Madison Elise Rogers 1923's Lindy Breaks Down Season 2’s Shocking Twists & Darkest Moments

[00:00:10] Madison, thank you for joining me today on Pop Culture Unplugged. Thank you for having me. I'm happy to be here. Exciting times. 1923, congrats. Bigger role this season. It must have been a great feeling for you. Oh yeah, I mean it's so exciting. I am like still pinching myself that I've gone through this, you know, season. That's awesome. I wanted to jump into the show in a few minutes. You know, I always like to ask my guests, you know, like their journey to acting, you know, like what made you pursue acting?

[00:00:37] What was that one thing that you were doing some one day and you're like, this is what I want to go do? Yeah, I mean, well, I was a really, really shy child. So it was kind of more as, um, more of a thing for my mom to kind of like get me out of my shell. I started when I was eight. So, um, yeah, I didn't think of it as, you know, a potential career until I was maybe like 17 or 18.

[00:01:05] Wow. But, um, yeah, it's been a journey. Was there a backup plan if you didn't make it? Were you like behind the scenes or? Yeah, well, I had like kind of an interest in cinematography, but no, I think once I, you know, started doing auditions, I was like, I'm just, I'm, I'm going for it. There's no backup plan.

[00:01:27] What do you, uh, is there somebody you look up to the way you'd like want to watch their stuff over and over to try to like not model yourself, but to learn things from? So did you say somebody? Yeah. Like, is there somebody you look up to? Yeah. Yeah. In the industry where you want to watch your stuff just to, just to make your craft better? Yeah, there are a few people. Um, Angelina Jolie is one of them. Wynonna Ryder. Um, I also, um, love the film Rebel Without a Cause.

[00:01:57] I always watched it when I was, yeah, I watched it a lot when I was a kid. So James Dean, of course. Um, yeah, I'm sure there are a lot of people that I have kind of over the years. That's awesome. You know? It's amazing. Yeah. I like that. I like that you mentioned James Dean. Not a lot of people bring him up. Yeah. I mean, he's the best. I, I, my dad, I remember took me to see like a screening of it when I was like eight years old or something.

[00:02:26] And I, I, uh, it was so exciting. I just kept watching it. So it's kind of nostalgic to me also. That's awesome. Let's jump into 1923. Uh, first of all, um, tell us a little bit about your audition for this. How did you, uh, end up getting this role?

[00:02:44] I auditioned, I think it was three years ago now, but, um, yeah, it was just one that came in and I, I read it and I didn't know what Yellowstone was at the time.

[00:02:58] And I remember reading it and being like, this writing is so incredible, even for my, you know, little scenes that I had. Um, and I thought she was super interesting already. And I did a self tape and I sent it in. And then, um, maybe three weeks later, I found out I was going to Montana to film.

[00:03:22] So did you, what's great about it is like, you know, he's got this, Taylor's got this big universal built now for how many different shows and you're going to be part of it for the rest of your life. Yeah. Can you believe that? That's insane to me. Kind of like, you know, like the DC universe, the Marvel universe. Now you have the Taylor universe.

[00:03:39] I know it's, it's incredible. I mean, I, I watched 1883 and I was like blown away by it. And I think when I, I watched that series, I was like, I can't believe I'm a part of, you know, this universe at all. It's unbelievable. If you could, if you could jump into another universe or another, like one of his shows, which one would it be?

[00:04:02] Oh my gosh. I loved Landman. I just, I just watched that one, but I think I, well, you know, I think I probably would stay in like a period piece. Like I think I would go to 1883 if I could. What was the description of Lindy? What was the description? Good question. Do you remember? I, it was very vague.

[00:04:25] It was kind of just because I, when I auditioned, it was just those two episodes. So there wasn't, you know, much, but I, um, yeah, I feel like I, I understood more about her by just like reading the, the sides that I had. Um, and she just made sense to me from that.

[00:04:50] I love how the, you know, this season, you know, in season two, you know, she's evolving from like a supporting character now to like, you know, a central figure. Yeah. Whitfield, you know, uh, how did you approach portraying this darker, more complex side of her? Yeah. Um, I, I mean, it was a big shift because I, she goes from this, you know, she has this innocence to her at the, when we first see her.

[00:05:18] And then I guess, you know, I had to kind of sit with all of this that she's going through. I journaled a lot, um, because she's, she's going through such a big transformation because she's being completely brainwashed and, and the stakes are just very high. So, um, it was a lot of internal work, um, and just kind of, you know, there's so much that we don't see of her.

[00:05:46] There's a lot of moments where she's there with him and we, and we don't get to see that. So I had to make sure that like, I was mentally understanding this in between period to kind of understand where or and why she gets to where she gets. How would you describe like that? I don't know. How would you describe that relationship with Whitfield and Lindy? Yeah, I think, I think there's a big, you know, power dynamic.

[00:06:15] I think he's, he's, you know, this very powerful, wealthy, dangerous man. And she is, you know, a sex worker. So I think it's kind of like she, their relationship is kind of, um, him seeing this, this potential, like,

[00:06:42] I don't know, I think he finds her useful to him and like, he could eventually, you know, kind of mold her into something that could help him in his devious schemes. But, um, she, I think is like, has kind of leaned into this relationship with him because I, she, I don't know what else she would do. You know, he's, he's dangerous. A lot of like the fans of the viewers are talking about episode three with Christy. Sorry?

[00:07:12] So a lot of the fans and like the viewers, you know, they're talking about episode three with the torture of Christy. What's your thoughts on that episode? Oh, well, I think it's shocking. I know, you know, we see them at the beginning and in, or the end of season one. And, and they seem to be this, you know, duo.

[00:07:34] And then you see now he has completely turned Lindy against her and she just, you know, she's dead and, and she doesn't really have much. We can see that coldness with her where she's not really having much of a feeling about it. So, um, I think it's showing, you know, how powerful he is that he has kind of come between them and completely, you know, she, she has no empathy towards this.

[00:08:04] When you read the, when you read the script with that seed, what went, what went through your mind? Oh my gosh. I was, I wasn't expecting any of it. I wasn't expecting that to happen. Of course. I mean, um, I, I honestly, when I read it, I thought I could be, I thought it was going to be the other way around from what we, you know, saw at the end of season one.

[00:08:27] I was like, okay, you know, it seems like Christie's going to be that, that one to, you know, do something. But yeah, it was, um, it was shocking. It was sad. Um, I, I, seeing a Caitlin Rice who plays Christie like that. So it was, it was awesome. That's awesome.

[00:08:51] You know, working closely with Timothy Dalton who portrays Whitfield must be like both challenging and rewarding in some ways. Like, can you share the insights of like, how did you guys collab, especially like some of these intense scenes this season? Oh yeah. I mean, we had so many conversations, luckily, like there were so many times where we got to spend time together and, you know, discuss what we thought of their relationship and, you know, just kind of, I, I said my thoughts, he said his thoughts.

[00:09:20] Um, but yeah, I mean, he is obviously such a legend and, um, working with him was completely rewarding. I feel like it changed, um, everything for me. I learned more than I could ever learn. I mean, he's just so, he's, he's incredible. It was, it was, it was amazing to work with him. Any advice? Did he give you any advice?

[00:09:47] I, mostly I would say though, I think he just watching the way that he works, he's kind of like always acting. Acting and his, the way he, he perceives everything is just so profound. So I think, um, he kind of gave me this new perspective on everything.

[00:10:15] And I, I, I, I have completely taken it with me, but in terms of actual advice, um, he told me to always bring whatever mood I'm in to, to my character to set because it, it gives it more life and it makes it more real. So, um, I, I, I think about that.

[00:10:35] Um, what's your favorite thing about playing a character in this type of theme and, uh, you know, theme and year, you know, that takes place. I love it because it feels like you're stepping into a new world. It's in, and, you know, even with the costumes and the hair and the makeup, it feels like you're kind of really stepping into somewhere else.

[00:11:05] It feels, um, it feels very fantasy-like in a way. So I think, I think that's why it's so much fun. It must be beautiful where you film it too. Yeah. Oh my goodness. It was unbelievable. I mean, Montana also. I was filming in, I think it was October when I was there and it was just beautiful. It was, it was amazing.

[00:11:31] You know, without, you know, like we're a few episodes in without revealing too much, what can viewers anticipate with the future of Lindy? And, uh, do you believe there's a potential for like a redemption for this character? Well, I guess what you can expect is more, um, they, she's still going through this transformation. We're seeing her kind of change and we'll continue to see her change. Um, and as for a redemption arc, I don't know. I can't say.

[00:12:00] Is there a specific character this season that you didn't have seeds with or you kind of hope maybe down the road if we see you more? Yeah. You have seeds with? Um, yeah, I would say. Hmm. I love, um, I love Alexandra. I love that character so much.

[00:12:26] Um, yeah, I would love to have, I would love to work with her. Um, she, she's just so incredible. I, I'm like in awe of her every single time she pops up on the screen. So I would, I would say her. Well, what's your thoughts on Jennifer Carpenter? I spoke to her, uh, on the press day. Yeah, she's amazing. I have loved watching, you know, this character.

[00:12:52] Um, I'm excited to see where that goes because I didn't, I didn't like fully read the last few episodes because I'm like a fan of the show too. I don't want to spoil everything for myself. So I'm excited to see where her character goes too. Isn't that great when you're like, I know you're working on a show, but it's also the same time. You want to watch it as a fan to see what happens. That's like the best. I think. I know. I'm like, I, and I still want to kind of, I want to know so bad.

[00:13:18] So now that I watched three episodes, I'm like, I want to go read what's going to happen next. I forget. And then it's like, uh, I can't watch it. I have to watch it like everyone else. Cause it's so, it's so exciting when it's new and it's fresh. Is there, what's the last thing you could tease about your character or no, actually, you know what? Let's, I'll change the question. Okay. If you could be friends with Lynn, with Lindy, would you?

[00:13:46] I would be friends with her. Yes. Yeah, I would. I would try to help her. Well, actually that's where I was going with that. I was like, would you give her any piece of advice? I, I would try. Yes, I would. But at the same time, I think it would be, it would kind of have to be maybe not quite a friendship. Maybe like I meet you once I give you advice and then I leave because I don't want to end up like Christy. So.

[00:14:16] There you go. Well, what's next for you now? Any other projects you'd like to tell us about? Are you taking a break? What's the plan? I have something in the works. I can't really speak about it yet, but, um, I'm excited about it and I'm excited to be able to speak about it. Eventually. That's amazing. Madison, how can the viewers and listeners find you on social media and I keep up with you with 1923 and future projects? Yeah. Um, my name is Madison Elyse Rogers on Instagram and you can find me there. Amazing. Madison, I want to thank you for giving you a few minutes today. Let's get you back on. We'll continue this story.

[00:14:46] Hopefully we see more of this character. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Thank you.