INTERVIEW

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LL:   

Totally. I feel lucky to have become so connected to Gaal. I was watching some of season one and two last night. I haven't watched it in years.  

 

Now, having done season three, I can really see the difference. I look like such a child. It’s wild. I even made a conscious choice this season to lower my voice, just slightly deeper than the higher pitch I used before. Even that tiny change makes a huge difference.  

 

I don't know if anyone else notices those things, but I think it works. She feels more mature now, more in control. She knows where she's going, what she wants, and nothing's going to stop her. I think that's inspiring. 

 

A:  

Do you feel like you and Gaal anything in common? 

 

LL: 

We’re quite different. She's a more contained, whereas I’m probably looser in energy.  

 

But she’s grown so much in her communication and confidence, especially coming from a repressed water planet where people don’t leave. She’s one of the first to step outside that world. 

There’s a part of me in her, especially in the way she adapts. 

A:  

Do you enjoy watching yourself back?  

 

LL: 

I have a process with it. I usually watch something four times. The first three times, I'm critiquing everything: Why did I do that? But the fourth time, I see it as a piece of art.  

 

The most exciting thing is watching everyone else's storyline. I know the script so well, but seeing how everyone brings their characters to life, that’s the joy. When there’s that one scene you weren’t sure about, and you see how it works, it’s such a satisfying feeling. 

 

A:   

When it comes to a series like Foundation, fans often have high expectations, especially if there are books involved. Do you think they’ll be surprised by anything this season, or have they already figured out where it’s going? 

 

LL:  

I don't think they’ve figured it out at all. There are definitely going to be lots of surprises, twists and turns.  

 

There's a lot of action; you get slapped in the face with it in the very first scene of the first episode. It's amazing. In season one, you have to lay the foundation: explain the background, the story, the characters. Season two picked up the pace. But season three? Honestly, it’s epic. It just gets better. 

Seeing the show as something separate from the books is important. It’s an adaptation, and if you come in expecting a direct translation, your expectations probably won’t be met. It’s more of an evolution. We’ve taken these ideas, stories, and characters and made something new, which I think is wonderful. 

It’s exciting when you get to build something inspired by someone else’s work. I get how it feels when it’s your favourite book and you’re connected to the characters, but then the show takes a different turn. That can be tough. It’s like watching Harry Potter for the first time and thinking, Wait, that didn’t happen in the books. 

But Foundation is based on an anthology, short stories within the books, and you don’t follow a single character throughout the entire thing. So, it would’ve been really difficult to do it exactly that way. We had to flesh out characters, create new ones, and really expand what was on the page. 

For example, my character, Gaal, is only in the first chapter of the book. After that, she doesn’t exist. So, we took the essence of who she was and built something completely new around her. That’s what’s exciting, seeing all these characters from different planets interacting, all coming together on one screen. It’s just great. 

 

A:   

Do you have hopes and dreams for your character? It’s only natural to form an attachment. 

 

LL: 

It's been a ride. Six years of my life. I was 24 when I first walked on set. It's been a long time.  

 

I'm so grateful for this job, this character and this role. It helped me grow so much as an actor. I'd studied for five, six years before this, but Foundation had been the biggest learning experience I've ever had. It opened so many doors for me. I will be forever grateful.  

 

As for what’s next? Who knows where she'll go. Hopefully, I get to send her off properly, to finish her story. I's love to have that sense of closure, that final moment. Hopefully it doesn't come anytime soon.  

 

 

A: 

You’ve got a background in theatre, and I always find it interesting to hear how that shapes someone’s preferences. Where does your heart lie between stage ad screens? 

 

LL: 

Since I've been acting professionally, I haven't set foot in a theatre. I've done a few auditions, but I have a short attention span.  

 

There is something so satisfying about knowing my schedule, knowing I have these scenes on this day. Once it’s done, it’s done. Whether I've nailed it or not, there’s no going back. 

 

I love the chance to do lots of takes and try different things. Ultimately, once I’ve wrapped things, it's out of my hands. That’s something nice about that. 

 

A:  

Does that ease some of the pressure you put on yourself off? 

 

LL: 

The day I stop feeling pressure, fear, or uncertainty doing this job is the day I won’t want to do it anymore. I love that challenge. If it were easy, I wouldn't still be auditioning, taping and hoping for a callback. That what keeps you on your toes. It keeps you with goals. It pushes you to try everything, and I haven't.  

 

I've done Foundation, and I just wrapped a horror film for Paramount earlier this year. That was a totally new experience for me. There's still so much I want to do. I never want to feel like I know 100% what I'm doing. If I learn something new every time, that’s the point. 

 

A:   

I’m with you. Sometimes I don’t even know if the feeling of mastery is achievable, but there's that saying: if you’re scared, it means you’re challenging yourself. And if you don’t feel it anymore, you’re probably not moving forward. 

 

LL:   

Take Gaal, for example. This season was stunt-heavy — I started combat training and everything. 

I got to work with so many actors I've been obsessed with, like Pilou Asbæk from Game of Thrones. I remember watching him years ago and being amazed. Then I was on set, realising his character was chasing mine the whole season. We were this playing cat and mouse game, and I was in awe. There’s one incredible scene we did together. It was intense, exciting and scary.  

On top of that, I was working with Jared Harris and Lee Pace again, and getting to share scenes with them never gets old. I even got to meet Cherry Jones this season. We didn't work together, but I literally bumped into her getting out of my car.  

It's exciting and scary. You want to show up and be good as they are. That pressure just shows that you care. Whenever my friends say they’re anxious or worried they didn’t do a good job, I always tell them that means you’re in it. It's better to care too much than not at all. 

Don't get me wrong. I will do theatre if the opportunity arises. I just don't know if I could commit to a six-week run. 

  

A:   

Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, not even acting related, something that’s been on your bucket list forever, or even a new passion that’s just popped up? 

 

LL:  

I want to do it all. I don’t have one genre I’m passionate about. I’d love to do a comedy. It’s not something I’ve had the chance to try yet, but it’s on my list. 

Recently I did a horror film, which I'd wanted to do for a long time. The stakes in every scene are so high, and there’s so much adrenaline. It was incredibly exciting. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. 

But I’d also love to do something indie, something stripped back and simple. Maybe a story about heartbreak or everyday life. I love reading scripts and finding stories aI connect to. Hopefully one day, I’ll find something I’m obsessed with and get the chance to do it. 

A:   

I love that. Sometimes the biggest ‘pinnacle’ moments aren’t the ones we think they’ll be. You can be so busy chasing something that you miss the impact of what’s already happened. 

LL:  

There’s something to be said for stopping to appreciate what you’ve done.  

 

I got an interesting DM today that really struck me. Someone from a country going through a really tough time messaged to say I’d touched them. They said they hoped they’d get to see season three, depending on what’s happening where they live. 

I replied and said, “You’re going through so much, and you still took time out of your day to message me. That means everything.” I’m not saving lives. It’s not life or death. But maybe it is for someone. If even one person feels something, and they take that moment of escape, that’s worth it. 

It actually came at the perfect time. We’re starting press again, and it reminded me why we do this. It puts it all into perspective. That little message gave me the push I needed to remember this matters to someone, at least. 

It’s funny, I don’t even know if I’ve really processed everything that’s happened so far. We’re just running, right? Always going. But every now and then, you get a moment like that, and it reminds you why art matters. It gives people a little space to breathe. A way to feel, or escape, or be moved. And we’ve all needed that at some point. 

A: 

Especially in fantasy. There’s that sense of stepping into the unknown. 

 

LL:  

It’s wild. Even though it’s fantasy, there are so many parallels with what’s happening in the world right now.  

 

A: 

How do you switch off from the traction and momentum that comes with being on screens and in the spotlight? 

 

LL: 

It's funny, because people don't recognise me. It’s not like, “Oh Lou! I love you,’ but more like, “Oh gosh, are you from Foundation?” I love that. It means they’re fans of the show and that's the focus.  

 

I had someone come up to me while I was flying to Sydney. I was bored on the plane, and we got talking. He was like, “I just binged Foundation two weeks ago, because I know the third season is coming out.” That’s what I love: you don't need to know my name. If you're seeing the work and enjoying the show, that’s what matters. 

 

It's actually nice that people don’t infringe on my personal space. I get to do my job, show up on screens in people's homes, then go walking to the shops in an awful tracksuit in the middle of winter. I love that no one bothers me. 

 

A:  

What are the vulnerabilities in this industry, especially with series that have such a massive global reach. How do you take care of your mental or physical health? 

 

LL: 

I spend a lot of time in the gym when I'm not working. That’s my meditation, because I don't meditate.  

 

For me, it’s about feeling stronger and lifting more, and physically feeling good and healthy. It is so satisfying.  

 

Also, I spent a lot of time with my family and calling my friends. I spent two to three months in the US filming the horror movie. It was the longest I’ve ever been away from anyone I know. I think making time for talking to people and keeping those connections is important. 

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Photography Ruben Davies @rubendavies
Styling Harley Graham @harley.stylist
Hair styling Kieron Lavine @kieronlavine
MUA Brooke Simons @brookesimonsmakeup
Video Michael Farra @michaelf_photo
HATC & Creative Alice Gee @alicesgee

Words Oscar Nathwani-Hall

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