For Nurse Jackie she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2013, for Godless she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie in 2018, and for Unbelievable she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Miniseries or Television Film in 2020.[4]. Danielle Macdonald Rich Fury Getty Images Kayla Keegan leads Good Housekeepings editorial growth strategies in the partnership, news, social, branded, membership and newsletter spaces. I dont want to say wary because that feels judgmental of people who are more comfortable with it. After all, a review of research from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) finds that the prevalence of false reporting is very low between 2 and 10%. You know this actually happened to people and I instantly wanted to see where this was going. It was crazy because when youre filming on set, youre surrounded by the same people every day. The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. I was definitely thinking about her honestly, throughout filming. When she was first asked to audition for the part, she remembers telling her agents, Id love to go in for it. We will all become more compassionate and learn how this can happen. MACDONALD: I hope so. And I loved having that energy there. And honestly, it was one of those crazy moments where I had a conversation with a friend about her experience while I was in the middle of shooting this show. Merritt Wever was supposed to be on the promotional circuit for her HBO comedy "Run" this month, hitting the red carpet and dutifully fielding questions at press junkets. So this would be a challenge for me anyway, but right now it is very hard for me to find my footing. 5 of 88. At the end of the day, it just had to become an exercise in preparing as much as I could and then just showing up and hoping that the whole thing just strung together and that she would be believable. It was a lot of fun to do and Michelle and Lucas are incredible. Unbelievable on Netflix cast: Who is in the cast of Unbelievable? Merritt Carmen Wever[1] (born August 11, 1980)[2][3] is an American actress. Co-written by Grant, who will serve as showrunner, Michael Chabon (John Carter) & Ayelet Waldman (Applebaum), Unbelievable is based on The Marshall Project and ProPublica Pulitzer Prize-winning December 2015 article, An Unbelievable Story of Rape, written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, and the This American Life radio episode about the same case, Anatomy of Doubt. It tells the true story of Marie, a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed a twisting path to arrive at the truth. Related: Unbelievable True Story: How Marie's Foster Mothers Reacted Netflix's Unbelievable features one of the most promising American actresses in the lead role, and the main female detectives will be immediately recognized by many viewers. His battles with the church arent over, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Danielle Macdonald - IMDb I figure well just find our way together, but I almost feel embarrassed.. 'Unbelievable' a credible, exceptional story of the system helping its an absolute minefield. And maybe it also just felt right because they were so involved about this, and they knew exactly what they wanted to do with this, that you felt safe going into it and you knew it was going to be told the right way, and you felt safe and taken care of within that. I dont think I get any messages that women in other professions dont get all the time. Merritt Wever. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Listen to what they have to say. DM: Its strange. Because of her passion for the LGBT cause, she has been often assumed to be homosexual. They just told me a little bit of the basis of it. [20] The series received critical acclaim, with Wever receiving her first Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Actress- Miniseries or Television Film. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Entertainment Weekly titled its review of Godless "Merritt Wever rides tall in Netflix's Godless" and wrote that "no one is more electric than the always extraordinary Merritt Wever". Merritt Wever Danielle Macdonald Pictures, Photos & Images - Zimbio They really wanted to tell the story in the right way. I knew they were going to tell these stories the right way. You just have to work a little harder. The true crime series, starring Toni Collette and Merritt Wever, is based on the real-life case of a rape victim the police refused to believe. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Instead, she's at home. I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of it after talking to them, because they knew exactly what they were doing. DM: I feel like when youre the lead of a film, I feel so all encompassed in that character and I go through every single thing with that person. She won her second Emmy in 2018 for her turn as a pistol-packing leader of an all-female frontier town in the Netflix western Godless. Last fall, she earned raves for her understated but steely performance as Karen Duvall, a Colorado detective investigating a serial rapist in the groundbreaking Netflix series Unbelievable, and she provided some brief but vital flashes of comic relief in Noah Baumbachs Marriage Story., Ive appreciated a lot of what has come my way, she says. Danielle Macdonald (who plays Amber) talks with Merritt Wever (Stacy Galbraith, in real life). We also meet Detective Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever), whose investigation into the rape of another young woman (Danielle Macdonald's Amber) leads her to an open case in a different. It was an incredible experience. [11] Zoey is described on the official Nurse Jackie website as "an irrepressibly bubbly trauma nurse, who serves as a comic foil to Edie Falco's hard-bitten (and prescription drug-addicted) titular character". Send us a tip using our annonymous form. AD: There is that moment where Erics character gets a call from another detective and the way that he says, Theres no victim here really hit me hard. I dont think his character is a bad person, but these people arent trainedtheyre not taught. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich. This year, almost everyone said that the Oscars were "back to normal," so will that be the case with this At this time last year, Oscar-sweeper Everything Everywhere All At Once was in theaters and many awards pundits began forecasting From director Yorgos Lanthimos and writer Tony McNamara comes Poor Things. As much as this is a return to Billy, I wanted it to also be a return to herself. He is a proud member of GALECA, Critics Choice, and HCA. It's based on a true story about a young woman named Marie who was sexually assaulted and pressured by the police into recanting her story. But yeah, just Falling for Figaro and French Exit right now. I have had people reach out and say theyve gone through similar experiences, and they were incredibly moved or grateful for the show because it just felt like they understood it. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Macdonald is repped by CAA, Justice and Ponder and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. I learned a lot about this show. A lot of people think they are out to get them and they mistrust them. Love is in the air at the Water Cooler this week. We filmed in LA, so I was at home. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "It is showing Amber's detectives were educated about survivors, they understand these cases, and Marie's detectives never really had cases like this before, and they didn't know.". It was very easy to read that story [about a young woman wrongfully accused of making a false rape accusation] and care very deeply about it. In one scene where Karen and Grace look through photographs of victims . 'Unbelievable': Danielle Macdonald Joins Netflix Limited Series And then when the relationship ends, it feels like you dont have access to it anymore. Netflix's Unbelievable: Cast and Character Guide Details of Macdonalds character are not being revealed. So, I didnt expect to hear anything, and I completely understand and respect that because this is such a personal situation. After graduating from high school, she got enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. Netflix's Unbelievable is based on an ProPublica article - Cosmopolitan DM: If you look up the statistics, a lot of the time society might say, Well, these people are lying. If you look at the amount of people who are assaulted versus the people that lie about it, its less than one percent or something. We obviously had a lot of male crew members as well and they were great, but it really was a female-oriented production and I have never actually hadI hope this is correctI dont think Ive actually ever had a female DP until I worked on Unbelievable. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}'NCIS' Fans, Mark Harmon Made a Huge Career Move, See Iam Tongi's Journey on 'American Idol', Kelly Clarkson's See-Through Look Is Going Viral, Read 'Jeopardy! Actress: Signs. And I am so incredibly inspired by her, truly, for the fact that she did come forward and did speak up. I was fascinated by that choice. Marie (Kaitlyn Dever) is questioned by Detective Parker (Eric Lange) and Detective Pruitt (Bill Fagerbakke). They need that training and know the statistics. How do you accommodate all of that? In 'Unbelievable' Danielle Macdonald Gives Voice To - Deadline She almost seems to be apologetic for making a fuss and it feels like such a thing thats been ingrained in women, to downplay their pain, to always be helpful. Joey is a writer currently living in Columbus, OH. This week, the race for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series was shaken up in a major way when Oh my godshoes Che! Is it just this cop? Part of it is how we deal with things as a human being and part of it is how its handled. But its new to me. If you believe enough and try hard enough and work hard enough, you can find an answer. I instantly felt . She was raised by her mother as a single parent. "I just started watching #Unbelievable and am already so angry. Its a way of coping. In 'Unbelievable' Danielle Macdonald Gives Voice To - Deadline I dont mean at all that you shouldnt. MACDONALD: From what little I knew about the relationship with Eric, I know how she didnt want to tell anyone at first. Godless (TV Mini Series 2017) - IMDb I might regret saying, but I told someone that being in this business, doing this job meant that I had to agree to get hit over the head with a hammer and I had said, Thats OK. Unbelievable 's Detective Karen Duvall, a.k.a. She said in interviews that she had been intimidated by the role: "I spent so much of this shoot thinking I would come off as a fool, that nobody would buy me as this and it wouldn't be believable. Beth Dubber/Netflix If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone about sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673. "We have to treat these kind of cases more singularly.". It goes back to really me hitting up against a wall during the audition process of realizing how much I was like, Are you mistaking me for someone else? But girls like me dont get parts like this., Created by Vicky Jones, who directed the original stage version of Fleabag, and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the series represents another milestone in what has already been a remarkable creative period for Wever. I'm torn all over again," another said. Watch all you want. Fox doesnt think hell live to be 80: Every day its tougher, Jerry Springer kept his aggressive cancer a family secret in his final months, James Corden gets a star-studded send-off on his final Late Late Show, Kim Kardashian is catching shade from Patti LuPone and Sharon Stone for AHS casting, Jonathan Majors accuser gets full temporary protection order ahead of court date. All Rights Reserved. Were there conversations with Lisa, or with Susannah? Merritt Wever - Wikipedia Honestly, learning the different types of traumathats because I did so much research on it. This was harder, in a way. It was interesting to film something like this and just come in for small parts. DM: That was what I took most from the show. I dont think we ever know how we react until we are in that situation. Featured Image by Thomas Attila Lewis / Flickr / CC BY-2.0. Toni Collette Merritt Wever Kaitlyn Dever Dale Dickey Scott Lawrence Danielle Macdonald Austin Hbert Eric Lange Elizabeth Marvel . I think that when you do this kind of subject matter, it is really difficult to make sure that youre telling the story in the right light, and youre really giving a voice to the survivors and not trying to put your own opinion on it. There are a lot of sirens, and I cant pretend Ive been out of the house recently, she says by phone from her Brooklyn apartment. But its truly strange to be even trying to remember before right now. The show finds the balance really beautifully. Amber is courteous while she answers Wevers questionsthe trauma hasnt hit yet. I read a lot of stories about how different women reacted to this. Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, and Danielle Macdonald at an event for Unbelievable (2019) Im spending days like I normally would and then Im called on set for three or so days. I have a really thick skull and I can take it. I need to do this and this and then thisits the only way I know Ill be on top of my own stress. How do you make this entertaining but tell a true story, but also give a voice to victims and survivors everywhere. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant, CBS TV Studios, studio-based producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly (Masters of Sex, Elementary) and Katie Couric. Danielle Macdonald 's portrayal of key witness Amber Stevenson expertly conveys the unexpected aspects of trauma response, in that many people dissociate and are apparently fine instead of. DANIELLE MACDONALD: When it first came to me through my agents, I hadnt heard about this case at all. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Your arm is kind of draped on him, so theres a physical connection there. Merritt Carmen Wever [1] (born August 11, 1980) [2] [3] is an American actress. Netflix Rape Series 'Unbelievable' Team on Different Trauma Responses Unlike most TV shows, Wever and Gleeson carry most of the screen time together. I think I internalized that maybe more than I had ever understood before this audition process. She has performed in theater productions, including a performance in Brooke Berman's play Smashing, and in Cavedweller with Deidre O'Connell, both off-Broadway. It makes you wonder how many people you know whove experienced this and been disbelieved. performer: "You Could Drive a Person Crazy", Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). That was my big thing. But complaining now feels wrong", "Best. JOIN NOW. Merritt Wever plays Detective Karen Duvall. This site uses cookies to serve you better. I was like, Wait, why doesnt this make sense? Flash forward a few years later to the state of Colorado, where Detective Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) is interviewing a rape victim named Amber (Danielle Macdonald), whose story contains a myriad . It's based on a true story about a . They dont know there are various kinds of trauma. It was one of those strange things where you put something out and it comes back to you. Did you have to paint those conversations yourself with how Eric may have reacted to the assault or did you speak to the writers about that at all? Merritt Wever - Bio, Age, Parents, Siblings. Merritt Wever - IMDb Wever played a lead role in 2017's miniseries Godless as Mary Agnes McNue, a tough leader of a female-dominated town. I didnt expect me. Everyone experiences very different reactions, and this show does that beautifully. Thank you so much. He wasnt trained. I had never seen anything that was so clearly from a survivors perspective, and the trauma that they go through. In the pivotal role of Amber Stevenson, Macdonald manages to convey so much with little screen time. Ive actually thought about that place a lot over the last few weeks, as whats happening has exposed more and more. We just collaborated on set and went from there. After that shell star opposite Jamie Bell in Skin and will appear with Emma Roberts in Paradise Hills. So, I had to research, and now I truly understand if anyone has a reaction that doesnt instantly appeal, if thats not how I would react, it doesnt matter. Danielle Macdonald Learned About Different Kinds Of - Awardsdaily Timberman & Beverly and Couric had been independently pursuing the rights to An Unbelievable Story of Rape and decided to join forces on the project. MACDONALD: Yeah. They were able to talk through a counselor to her about her experiences. Youre not acting them out so youre not experiencing that emotion, and thats entirely new for me. Its not going to hurt me. And then 25 years later, I woke up and I was like, Why am I bleeding? So my experience is not one of using this time to read the books that I havent read. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. That was an incredibly difficult scene to film. Theres so much going on. It follows the true story of an 18-year-old woman named Marie, who in 2008, filed a report claiming she was gagged, bound, and raped. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? Then Merritt comes in," Danielle says. As she notes several times over the course of an hourlong phone call, the gravity of the headlines has made it even harder for her to discuss her work and its challenges. She has also delivered memorable performances in popular shows such asThe Walking Dead and New Girl. Thats terrifying and changes the course of your reaction. Youre in it. You didnt get to meet the real Amber, but have you heard any reactions at all? It was his characters second-ever rape case. How did you convey that? Shes also set for Netflixs Bird Box with Sandra Bullock. When somebody is finally offered what it is that they crave or they need or theyve denied themselves of for a long time, they are not going to be able to keep themselves from taking it. Danielle Macdonald (who plays Amber) talks with Merritt Wever (Stacy Galbraith, in real life). Steve Rider, the commander of Lynnwoods Criminal Investigations Division, also called Maries case a major failing. Still, no one in the Lynnwood Police Department faced disciplinary action. When it came to what was going on inside, it was strange I had recently said to someone that I wanted to play a detective. Deadline Launches Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted Streaming Site, WGA Officially On Strike After Studio Talks Fail; Picket Lines Start Tuesday, 20 Questions On Deadline Podcast: Sheryl Lee Ralph Talks Abbott Elementary Season 3, Her Secrets To Happiness & Best Life Advice, 20 Questions On Deadline Podcast: Wild Author Cheryl Strayed On New Hulu Series Tiny Beautiful Things, Her New Janis Joplin Project & Life Advice, Jennifer Garner On The Last Thing He Told Me: I Didnt Think I Could Survive If Somebody Else Played The Role; Author Laura Dave Hints Season 2 Contenders TV, What Went Wrong? amount of emotions that brought up truly had me hooked instantly, because you know its a real story. DM: If we feel safe enough to open up and be heard, we are going to be able to speak our minds and our truths without judgment. Beingcast in the lead role in the western drama web series, Having played supporting roles in popular TV shows such as. She also "listened to the woman with a sense of alarm.". She was raised as an only child by her single mother to be politically progressive. AD: What I think Unbelievable does really well, from the very first episode, is telling the viewer to believe survivors stories. AD: That reminds of the first time that Amber speaks to Karen Duvall. Why am I wrapped in bandages? And someone was like, Because youve been letting someone hit you over the head with a hammer for 25 years. But again, I dont think that that is unique to what I do for a living. Why do I have bumps all over my head? Merritt Wever's birth took place on August 11, 1980, in Manhattan, New York City, USA. You can also find help at hotline.rainn.org. I think I completely understood that being in that terrifying place where youre maybe a little bit on eggshells now, because youre just a little bit scared that now someone sees you differently. And there was something about making Run that brought into focus how I had internalized those messages more than I realized. 4 of 156. 'Unbelievable,' HBO 'Run's' Merritt Wever: Showbiz can be 'poison She was conceived via a sperm donor and raised by her mother, Georgia. Wever was conceivedvia a sperm donor. If I can keep this together, maybe they can catch him. She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to win an Emmy Award for her work on the show. Macdonald, a breakout star of 2017 Sundance Film Festival hit Patti Cake$, will next be seen in a starring role in Dumplin opposite Jennifer Aniston. I think that really broke my heart. Its so important to show her smiling because thats what people often do. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. What's more, of the sexual violence crimes not reported to police from 2005 to 2010, 13% believed the police would not do anything to help, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Wever has also had supporting roles in other television series, including Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (20062007), New Girl (2013), and The Walking Dead (20152016). It gave them some kind of peace or some kind of voice in it. Deciding to play Amber as smiling and pulled-together post-assault, Macdonald leaned into a powerful desire to give a realistic voice to those survivors whose stories are so often disbelieved. Having played the role ofnurse Zoey Barkow in the medical drama TV series. We were in that car and we couldnt have the AC on because of sound, and then youre like, Okay, were in the right circumstances for this.. WGA Officially On Strike After Studio Talks Fail; Picket Lines Start Tuesday, Peyton Manning Exec Producing Las Vegas Sports Book Comedy What Are The Odds? In Works At NBC From Sam Sklaver & Kevin Hench, Human Resources Gets Premiere Date For 2nd & Final Season; Florence Pugh, Miley Cyrus, Eugene Levy Among Guest Stars; Watch Teaser, Reacher, Wheel Of Time, League Of Their Own Among Prime Video Titles To Stream On Amazon Freevee. Along with Colette's character, the pair work together to link their Colorado case to Marie's. The actor is best known for. And later there is a scene between Amber and Karen, but Eric is there and talking with Karen about the lack of probability that this guy will be caught. Instead, shes at home and, like the rest of us, struggling to adjust to the bizarre reality of life in a pandemic. She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to win an Emmy Award for her work on the show. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Macdonald, a breakout star of 2017 Sundance Film Festival hit Patti Cake$, will next be seen in a starring role in Dumplin opposite Jennifer Aniston. Eventually, it was revealed that Jeffrey and Jerry's interactions with Marie included "bullying" and "hounding," and were nothing short of the victim being coerced into admitting that she lied about the rape.. Thats really powerful. "It's not about men versus women, that's not what the show is doing," she says. I think we all get the same poison. They had a belief in doing something right and justice. Merritt Wever was supposed to be on the promotional circuit for her HBO comedy Run this month, hitting the red carpet and dutifully fielding questions at press junkets. I remember getting uncomfortable with that because I think the truth is a little more complicated and a little sadder. Unbelievable (2019) - IMDb For that reason, the only thing I knew was what I read or heard in the podcast. Unbelievable (2019) Merritt Wever and Danielle Macdonald in Unbelievable (2019) People Merritt Wever, Danielle Macdonald. Youre smiling in a lot of moments when we first see you. Id always been told, explicitly and implicitly, that that wasnt an option for me. Unbelievable was so driven and relentless, the energy was so tight and contained, that when Run came along, something in my body and something in my psyche was craving room and space to play. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. I know what its like to be in a relationship with someone and feel like your best self with them. And our privilege. Unbelievable (2019) - IMDb Titles Unbelievable. Detective Stacey Galbraith in real life, is the detective who encountered another rape accusation from a . I think all we can do after that is protect her identity and just really go with the facts of the story and what happened. Meredith Blake is an entertainment reporter for the Los Angeles Times based out of New York City, where she primarily covers television. I felt that was very important because, while I loved the pilot, it also doesnt focus so heavily on that the entire time so you are able to watch it. She is someone who is very easy to feel joy with but this is such a carefully rendered portrayal of this young womans specific pain. Merritt Wever is an American actress, who earned an Emmy Award for playing the character Zoey on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie.