Lilah Richcreek Estrada, who stars as Julie in Netflix’s latest hit series A Man on the Inside, joined Pop Culture Unplugged to discuss her role in the spy-meets-comedy mystery, working alongside Hollywood legend Ted Danson, and the unique journey of her character. Here are the highlights from our conversation:
On Joining A Man on the Inside
Lilah’s journey to landing the role of Julie started with her admiration for series creator Mike Schur (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine):
“I’ve always been a huge fan of Mike’s work. I had auditioned for another project of his before and had the chance to work on Chicago Med, which brought me to his radar. When A Man on the Inside came up, my reps reached out, and I was thrilled to hear I was already on their list. After one audition with the producers and a chemistry read with Ted Danson, I was in!”
Bringing Julie to Life
Julie, a private investigator, is tasked with a unique mission—sending a retired professor undercover in a retirement home. Lilah found the role compelling from the start:
“She’s written so perfectly—direct and assertive but also warm and patient with Charles. The dynamic between them is so clear. He’s loving this spy role, while Julie’s just trying to do her job. I added my own backstory to her, and I hope we get to explore her personal life in future seasons.”
On Julie and Charles’s Dynamic
One of the standout elements of the series is the playful yet grounded relationship between Julie and Charles (Ted Danson). Lilah shared her thoughts on their unique partnership:
“Their dynamic is hilarious—Charles is so excited about being undercover, almost treating it like a game, while Julie is all business. One of my favorite moments is when everyone at the retirement home starts calling her ‘Froggy.’ She absolutely hates it, but she has to play along to maintain her cover. That kind of layered deception adds so much fun to their scenes.”
Balancing Mystery and Comedy
The series blends humor with a compelling mystery, a balance Lilah found both challenging and rewarding:
“It felt seamless because the writing was so strong. Ted made it easy to lean into the comedy, especially with his love for Charles’s newfound spy persona. For me, it was about playing the truth of each moment, whether it was solving a mystery or delivering those deadpan, dry comedic lines.”
Inspirations from The Mole Agent
A Man on the Inside draws loose inspiration from the Oscar-nominated documentary The Mole Agent. Lilah dove into the source material to prepare for the role:
“I watched it after I booked the job. It’s full of heart and warmth, which aligns with our show’s tone. I loved that they made the private investigator a woman in our version—it adds a fresh perspective to the story.”
Working with a Stellar Cast
When asked about her experience working with the cast, Lilah couldn’t hold back her excitement:
“Ted Danson is just the coolest. His energy is so warm and positive, and you can see why he’s had such a prolific career. I was also thrilled to work with Maria Lisbeth and Margaret Avery—these are powerhouse women! Our guest cast is incredible too, with legends like Suzanne Ritten and Sally Struthers.”
What’s Next for Julie?
As fans hope for a second season, Lilah has a few ideas for where she’d like to see her character go:
“I’d love for little Easter eggs of Julie’s personal life to come into play. Maybe something ironic and unexpected—like she secretly belongs to five clubs after teasing Charles for being in one. It’d be such a fun twist to her no-nonsense persona.”
A Message to Fans
Lilah hopes viewers take away inspiration and joy from the series:
“Charles’s journey is a reminder that you can start something new at any age. Whether you’re just out of college or in your seventies, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. I hope the show brings laughter and light to everyone who watches it.”
What’s Next for Lilah Richcreek Estrada?
Lilah continues her role on Chicago Med and hinted at exciting projects in the works:
“The next episode of Chicago Med I’ll be in is Episode 9 of Season 10, which airs soon. I’m also working on a few creative projects of my own, and I’m crossing my fingers for Netflix to greenlight Season 2 of A Man on the Inside. Let’s start that rumor!”
Catch Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie in A Man on the Inside, now streaming on Netflix. To stay updated on her latest projects, follow her on Instagram and Twitter.