Brooke Lena Johnson on Playing Beatrice in 'Cruel Intentions' and Her Rising Career

[00:00:09] Brooke, thank you for joining me today on Pop Culture Unplugged. Thanks for having me. Exciting times, we have Cruel Intentions coming up soon. How excited about this project? I'm super excited. It's super cool to be just like a part of this like, I don't know, iconic, it's such an iconic movie so to have like a series about it I think it's really an honor to be a part of it. Super cool. Cult following, that's what I've been telling people. Yes, it's most definitely cult following. Everyone who's like seen it kind of knows and like has that like very distinct memory of it I feel like.

[00:00:39] Right. We're gonna jump more into this series in a few minutes, but I was doing some research on you and everything too. I want to know like what drew you to the acting world you know I saw that you went from a you know journey from the London Academy of Music right into film and movies after that it's like, what drew you to this?

[00:00:55] What was like really neat? I think I kind of like as a kid, I mean, I was always kind of just like, I really liked performing aspect like I was always like, I always did like weird talent shows and stuff like that. And one story my mom always tells is like we went camping as a family one time and I disappeared. And she found me at the store neighbors doing the talent show with the families that were next door. So I think I always just kind of had that in my, in my nature.

[00:01:19] But I'm growing up in Southern California, it was, it was kind of accessible to me in a way and I think I just always had that love and passion and then like since going to London, I think it just kind of grew. So yeah, so you know a little bit of singing to and figure skater it's like, all these things will, there had to be something to push it towards the acting more though, right?

[00:01:39] But more on that. Yeah. Well, I mean, I like I grew up a figure skater, I was like a professional figure skater for over 17 years. But I think I always loved the performance aspect of it. And so I think,

[00:01:49] that it kind of like went hand in hand to eventually kind of lead into more acting once I had like retired and finished that career. So yeah.

[00:01:57] What's next on the bucket list? What are you going to hit next?

[00:01:59] Oh boy. I don't know. I think that, I think the options are endless, but for right now, I'm super excited with like, you know, how my acting career is going.

[00:02:07] And I'm really excited for people to kind of see what, what I've been working on.

[00:02:11] Speaking of that, let's jump right into the series. Then we have, we see you as Beatrice. First of all, let's talk a little about the audition process.

[00:02:16] How did you get approached for the series or did you work with somebody that said, Hey, we might have a part for you. Come on down. Like, how did that happen?

[00:02:23] I got approached. I got, I got thrown the audition through, you know, my agents and I'd actually been, I, I did two, I auditioned for two different roles.

[00:02:34] So that was really cool with it. Yeah. And so I had Beatrice and then auditioned for a different role, but I'd like, I think I was always really like felt Beatrice.

[00:02:44] I kind of, I really got her. I got how she like ticked. I got how she moved and thought and like approached like her vision.

[00:02:52] I think from the bat of the audition and it was all self tape as most stuff is nowadays.

[00:03:00] And then almost, I mean, it, gosh, it was probably a couple of weeks after or something like that.

[00:03:05] I got a call back for it and met with Sarah and Phoebe and Adam, who's the director of the, of the pilot.

[00:03:13] And I just felt like it really kind of hit and yeah, I mean, and the rest is history, but yeah.

[00:03:21] What was, what was the description you were given for Beatrice and how did you like decide how, how did you want to like audition for her?

[00:03:27] Then how did you decide you wanted to play this character?

[00:03:29] Or it was, it was so funny, you know, because you always get, sometimes I feel like these descriptions and it's like, okay, how is, you know, 10 words really going to describe what this character is.

[00:03:41] And I remember like one distinct word in the description and it was, I believe it was mousy in it.

[00:03:48] And I just, for me, it gave me such a visual, I feel like I'm a very visual person.

[00:03:53] So like when I am taking on a role and stuff like that, I really, I like have imagery of, of people.

[00:04:01] And I feel like in a way she kind of is like a rat approaching the world.

[00:04:07] And I feel like she kind of, she not, I don't want to say weaves webs because then that's a spider, but I feel like she kind of scurries around and sees all of these different aspects.

[00:04:20] And she's not necessarily up there with the people.

[00:04:22] I feel like she's at the feet and kind of discovering that.

[00:04:25] And so that for me really stood out.

[00:04:27] And I think from there, I just kind of ran with it.

[00:04:30] It's funny too, because you mentioned like a rat and like roaming, like throughout the episodes that I've seen, where like you're in like a certain party scenes like that, you're roaming all over the place.

[00:04:39] I'm like this.

[00:04:40] I'm like this the whole time.

[00:04:43] Any, any, any challenges with this character playing this character?

[00:04:47] I mean, I definitely think there is.

[00:04:49] I think she's very, I think anytime you approach a character who is not, I feel like when you're in a different like class system and stuff like that, I feel like you really have to like approach everything with empathy and trying to understand where they come from.

[00:05:04] And what their drive is in their world.

[00:05:09] And I feel like hers is, you know, she comes from this like a very elite background, very privileged.

[00:05:15] But she's not in this, you know, class of students in this, in this sorority, in this kind of deep set, very clicky world.

[00:05:25] Yeah, exactly.

[00:05:26] And so I think, you know, that part I, I understand, you know, I never, I was never a part of a sorority fraternity, anything like that.

[00:05:34] So, you know, being an outsider of that, that part I could get, but I feel like the challenging part is, you know, how, how she navigates, you know, I feel like her drive is not what I mean as Brooke would necessarily do.

[00:05:49] So that I had to kind of, you know, get a grip on.

[00:05:52] But I think, you know, especially through what she does for the whole series, you really, you really tap into that, I feel like.

[00:05:58] So she's also, you know, she's a reporter on the, on campus also, but like for her, like, how do you think she approaches like the conflict relationships within the story of, for season one?

[00:06:09] Well, I think she has a very different relationship with each character, for sure.

[00:06:13] And you will see that as you watch through the whole series.

[00:06:15] It's a really great ensemble cast.

[00:06:17] And I think they, Sarah and Phoebe did a really good job of making each character very specific.

[00:06:24] So when you see all of them interact in each different scene, they react very differently to each other.

[00:06:31] So I think that's really, a really cool thing that you can see in this show.

[00:06:35] And I think they did a phenomenal job at doing it.

[00:06:38] But I feel like she, I feel like she, she has a very difficult head to head with Caroline.

[00:06:47] And I think you'll see that through the whole show.

[00:06:50] But, you know, she has a head to head with Lucian.

[00:06:52] But she is trying to build and foster this relationship with Annie.

[00:06:57] And I think you just see her pull cards that you wouldn't think she would.

[00:07:02] But I think everyone does that.

[00:07:03] No one's a good character in the show.

[00:07:05] You mentioned Lucian, you know, played by Zach.

[00:07:08] How do you describe like the relationship?

[00:07:10] Because we see them talking for a little bit at the beginning of the series.

[00:07:13] And then they kind of like wore off a little bit.

[00:07:15] And then you see them back talking again, like half hour later.

[00:07:19] So tell us a little bit about that relationship.

[00:07:21] I feel like, I feel like just in general, me, Brooke and Zach, who plays Lucian in it.

[00:07:27] Yeah.

[00:07:27] I think we have a really good dancer with each other.

[00:07:30] And I think you really see that.

[00:07:32] And I think these characters have this very sarcastic, dry humor with each other.

[00:07:38] And I feel like they have a very, it's a lot of tension between the two of them.

[00:07:44] That I think kind of gets played off.

[00:07:45] I don't think they ever, you know, want to directly confront each other.

[00:07:49] I feel like it's kind of this, it's a game of toss between them.

[00:07:53] So I think, I think that is a very interesting relationship you can kind of see in this show.

[00:08:00] And I think it, you know, spawns a lot of other issues.

[00:08:03] So.

[00:08:03] Right.

[00:08:04] You mentioned Caroline played by Sarah.

[00:08:06] Would you be, if you were, let's put you to imaginary world.

[00:08:10] Would you be friends with somebody like Caroline?

[00:08:14] Ah, imaginary world.

[00:08:16] Me as Brooke?

[00:08:17] Yeah.

[00:08:19] Who knows?

[00:08:20] Because the thing is, and what I think Essie does so well on the show is she plays it.

[00:08:27] And you don't know that she's playing it.

[00:08:29] And what's great being an audience member in this show is you can see that she's playing it.

[00:08:34] And she's, you know, weaving these webs.

[00:08:36] But the people around her don't know that.

[00:08:38] And I think that's, that's what's cool about my part is like Beatrice is I see that.

[00:08:44] So I'm going to say that I think I probably would see through that.

[00:08:47] But, you know, who knows?

[00:08:48] Never know.

[00:08:49] You have people in your life like that all the time.

[00:08:51] Right, right.

[00:08:52] How about your relationship with that?

[00:08:53] You mentioned Annie, the vice president's daughter.

[00:08:55] You know, it looks like you're, you're trying to become like really good friends with this character.

[00:09:00] Mm-hmm.

[00:09:00] Most definitely.

[00:09:01] So, you know, in the first episode, we kind of talk a little bit about how her and I were at camp together.

[00:09:07] And so I had known her previously.

[00:09:10] And I think I'm trying to refoster that relationship now that I see, you know, her dad has obviously stepped into this role.

[00:09:17] And I think, I think she does really connect with Annie.

[00:09:21] But I think, you know, it's, it's with anything.

[00:09:23] It's, I think once you are really good friends with someone, sometimes, you know, you push that and you try to get things out of them.

[00:09:30] And then it's, you know, it's that fine line that I feel like everyone's walking on this show of like, how much do you really use a friend or if they really are a friend?

[00:09:38] And I don't know what that balance is.

[00:09:41] And I feel like I definitely, you see that, I think a lot with me and Annie.

[00:09:45] You mentioned, you know, the writers of Phoebe and Sarah.

[00:09:48] How, how was collaborating with them?

[00:09:51] Any pointers going back and forth about each character?

[00:09:54] Oh my gosh.

[00:09:55] Yeah.

[00:09:55] Like, to be honest with you, they set the tone for it since day one.

[00:09:59] So it wasn't really, it wasn't really a question when you walked onto set.

[00:10:03] They had set what this world is.

[00:10:06] I feel like we understood why each character was there, what each character's drive was.

[00:10:11] So I, I think they were very, very specific on what they wanted.

[00:10:17] And so we were able to really hone in on that vision.

[00:10:22] So they were, they were really phenomenal to work with because I think they, they knew this world.

[00:10:27] They knew these characters so well that when you walk in as an actor, then, you know, then I get to play.

[00:10:33] And then it just sets this tone that we all know where we are, what we're doing.

[00:10:37] And then I just play from there.

[00:10:39] And I mean, that's kind of the actor's dream, isn't it?

[00:10:41] Right.

[00:10:42] You know, you're going to have, you're going to have the fans of the original tune in to watch this.

[00:10:47] Do you think they're going to have a certain character they're going to root for?

[00:10:50] Or like, who would you root for?

[00:10:52] I mean, gosh, I feel like, I feel like narcissistic tendencies, but I feel like I would root for myself.

[00:11:00] Um, but I do feel like, I feel like, uh, Beatrice is someone that is on the outside that can kind of see in.

[00:11:08] And I feel like people are gonna, hopefully, you know, want to kind of root with that.

[00:11:12] But to be honest with you on this show, you're going to love people and you're going to hate people.

[00:11:17] And it's just going to cycle through.

[00:11:19] I don't think there's anyone that you love or hate necessarily more.

[00:11:22] And I think, you know, audiences can decide.

[00:11:24] It'll be interesting to see.

[00:11:26] What do you hope in the audience gets out of this?

[00:11:28] Like a certain theme or like, what do you hope they take away from this series?

[00:11:32] I think it really, you know, it has a lot of the same, um, kind of dark and, and, um, like ruthless is a lot of the times.

[00:11:43] Like what, what I think of is, is you see these power struggles and I feel like people really relate to that because there's power struggles all the time in our day-to-day lives.

[00:11:53] And I think you really get to see this inside world of this like elite class.

[00:11:57] And I think, um, I think people are going to really be able to like dive into this really like devious world.

[00:12:04] And I think people love that.

[00:12:05] I love that when I watch a show, I'm like, Ooh, I get to be a part of it without actually being in the drama.

[00:12:10] It's pretty, pretty fun.

[00:12:12] Did you go back to watch the original?

[00:12:14] Oh yeah.

[00:12:15] Just to get an idea?

[00:12:16] Yeah.

[00:12:16] Oh yeah.

[00:12:17] Oh yeah.

[00:12:17] I was like, Oh, I need to watch the original again.

[00:12:19] I remember watching it like way back, but like seeing it again too.

[00:12:23] It just, I don't know.

[00:12:24] It got me, it got me really like enthusiastic about being like, ah, I'm so excited to be a part of this.

[00:12:30] How many, uh, how many episodes are we expecting?

[00:12:32] Eight, 10, forget what it was.

[00:12:33] Eight episodes.

[00:12:34] All right.

[00:12:35] So hopefully, hopefully we see a season two.

[00:12:37] Oh yeah.

[00:12:38] Yeah.

[00:12:39] Well, what's, uh, what's next for you now that you're allowed to tell us about that you're

[00:12:43] about to work on.

[00:12:44] I did see something about the strangers, right?

[00:12:45] Yes.

[00:12:46] So we do have the strangers coming out, the strangers to chapter two.

[00:12:50] Um, and I was, you know, few bits and things in the first one, but the second one, you'll

[00:12:56] really see a lot of my character.

[00:12:58] I play, um, nurse Danica on the show and, um, on the show on the movie.

[00:13:03] Um, but I think you'll really get to see, I think what I'm excited for viewers to see on

[00:13:08] that one is once again, very iconic, iconic movie.

[00:13:11] Anyone who watched the original strangers, I mean, talk about one of the most, uh, scary,

[00:13:16] thrilling things you've ever seen in your life.

[00:13:18] Uh, I didn't sleep for weeks after I saw it.

[00:13:21] Uh, so to be a part of it is kind of like, but also, oh my gosh.

[00:13:25] Um, but I think what people are going to be really excited about is they're going to be

[00:13:29] able to see more into the past of these characters and kind of the why behind it, as well as,

[00:13:35] um, getting a whole new kind of curve on, on the plot line that I don't think people are

[00:13:41] expecting.

[00:13:42] Amazing.

[00:13:43] Yeah.

[00:13:43] Brooke can't wait.

[00:13:45] You know, we've cruel attention season one per year in a few, a few days, I think,

[00:13:48] right?

[00:13:48] About a week.

[00:13:49] Yeah.

[00:13:50] So you won't get any sleep.

[00:13:53] You'll be busy.

[00:13:54] No, sleep at all.

[00:13:55] Super busy, but thankful for it.

[00:13:57] Amazing.

[00:13:58] Yeah.

[00:13:58] Brooke, how can the viewers and listeners find you now on social media to keep up with

[00:14:01] you to see if you're posting anything about the show and about future projects?

[00:14:04] Absolutely.

[00:14:05] They can, uh, follow me on Insta.

[00:14:07] It's at the Brooke Lena Johnson.

[00:14:09] And, um, yeah, love to hear from everybody.

[00:14:12] Amazing.

[00:14:13] Brooke, thank you for giving me for missing.

[00:14:14] This was great.

[00:14:15] Thank you so much.