Known for her portrayal of Arat in the post-apocalyptic horror series “The Walking Dead,” and as Mona in the USA series, “Satisfaction,” Elizabeth Ludlow has also appeared in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters.” This year, Ludlow will star in Netflix’s upcoming sci-fi drama “Another Life.” The new series follows astronauts on a mission to investigate the origins of an alien artifact that mysteriously appeared on Earth. Ludlow will play Cas Isakovic, a pilot and second-in-command aboard the faster-than-light ship, The Salvare.
What drew you to this series and the role of Cas?
Elizabeth Ludlow: I’m typically drawn to a stronger female character. And Cas is definitely that. She’s very independent, self-sufficient, and she makes her way on her own. I have a lot of respect for that. I like to portray characters that women can relate to, appreciate, and look up to.
Did you audition for the role? What was that like?
EL: I connected with the role pretty early on. I did three separate scenes and I felt pretty comfortable about them. It was a challenging process but I enjoyed it. Actors have a love-hate relationship with auditions. There’s a lot of rejection. You’re essentially gambling with your soul but once you get that ‘yes,’ you’re back in.
What did you find most challenging about the role?
EL: It was the physicality. We did a lot of work outside. We’re wearing these astronaut suits much of the time. You need help to get them on and off. They’re extremely heavy and grueling to wear. They just wear your body down. And they’re extremely hot. Once they shut that facemask, you feel claustrophobic. And then trying to give your best performance when you’re behind the mask is a challenge because it’s foggy and your hot outside. It was a challenge but it was fun at the same time.
What did you do to prepare for the role?
EL: Actually, the entire process went fairly quickly. So there wasn’t much prep time. I read up on space and where we are now and what’s on the horizon. I did work out a bit more and follow a strict eating regimen because I knew that the role was going to be pretty physical.
What did you learn about space travel and spaceship tech that surprised you?
EL: One thing that was challenging for me was when we come out of soma sleep. We’re technically asleep but we’re being fed at the same time. Lying in that sleep chamber was like being in a coffin. And that was an issue for me—the whole claustrophobia thing. I had to mentally prepare for that. As the sleep chamber slid closed, something came over me and I said ‘wait, wait.’ But Katee (Sackhoff) had done it and she helped me get through that process.
How are you like Cas and how are you different?
EL: Good question. I related to Cas because I grew up pretty quick. I was an independent kid, more of a leader than a follower. And Cas is absolutely like that. She’s a strong, independent woman and I can relate to that. She had a pretty rough childhood. As far as differences, Cas is more emotion-driven; whereas, I’m pretty good at controlling my emotions and making rational decisions. Cas can fly off the handle pretty quickly and do things that may not benefit her in the long run.
Will Cas become romantically involved with anyone on the Salvare?
EL: There’s definitely some romance. She does have a love life. As you can tell, there are plenty of relationships on the ship.
What were you like in high school? Nerd, jock, class president?
EL: I was a total jock. I grew up playing soccer. I’ve played soccer for about 16 years. I also played club soccer. If I weren’t in school studying, I’d be playing soccer somewhere.
“Another Life” premieres on Netflix on Thursday, July 25th
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
