‘1923’ star Julia Schlaepfer on her character’s touching tractor scene: ‘She chose this life no matter what’

SPOILERS WARNING! This story contains intriguing details of the sixth episode of 1923 on Paramount+.

they are not here still.

Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) are on their way to visit the Dutton clan in Montana, but the trip is delayed when their rickety tugboat (captain of escape from prisonPeter Stormare’s) collides with a large ship. Fortunately, the pair were rescued by a passing ship, aptly named Capt. Shipley (game of thronesJoseph Mawle), a gentle soul who marries the couple after giving them dead sailors’ rings – and a smaller one around their necks.

Here, Schlaepfer explains how they created these challenging water scenes after spending two blissful days on a beach in Kenya. And are they always are you going to Montana She promises it will come… soon.

Reporter Before we get into Alex and Spencer’s incredible journey, let’s go back to your first cast.

JULIA SCHLAEPFER My parents loved Yellowstone and 1883. I didn’t see either of them and they pestered me and my brothers to watch all the time. We would never see it because we thought it was just so funny his wanted us to look. Then I got the audition, read the script and of course just fell in love with the story and the character. When I was called back, Taylor Sheridan flew me to Jackson Hole for a screen test. I read with Taylor as Spencer for the role. At the end of the audition, we all cried together in the audition room. When I was at the airport the next morning, he called me and said, “Your name is Alexandra.” I met Brandon Sklenar on the first day of Cowboy Camp.

Reporter Oh, so you have to do Cowboy Camp!

SLEEPERS We were very happy. Brandon and I had to do an extended cowboy camp because everyone in Montana was shooting. We had a month or two before we had to fly to Africa with the crew. So we stayed in Montana, just the two of us, and we went to the ranch every morning and drove by ourselves. Then we had lunch and went swimming [for the capsized tugboat scenes]. To be honest, it was like summer camp.

Reporter She and Brandon had to start an intimate relationship pretty quickly.

SLEEPERS Brandon and I were very happy with the cast. That chemistry you see on screen only exists between the two of us. And there is such a deep trust, just like with the characters. Spencer and Alex don’t really know why they are so connected. Brandon and I have it. Taylor trusted me right away and Brandon really put us in charge. I think that gave us the confidence to dive in.

Reporter When were you told you had to have a British accent?

SLEEPERS I knew immediately. They had me audition with a British accent. I majored in accent at NYU, so I had a baseline level of accent. But then they got me a good dialect coach who helped me describe her as the 1920s royalty that she is. I auditioned with a modern British accent. We boiled it down to this Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth accent.

Reporter Where did you and Brandon take these beautiful photos? From here to eternity beach scenes?

SLEEPERS Kenya. We were on the most beautiful beach in Kenya. It was the best two days of our lives. We were like two little kids and our director literally shouted from the beach saying, ‘We have to work.’ We moved so fast that our characters had a chance to just relax and have a moment of love and romance.

Reporter Where did you film those tugboat scenes?

SLEEPERS This was all in Malta, which actually has one of the largest film water tanks in the world. It was freezing. It was their winter time. We all thought it was going to be hot because Malta sounds like Italy – very hot. We just cried in the water tank all week, but it was a great bonding experience and so much fun.

Reporter While stranded on the tugboat with Spencer, Alex gives a speech about how she refuses to be afraid. What was the point?

SLEEPERS This was very important because when she decided to go on an adventure with him, she really wanted it and the danger that came with it. But she did not understand what it meant and what it meant. She didn’t know what the world really looked like. We saw how she was shaken by all the things that happened to them, the lions and now the boat. She finds her strength that she never had access to before because she was raised in such a privileged upbringing. As they continue their journey, there will be more moments like this. It remains difficult for them. She kind of tells herself that she won’t be afraid. She chose this life anyway. It will be you and Spencer until the end.

Reporter One of your last lines on the episode was how you go wherever Spencer goes, even if “it’s killing me.” What did you read in it?

SLEEPERS Taylor doesn’t write anything he doesn’t mean! When I first read this, I thought Oh, oh I really continue to not know what will happen to her. We do not know what their fate is. I definitely think that means they have a lot more obstacles to overcome before the story ends.

Reporter That moment in the episode when the captain puts the ring around your neck is very moving.

SLEEPERS It was such a special scene. We have to keep her. So Brandon and I both have our characters’ rings with us. They gave it to us at the end of filming.

Reporter I know you can’t spoil it, but it will probably be a while before you get to Montana.

SLEEPERS I know everyone is so impatient online. I also want to go to Montana. I want her to meet the whole family. I can’t tell you, but it will take a while. They must cross the sea and they must cross the land.

Reporter Where were you when you heard there was going to be a second season?

SLEEPERS Taylor had dinner with us one night and tried to tease what was happening to our characters. I think he realized early on that he wanted to write more for us. They whispered about a second season on set. We are just so incredibly happy and pinch ourselves that we are allowed to do this work.

Reporter Do you know how your character is related to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton?

SLEEPERS Everyone was speculating when we first arrived at Cowboy Camp. There was much debate about the family lineage. We’ll all laugh at each other and try to figure it out. I drew a family tree on the back of my script. We don’t know exactly. Taylor is keeping all of this pretty secret until he’s ready to show us the scripts. But we have a very strong idea. That’s all I can say!