors do not like to watch themselves.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Yeah, I normally don't watch anything I do back with one of those people, but I was sent the whole movie. Um, it was sent as a movie, so I was like, okay, as soon as it came out, and I was like, I am the lead in this, so I feel like I need to know what people are seeing. Exactly. I was very nervous about how I was gonna look. I mean, just off the bat, I was like, okay, and I'm worried about how I look, and I'm worried about my acting. And I just was wondering how like the whole thing was gonna go. So I did watch it with my sister and one of our friends, and I just like was walking in and out of the room. I was in that I'm getting the I'm getting the ick, I have to go.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

I'm over here, like, I'm gonna watch this again and again. You're like, I have to leave.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

I'm like, I need a second. And then friends would pull it up randomly or like make me pull it up so that they could watch it and we could have like little watch parties together, which was really awesome. So the more I was doing that and the more it was like popping up on my page, it's been more digestible and easier to watch myself. And I'm right, I'm not really critiquing myself as much now. I'm more so just watching it and seeing what other people are seeing. I'm kind of just enjoying it on my own way, you know.

SPEAKER_00 6:17

Oh, I love that. I totally love that. So, as far as you guys' chemistry, was that instant, do you think, or is that something that you guys had to work towards you and Joseph?

SPEAKER_01 6:25

I think for Joe and I, it felt very easy to connect with him. I felt like it was like easy to talk to him, and um, so I wasn't really nervous. I guess I was nervous as like a plus size woman, how it would look on camera. I obviously like want him in I want whatever counterpart I have next to me to obviously like give the same attention like you would in real life, you know what I mean? Um I was just worried about that. But he honestly is so wonderful and he's a really wonderful actor. So he as soon as we met, like my mind was at ease because I knew he took it seriously. And at our fitting, we met for the first time in real life, and we both were wearing the same shoes. So we were like, it's meant to be.

SPEAKER_00 7:08

That is so cute. I'm sorry, I'm one of those people that like are shipping you guys in my head. I'm one of those people. I'm sorry. The chemistry is just too good. Like, I'm I'm a weirdo, sorry. But no, like I love that, and I love that you brought up like you know, being a plus size actress because I know that I I'm plus size myself, so that is definitely an insecurity about like how you're looking, how it's gonna be perceived, what people will say. Like, how did you work through all of those nerves to, you know, do the job?

SPEAKER_01 7:39

Yeah, I was really nervous because I've done, you know, acting classes and all of that good stuff with other counterparts. And if it's sometimes when it's a romantic scene, if the it feels like if they're not attracted to you in real life, it's kind of nerve-wracking for me at least, like how they're gonna portray it in acting. Um, because sometimes I've heard notes from my partner being like, Can you act a little bit more into her? And I'm like, Okay, that's awesome. That makes me feel great. Thank you. So for Joe, as soon as I met him, and you know, we kind of got to talking and stuff like that and just connecting and being like, Are you ready for this? Like, we're gonna work hard for this. I felt really at ease and I wasn't worried about it. And I think that for me, I just had to remind myself to be grateful for the opportunity. Like, as much as I was nervous, as much as I had like scary and bad thoughts, and I was really, really nervous about how it was gonna look. I had to just remind myself that this was an opportunity that I am so grateful to have and to be given. And it's such a privilege to just spend five days, like literally playing, you know what I mean? And having wow. That was in five days. Yeah, we filmed it in five days.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

That was one of my questions. I'm like, how long did that take? In my head, it's probably like um a couple of weeks to a month, but five days, my God.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

No, five days, 12 hours. Yeah. So it was like, let's go. So the fact that we could make such great connections and have such chemistry in such a short amount of time. I'm like, I just I felt so comfortable with him. And like, as soon as I watched him, I was like, we got this. You know, like you feel good about yourself, but sometimes you're like, you're as good as the next player, you know what I mean? And I I already knew Joe was gonna be amazing. So to just be there and to watch in real life, I was like, I want this to be amazing for the both of us, too.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

And I knew from the very beginning, the first scene. I don't know if you've ever watched um a Cinderella story, but that opening mirrors when Sam.

SPEAKER_01 9:34

I literally didn't even think about that.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

Yes, right. I was like, this is gonna be good.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

Yeah, she's like, that is so perfect.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

It was, and you guys are basically mirroring like the same thing. You're like, um, you're an asshole for taking my spot, and I'm like, this is gonna be 10 out of 10, and it was. Oh my gosh, I love that. I love that. I love that too. I love that movie so much. So after this, because that this has been really successful, at least what I've seen online. Yeah. Have you gotten like any more messages or opportunities or anything from it so far? Do you have anything else coming up?

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Yeah, so honestly, like private lessons has brought me so many blessings and so many opportunities. Like, as soon as it came out, um, someone had they were working um, I think at in New York for at like a college and they wanted to do a student film and they had me audition for it. Like a lot of people have been reaching out to me just to like have me audition for things. And I actually ended up signing with a talent manager too. They scouted me off of private lessons, which is yeah. So definitely more opportunity will be on the way, I think.

SPEAKER_00 10:42

No, I really love that. I really, really do. Because we need more representation um for definitely put for plus eyes, and I really hate that you have that insecurity, like, oh, I hope they're attracted to me because you're freaking stunning. Oh my god, I want your cheekbone so bad, I swear. It bugs me so much that that you even have to question that. But I do for myself as well, because that's just like the world that we live in. So I was just like, I know this girl is so talented and you know, she's stunning, she belongs in front of the camera. Like, look, I I want to be a writer one day, and I'm like, let me write something for Lawrence.

SPEAKER_01 11:18

Please, I would love that. I think that's the most special thing too, when people can think of roles for you. Like that, that's like the best thing ever.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

I would really and while I really did like love the story, there were like a little bit of like frustrating parts for me for what your character had to go through.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

So the scene with like the bullying, how was that to shoot? Was that difficult to shoot for you?

SPEAKER_01 11:42

Honestly, um, for this show, it wasn't bad at all. I filmed a vertical previously, I think a year before this. It's a it wasn't broadcasted as much as this one, and it was very, very rough on me. A lot of bullying, a lot of nasty words. It just it was really intense. And so compared to that, I was like, this is nothing. A lot of you had to say a few nasty things to me, but and she was like, I hate saying this to you, I don't want to say this to you. I'm like, it's okay, dude. Like, I love you. I it's literally our job. And I'm like, I signed up for it too. So um, I think that for private lessons, it wasn't too intense for me personally. Um, there were moments where I was definitely like, ew, like I don't want someone to say this to me. Like, I'm I'm exactly I think that it wasn't as intense as it could have been, and it has been in the past, especially for verticals, because they can be super extreme. I thought it was a I thought that it was a bit kinder, they were a bit kinder to her than they could be. And yeah, I I honestly just was so happy to be there that I'm just like I let that roll off of my back really easily. Maybe not in real life.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

I was like, Wiley, say something, like push her into the thing.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

I'm like, oh, I want to shared to say something bad.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

That is so funny.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

So yeah, when they don't really have a response back, because she never really had too much of a response back to Amanda. It was kind of like but also I was like, oh, this gives me the opportunity to have to play, you know what I mean? And kind of how I would react as Lauren versus how Riley's reacting would be completely different. But I was like, this gives me the opportunity to do what I want to do. I'm like, I'm gonna play the role and I'm gonna give her what she w is asking for, you know what I mean? And you did such a good job.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

But I do have a question for you. Um, how was it doing like the more spicy scenes? I hear like those things can be kind of awkward. Were you guys comfortable or was it a little like funny? Like, how was it shooting that?

SPEAKER_01 13:42

Yeah, so Joseph is actually my first on-screen kiss. And so I was really nervous. I was like, I don't know how because you know sometimes when you watch shows and you're like, hmm, that kiss, like, did you guys want to kiss? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Like that was terrible.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Did it look right, or does it it looks forced? And I obviously already being scared of how it was gonna look. Um, I was wondering how the intimate scenes were gonna look too. And we had filmed there was one day where it was the entire intimacy, like all the intimate scenes. Um, so we kind of just knocked it out really fast. But I wouldn't say I was nervous. I think I was obviously nervous going into it because I'm only thinking about how it's gonna look.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Right.

SPEAKER_01 14:23

Director Thomas really reassured us a lot, like that it's looking good. And I wouldn't say that I felt awkward, because I know that that sounds insane to kiss your your coworker basically and just kissing them and it not be awkward or weird. Um, but we would check in every like every time or like every once in a while, being like, You're good, I'm good, or just like I love that, and check in. Yeah, I think that we both took it very seriously, and he's very seasoned in especially like verticals and doing intimate scenes. So he was very much like, if you have any problems, let me know. And if I have anything, I'll let you know. And we did have an intimacy coordinator there too. So it was a lot of there was a lot of people in the room. It felt it's more mechanical than intimate, if that makes sense. Right. There are silly moments where it's like kid, they're like telling you how to kiss or like turning good, and you're like, this doesn't feel right. Is this gonna look like broken? So that's funny. Um other than that, yeah, we they kind of just let us play and it was very professional too. So I was I was totally good. I was tired, so oh, I bet.

SPEAKER_00 15:31

Yeah, that's a lot, especially because you said you're you guys are doing it like back to back to back. Yeah. And five, I'm still like shocked at the fact that it was five days. Like I literally I hadn't seen Joseph before, but now again, since I've watched it, I've been seeing him in more and more things. Like he's basically becoming the face of which is awesome.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Do you guys keep in touch? We haven't kept in touch too much, but every now and then, like, I'll see posts of him or like see what he's doing, and I'm really happy and excited for him. I think that it's really deserving. Like, he works very hard and he is super professional. And you can just tell as soon as you meet him, like, this is what he loves to do. And I admire people who authentically love their job and put themselves into it. And so it was really easy to work with him. Like, I had no issues at all because I was like, he loves what he's doing, and you just want to be around people that are like-minded like that. So I'm so happy for him, and hopefully our paths cross again.

SPEAKER_00 16:26

I hope so too. Like, I'm writing the show for you guys as we speak, the movie, whatever. Like, we need it, we definitely need more of it. Did you have any inspirations um growing up that inspired you to get into the industry?

SPEAKER_01 16:39

I would say, so I grew up in like the Disney prime Disney girl era. So it was like Miley Demi and Selena. Um, but I would say even before that, I was watching movies like Miss Congeniality and Charlie's Angels. So it was women like Sandra Bullock and Drew Barrymore, all the ladies I think in Charlie's Angels too. They played like these badass women, and they showed that you can have fun, but you also can be taken seriously. And they just showed a range of, I don't know, different things for me that I just really picked up on and connected with. And it wasn't necessarily too much of that specific actor, but I kind of was just like, I want to be doing roles like this. I want to be playing strong women roles and just telling stories like this. And then when I started seeing Disney girls, I was like, okay, I can start young, like I can do the whole high school thing according into that.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

I do have to ask because I know Joseph is technically Miley's stepbrother.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

Oh, did you get to talk to her? No, I didn't even know that until we were like done filming. I didn't know anything until I until I think I saw something pop up and I was like, they're related, or they're they're connected. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

I would have been uh messaging him like, why didn't you tell me that Miley was your stepbrother? Literally. No, that's too funny. That could have been the chance.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

Because all the Disney girls out of been like, Yeah, you started it for me. Hannah Mana. That's how I feel now. Like when sometimes I'm recognized like from private lessons in real life, and or I had like a job previously that I was working at, and people would be like, weren't you in a show? And I'm like, Personality, like, I don't know who you're talking about.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

Yes. I'm like, Yes, I was on anything you thought. Maybe you can get something free from it. Like, that's that's what I heard. Those that's like the best part of being famous is getting free stuff. I know. I'm just like, wait, you recognize me? I'm like, no way. You have a very distinct look, which is we don't see enough of, so I'm just really rooting for you over here. But I do want to ask if there's somebody in particular that you want to work with in the industry, like your dream person. It could be more than one person, too.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

A dream person, I would actually love to work with Amanda Seifrid. I love Amanda. I think she's so beautiful. Michelle Pfeiffer is someone for sure. I've actually I I've loved watching her movie so much. And I'm like, I wanna, I guess she would also be an inspiration too. I'm like, I want to emulate the kind of storytelling she does. I think she does a really grounded job and she's so beautiful at doing this, but she's not playing to be beautiful, she just happens to be like stunning and gorgeous.

SPEAKER_00 19:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

That you can't like that you can never deny her that. Um, Michelle for sure. And I would say a new one would be Jacob Alorgi. He's popping off, but I think that would be really fun to work with him.

SPEAKER_00 19:29

Yes, you guys, because you look tall, at least on TV. That height would be amazing.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

No, but I'm like the same, it's probably the same height difference as Joe, or like the same height as Joe's. I'm like exactly.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

I'm like, we already know what it looks like. We just need an exactly. I'm like, what's happening? And what do you hope? Like, um, this is a completely different question, but your hopes for like plus size representation in like TV shows and movies in the next couple years.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

Yeah, I would hope, you know, I would hope to just see more of it. I mean, there's a lot of things I would love to change, and hopefully we can change in the industry, but I would just love to see just more faces, more new faces. I feel like sometimes there's a reuse. I mean, we see that anyway in Hollywood, a reuse of a lot of the same faces. I want to see new plus size faces. I want to see like a whole new batch of people, men, women, however they identify. Um, and I hope, like for me personally, like speaking, I would hope to eventually just tell stories and have my body not be the topic of conversation. That's what I think is really important with telling plus size stories, is just maybe having a story led by a plus size woman, her living her life. Yeah. Whatever comes along, of course, those conversations are super important, and I think it'll be good to have them. But I also think that was super refreshing about private lessons, as there were moments where you were reminded she's plus size the whole time. It was like, okay, like I'm just watching a normal girl like do her thing, and then I'm watching her interact as a boy, you know what I mean? So that that's super refreshing, it's super fun because then I can just play, I don't have to worry about like keeping other things in mind. And I think that it's also refreshing for a lot of other people to see is just see someone that that looks like them just seeing themselves. And I think that was really special private lesson about private lessons, and I hope that most stories I can tell and that are being told are like that too, where it's like that's not really the topic of conversation, but we can acknowledge it at points if we wanted to talk about it and bring up important things, you know.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

I think you guys had such strong performances that in the comments I don't see anything about it. Yeah, your your body, and I love that. And I'm like, yes, because I was ready.

SPEAKER_01 21:35

Literally, Sakita was like, I'm about to get like ripped to shreds, and that was like my biggest worry. And I I am a comment reader at times, and I haven't seen anything about it at all.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

I was ready to defend you. That's what I meant. Like I was ready to be like, um, actually, you look like a thumb. So what are you talking? And I'm never in the comments, so I'm like, but they're primarily all positive, and everybody's just saying. The same thing about your chemistry, your performances, and everything. So that's how I know, like, there is a lane for you. And I think we were just talking about you know, the stories of not focusing too much on weight. I feel like I don't know if you watch Bridgerton, but Colin and Penelope. We got a little bit of that, I feel.

SPEAKER_01 22:16

Yeah. Oh, that's like in the right direction.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

I was like, that's cute. That season, I love that season. It got a lot of like mixed reviews. I'm like, I think that's some internal, you know, people have some internal issues, but I loved it. Why do you care? I just like don't get it. Just enjoy it. Exactly. And she said some things about that. She's like, I just want to do my job like the same as you and not have to worry about that. So I really do hope that we get more and more of the representation that we both want in the coming future. And I hope you're the face of that, honestly, because you deserve to be. Like, I am writing the story, I promise. It's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

I totally agree. I think it is really important for people to just constantly see people that look like them or people that represent them in any type of way. And I've gotten a lot of comments where they're like, I literally see myself. Like, I feel like I'm watching myself. I get to like it feel safe in this moment in time, just like watching you just exist and like fall in love and have fun. And I'm like, yes, this is this is what I wanted and needed when I was little. So I'm happy that in any way, shape, or form, I can also give that to people too. I didn't think like that's not really what I was thinking was gonna happen and come from private lessons. I was thinking negatively, only negative thoughts about it. But I knew people were gonna watch it for Joe, and I was like, okay, people are gonna watch it. Hopefully they like me. So to see the response is like amazing, and to know that it means something to so many people is just like it makes me feel so amazing.

SPEAKER_00 23:45

You're definitely an inspiration because you have all of these things going on in your head and you're not letting that stop you. And look what happens from it, you know. Now you're signed to a talent agency, and this is just the beginning for you. Like, yeah, there's no way this is it. That's all I know. We're good to see you. If I have something to say about it, I will be messaging them like, where's Lauren? Like, what's going on, guys? I just want to thank you so so much for taking the time out of your Sunday to talk to me. And I hope to interview you again in the future when you have more projects coming up. Yeah, I'm just so excited for you and everything that's to come. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 24:17

I appreciate you so much. It was so nice talking to you and connecting with you. Like these moments where I can connect with people are so special and mean so much to me. So, like, this is something I'll always remember and hold really close to me.

SPEAKER_00 24:28

Yes, thank you so much for taking the time. For I'm a very new like interviewer. I'm very sparse with it. So, you trusting me with it, I really do appreciate it. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

That was nice. It was it's really easy talking to you too.

SPEAKER_00 24:41

Thank you again, Lauren. I'll talk to you later. Bye.