They also touched on the show’s on-screen representation and how the series handles Lissa’s mental health.
How did you navigate that dynamic?
Sisi Stringer:I had read the books and loved [them].
That was definitely something I loved.
I went back to that stuff during the audition process to refresh the subject matter.
But I’m a fan.
I’ve been a fan.
It almost felt like a respectful thing to do.
I was like, “You have to.”
But I still ended up watching the movie.
Stringer:We all did, as a guilty pleasure thing.
You see it in the costumes, in the sets, in the things that they’re going through.
Their dorms and their houses are so luxurious; they’re castles and things like that.
Everyone has a million bunk beds in one tiny, cold room.
It’s cool that you get to see it represented aesthetically.
Did that help prepare you for the incredibly tense fighting scenes Rose has?
Stringer:Absolutely, but I did have to learn how to learn again.
I’ve got it.
Don’t worry."
She taught me so much, and all of them were amazing.
Drew [Liner] was there for me all the time.
We had most of our initial fight scenes together, and he was really generous and supportive, too.
It did help, but also it made me too confident.
Nieves:Sisi is really good at things a lot …
I don’t know how to explain it.
She looks like Rose.
She looks like she could kick my ass any day.
I’m like, “Are you okay, princess?
Can I get you a Band-Aid?”
She’s like, “What are you talking about?”
Can we expect to see Lissa struggle with mental health throughout the show?
Why do you think that’s such an important subject to tackle in media?
Actually, you do see more of hermental health.
We use fantasy, and there’s a literal reason why she’s having mental health issues.
But [they’re] small ways to tackle important issues that really do happen.
It’s definitely important to see that in media.
It doesn’t feel like tokenism or anything like that.
I have always wanted to see myself as the hero, and now I’m watching you do it.
It makes me feel like I can."
This interview was edited for clarity.
