(We’ll never forget the timeBellisario starred in an episode of “NCIS,“though.)
Her latest project follows Bellisario’s Deb, a woman whose pregnancy is nearing its end.
(Oh, yes, and she died at their home.)
Troian Bellisario:My God, so much.
Cheryl Nichols:Okay, tease.
Bellisario:We’re really good at teasing.
Nichols:Also, pregnant ladies smoking weed.
Have you been teased?
I know you have children, Troian how has that experience helped you in this role?
Bellisario:It helped me immensely.
I felt much more body, let’s say that.
She said, “Let’s not make this glossy and beautiful.
Let’s show them what it’s really like.”
So that’s what we did.
Nichols:It’s true.
You are always very beautiful though.
It was kind of annoying.
Bellisario:Oh, thank you.
Nichols:We had to work around it.
I was like, “Can we … let’s get her down.”
Bellisario:Take her down.
Then you would come and be …
Bellisario:Strip her down.
That’s what we had to do.
Is that something you’ve thought about as a connecting thread through your work?
Nichols:That’s such a cool take on my work.
Thanks for saying that.
It was why I went to acting school and all of that.
I can’t help it, but it’s who I am.
I think that comes through in what I’m working on.
I also think that that’s how I want to portray women.
It’s how I see myself.
I like characters who are heady but are struggling against that.
It’s something that …
I don’t know.
It is very cerebral, but it’s also a weird, funny little body film.
Both things are true.
What is your approach as a director to bringing that human experience to life on the screen?
I love watching actors create a character.
That lends itself to a more real but also interesting and fun scene.
That was such a good answer.
Bellisario:I completely agree.
Nichols:Aw, thanks.
I was a huge “Pretty Little Liars” fan for its full run.
Bellisario:Thank you!
Bellisario:It was a real pleasure, particularly because once you …
The best thing was …
This is much closer to who you are.
This is much closer to how we experience you.”
I love hearing how close these relationships are behind the screen as well.
Nichols:Troian’s actually marrying me and my fiance.
She’s going to be the spiritual guide.
Bellisario:I’m going to be their spiritual guide.
It’s not a throuple.
Nichols:No, not marrying each other.
Nichols:And they’re like, “Congratulations.”
Bellisario:Yes, we’re very modern.
No they asked me to officiate the wedding, to be a spiritual guide.
Nichols:It’s true.
We have a co-dependence.
Bellisario:It runs deep.
Nichols:It’s very deep.
What was that experience like, and what did he uniquely bring to the film?
Nichols:Well, I was under the impression it was Chris Pratt for a long time.
Bellisario:That was an awkward first day when he showed up.
Nichols:When that hunk showed up, I was like, “Dang” … No.
Bellisario:No, we got to level up.
Chris is the funniest, most down-to-earth, interesting …
He’s a very intelligent, easy-to-be-around person.
He had supported us through this whole thing he and his producing partner, Ian Gotler.
It was really cool.
He’s a great person to have around.
He’s a movie star, and when you know him as a person …
I’d only seen him in his backyard or in my backyard.
That was a really exciting day when he finally got the set, for sure.
Nichols:It was cool.
We love him very much.
Bellisario:Yeah, we do.
What’s next for Troian Bellisario and Cheryl Nichols?
Nichols:They’re doing their first feature about this woman directed by this woman.
Bellisario:So rad.
Nichols:It’s pretty rad.
It’s not funny.
It’s very, very different.
Nichols:It’s very serious, very different.
But that’s what’s next for me.
What about you, T?
We are creating a narrative podcast to share with the world, which is going to be really fun.
It’s like going into a radio play of sorts.
Nichols:That’s so cool.
I like that you did it as a podcast.
Bellisario:I’m really excited about it.
“Doula” will be available June 28 for rental and purchase on demand and on digital.
This interview was edited for clarity.
