In Obsession, actress Megan Lawless steps into a psychological thriller that touches on the topics of love, identity, and the emotional complexities of relationships. As Obsession continues to make waves in the industry, Lawless reflects on trusting her instincts, the power of empathy in performance, and the exciting new chapter unfolding in her career.
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Obsession explores the darker side of love, desire, and human nature. What was it about the script and Sarah in particular that immediately convinced you this was a story you wanted to be part of?
The script of “Obsession” is one of those where as soon as you start reading it, you cannot stop. It is a page turner until the very end. Curry pushes the envelope in a way that I haven’t seen in a long time. He also understands my generation extremely well. He knows what makes them tick, what they need to question, etc. The script had me ruminating on themes that are so relevant to society today. I immediately knew who Sarah was, saw so much of myself in her, and knew I could do that character justice.
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Sarah often feels like the emotional anchor of the story, bringing a sense of honesty and grounding amid the chaos. How did you approach building a character whose strength comes from subtlety rather than spectacle?
I think I always knew Sarah’s role in this story. I knew she had to be a voice of reason and so everything came from a place of honesty and genuine concern. Sarah is not showy, she’s grounded in truth. It was easy for me to connect to the truth of Obsession and I just put my best foot forward approaching everything with honesty.
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Psychological thrillers ask audiences to question what is real, what is imagined, and what people are capable of. As an actor, how do you prepare yourself emotionally for a world where the tension is often internal rather than physical?
Jennifer Lawrence talks about this, and I idolize her. The key to acting is simply empathy. You have to be able to empathize with these characters and have a strong imagination where you can truly trick your body and mind into believing the circumstances. You don’t want to “play“ any of these emotions. You want to feel them so that the camera and audience can feel it radiating from you, rather than see it painted on your face. Sometimes I trick my body into a certain state so that I can physically manifest that emotion. That helps my body be primed to feel what I need to feel once the scene begins. Those are the keys to not looking phony as you explore these crazy emotions and circumstances.
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Independent films often require actors to wear many hats and collaborate in unique ways. What was the atmosphere like on the set of Obsession, and how did that creative environment shape your performance?
The environment was just that collaborative! Everyone was enthusiastic and willing to help where they could. We all became family on that set, and it felt completely natural to help our colleagues, or rather our friends, in other departments if they needed it. We all wanted this film to be incredible and everyone doing their part, and then some, is what made this project so rewarding and the result so good.
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Every actor has a moment when they begin trusting their instincts rather than searching for the ‘right’ performance. Was there a project or perhaps even a specific scene in Obsession that helped you reach that point?
That was my process with Obsession from the jump. Even auditioning for the role of Sarah, I led with my instincts, rather than playing out some stereotype or specific performance. I believe the environment that Curry set, as well as the rest of the cast, helped drive my instinctual performance while filming. My relationship with all the other actors and their characters was built through our real life friendship. There was always an open dialogue, and that really helps. You feel comfortable on set to be in the moment and respond authentically as an actor. We got the chance to explore, to have fun, to create moment by moment.
Audiences are just beginning to discover your work, but everyone experiences success differently. What part of this new chapter excites you the most, and what part keeps you grounded?
The possibilities Obsession is granting me is the most exciting. As an actor, it is very rewarding to finally reach a moment in your career where you have the opportunities to put your training to work. Before this film, I only got to act on a set occasionally, maybe a couple times a year. Yet I was constantly in class working my muscles and collaborating with peers. Now I get the chance to do this for a living, to live out my dreams. That is so exciting. Having family and friends that I can go home to and have rallied behind me with the utmost support is what keeps me grounded. My life outside of work has not changed, and I always have my friends to go home to. It is really beautiful experiencing how enormous my support system is and how many people I can count on.
As someone with a multicultural background, do you feel that your identity has influenced the kinds of stories you’re drawn to or the perspective you bring to the characters you portray?
Absolutely! Of course, I am drawn to stories that share themes or insight of the cultures I grew up in. Growing up in a multicultural home has also helped me have a fuller perspective. I was raised with an understanding of various perspectives. I think that helps me to understand a variety of people as well as bring the multifaceted way of viewing the world to my own work. It is not hard for me to step into characters that think or behave differently than I would because I have practiced seeing things from different angles and empathizing with various points of view. You must get into the mind of characters with all sorts of beliefs to be an actor. And my upbringing has not only helped me do so, but made me interested in exploring that process.
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Looking beyond the performances themselves, what do you hope people remember after watching Obsession? Is there a conversation or feeling you hope lingers with audiences long after the credits roll?
I believe all the conversations that have been had about modern dating and individual agency are very important. I hope those conversations keep living on past the craze of Obsession. I hope it has influenced the way a whole generation views relationships. I also want Obsession to act as an inspiration for young creatives. I am grateful to be a part of something that serves as a beacon of hope to people in our industry to be involved in an underdog story. Long before Obsession, I have relied on success stories to keep me going as an actor. I hope our film can do that for other artists.
When you look ahead to the next decade of your career, what kinds of filmmakers, characters, or stories would make you feel like you’re continuing to grow not just as an actress, but as an artist?
Obsession has taught me how greatly I value making work that not only entertains, but has something to say. Regardless of genre, it is very important to me that I continue to prioritize projects that are aligned with my values and share important messages. Eventually, I would love to produce. That way I can be even more involved in this storytelling process. I hope to work with female filmmakers soon. My heritage is also an important part of my identity and I would love the opportunity to explore works that are driven by Asian Americans. Beef is a huge inspiration for me. Ultimately, I’d love the chance to try out so many different characters in so many different genres. But my north star is the message. It is incredible feeling the love from Obsession, interacting with fans, and witnessing how important it is to so many. That stems from the fact that it is not only entertaining, but people connect deeply to its message. If I can continue searching for experiences like Obsession, I feel like I’m on the right track.
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