Join us for a special episode of The Pilot Podcast where we interview Amalia Holm, star of the new Freeform series Motherland: Fort Salem. Come for the inside look into her character Scylla, her acting career, and fun tidbits about how she spends her time outside of work!
Join us for this special interview with Amalia Holm!
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BJ 0:10
So welcome to The Pilot Podcast. This week we have a special episode. Today we're joined by Amalia Holm from the new series Motherland: Fort Salem.
Mitu 0:19
Welcome, Amalia. We're excited to have you join us today.
Amalia 0:22
Hi, I'm very excited to join you. Thanks for having me.
Mitu 0:25
Would you like to introduce yourself to our listeners?
Amalia 0:28
I'd love to. I'm Amalia Holm. I'm 24 years old from Norway/Sweden, and I just joined my first American series as a series are regular on Motherland Fort Salem, which has been an amazing adventure that I can't wait to continue. I've previously... I've been a working actress since I was... since I finished high school. Basically, that's how I'm supporting myself. And while I've been active in the Swedish/Scandinavian/European market, which is much, much smaller than the American. So in that way, I've been able to gather some experience in these few years. Yeah, I don't know what else to say. I also study at the Swedish Defence University, where I just about to complete my bachelor in social science and security policy.
Mitu 1:19
Oh, wow.
Amalia 1:20
Yeah. which connects very well to Motherland. Everything just fell in place.
BJ 1:25
Awesome. So speaking of Motherland, how was that transition to doing an American television show? And what differences did you notice from your previous projects?
Amalia 1:34
I must say that the most... like the biggest change or difference is, of course, the scale of production, the budget. I'd say that most of the projects I've been involved with in American terms would be considered like small indie projects, whereas in Scandinavia, they're like national television, big projects. So that's a huge difference. Also, I grew up watching American television. That's how we all learned English over here. And therefore, it's still kind of unbelievable to be part of it and to be behind the scenes of a production that big with trailers and everything. We don't have that over here. And also a different thing, I mean, if we're not going to just look at the, like idealizing parts, would be that it's much more heirarchical than in Sweden, or in Scandinavian productions. And I guess that's also has to do with the scale of it. Because when it's smaller, you just... there's a lot of, we're in this together, let's just give it our all, even though we're not maybe paid for over time or things like that. And the conditions aren't as well or like the stunt work isn't in place. That's usually something that can happen in a smaller production and you're not really safe all the time, but you're just so in it, and it's your family. So you just go for it. And that was a huge difference. I mean, also just the fact that in the US, there's such a focus on safety and there's been a really like bump up in terms of protection against sexual harassment and information about that and what you do with it. And that's just incredible to see how it's put in place and with intimate coaches and an enormous and very professional stunt team that would take care of us.
BJ 3:16
And was there any different in the audition process?
Amalia 3:20
Oh, yes, I auditioned through a self tape from Sweden and well in Sweden, I basically know the casting agents and directors because it's such a small acting community. So throughout these years and since I live in Stockholm, where most of them are based, I know them sort of. Whereas LA and the US, it's just, it's not really been a real world to me or my friends over in Sweden, like we all been like for a few years now sending out these self tapes just out in the world. And that's been my way since my education like 300 self tapes, whereas of which a few lead to call backs, a few lead to screen tests or meeting with producers, but very, very seldom anything more than that. So when I got the screen test from Motherland that was very unreal. Like it never... it's not like I didn't... I mean, I always do my best self tapes, but it doesn't really feel like anyone's ever going to watch them. Because it's just so far away and you don't meet the person and such. So I mean, that's a big difference in in the audition process, and also the fact that the screen test, we don't really do that here. Sometimes in Sweden, you could have a very long audition process, and you go back and forth, because you're close by and you're able to meet them and you meet with the director. The director has a lot more to say in Sweden, let's say or like in smaller productions, whereas, for Motherland, the screen test was like getting into a room, a small auditorium, and doing that scene in front of very big people in suits, nerve-racking.
Mitu 5:00
Intimidating.
Amalia 5:01
Yes.
BJ 5:02
Or exciting?
Amalia 5:03
True, both. And it was just so much fun because all of a sudden, it was sort of like a little stage and you're supposed to do on camera acting, but on a stage, and that was... I think that added to the excitement as well.
BJ 5:17
Oh nice. And so we also know this isn't your first show where men are kind of given a secondary role in the world. How does this compare to the other project you worked on, En delad värld, which was more of a love story?
Amalia 5:30
I love your pronunciation of that.
Mitu 5:33
How was it?
Amalia 5:35
Oh, it was so sweet.
BJ 5:36
Aww.
Amalia 5:40
Well, the Swedish way we would say it is En delad värld.
BJ 5:44
Oh wow, I was very off.
Mitu 5:45
En delad värld.
Amalia 5:46
En delad värld, yes. But it was very different because in En delad värld, I'd say that there's sort of a morale in the story. In 2015 when it got out, feminism was really in like a big topic and national politics and there was a feminist party with a very strong and feminist profile leader. And so in En delad värld, there's like many similarities between the party in the series and the party in Sweden, like the National Party. And then this is spoiler alert, but in that one, the leader of that party is actually the main villain, is purposely causing the extinction of men or hurrying it up, because she believes that women can live on without men. So all these movements to keep the men from extinction are sabotaged in sense. Whereas in Motherland, it's not a morale that is the world would be better or it would be worse or feminism is this or that. It's just in a sense, a much more, you say, just a alternate universe, one gendered world kind of fantasy. So yeah, I said that that's the biggest difference because in En delad värld, there's not an alternate universe in in any other sense then a virus spreading, and how that will affect how we coexist. So in that sense, it's also relevant today.
BJ 6:59
Yeah.
Mitu 7:15
Oh, yeah. So where did you find your inspiration for your role in Motherland because she's dark, and she's complicated. And we've recently gotten more of a sense of her backstory, where do you pull that from?
Amalia 7:27
Well, to play Syclla was an absolute privilege. And it was so much fun, because I've always wanted to play the villain. And it's not in many stories that the villain can be so sweet. Like it doesn't come across that often. So in that sense, this was just my dream role or is and I just really like to explore the flirtatious parts of her and the sensuality because I have not done many parts like that before and I can be pretty shy in those aspects of my own life. So to just play around with that was a lot of fun. And I guess my inspiration for that would be like men and women that I've seen really own those means or those tools to persuade or seduce people like, you know, keeping the eye contact or a lingering look or like a mysterious smile and just to play around and see what what would get someone interested. But most of all, I would say I played so much with just tried to get Taylor's attention. Taylor Hickson plays Raelle Collar is my love interest. And just in every scene, we would not talk it through too much because we didn't want to get too involved in each other. Because as our characters are falling in love, we are also getting to know each other. And I love that approach from both of us because we weren't supposed to have a history together. We were supposed to be getting to know each other. So that was very organic in that sense. So my goal was just like how do I get her to smile? How do I keep her look? How do I keep like her eye contact or throw her a little off just in the sense that Scylla would throw rail off? But of course everything that is like about touching and such would always be with consent and that we would ask each other beforehand like is this okay with you? And what how do you prefer me to and where can I hold you? And things like that.
Mitu 9:22
That's such a fascinating strategy that you to try not to over discuss it so that you could get to know each other as your characters got to know each other because your chemistry is so strong, you believe it when you two, you know, make eyes at each other.
Amalia 9:37
Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I'm happy that it seemed to have worked. I mean, it's a pretty bold move if it wouldn't have worked, which could have been like a total disaster and nobody would have bought it. But yeah, there was something in that that just... we didn't... I mean, 'cause sometimes when you play best friends or family with someone on screen, you want to get to know them, like really get to know them so that you can have a common body language or common like gimmick or things like that. Whereas when you're falling in love, it's the opposite. You just want to discover something about the other person. So if you have a scene where you're looking into like admiring each other, it was so much fun to just explore her face in that scene. Like while shooting, I'm discovering who she is and what she looks like and what I like most about her and just trying to feel that.
Mitu 10:24
That's really beautiful. Where do you see your character going next? How much do you feel comfortable sharing?
Amalia 10:30
Oh, and are we talking next from episode three or from the season?
Mitu 10:35
From episode three or the season, whatever you feel comfortable sharing. We in this latest episode, listeners as background, we've gotten a little more information on how you came to join the Spree and I think lends to that tension that is in the show where it's not completely black and white. There are complicated reasonings behind the actions of both the witches representing the nation and also this group the Spree.
Amalia 11:03
That's the exact analysis I would do of the episode too and where we are in the story. And what I can share with you is that Scylla and also me coming in as Scylla was like right off the start very convinced that this military system isn't really for the benefit of the witches. There's an exploitation, there's limits to what extent they are allowed to exist. And that's only on the premise that they are giving their lives for the country that used to persecute them. And yeah, there's something that's very off in that in mine and Scylla's opinion. A very big level to explore for Scylla or space in her head is to more understand General Alder and the system's motive trying to understand that they're not only evil. So I would argue from another perspective and rather than the girls or the establishment understanding the motives of the Spree and of Scylla and her dodger background, her background of being an outcast in society growing up really as an outcast being followed and threatened by the military in the state of things. She also has to broaden her perspective and the motives behind the state of things. And other than that, she's a very passionate character and all and you could call her a little naive. But I'd say that she's a passionate person that is open to new experiences, and it's very much about like, really invested in doing the right thing. And so far, her analysis or according to her analysis, she's doing the right thing in helping the Spree. And if you're a person who's very invested in doing the right thing, it's very dangerous if you don't start to self reflect on where you're going with that and who you're aligning yourself with, who your allies are. And so I'd say that we're going to see Scylla explore all of those things, but also under the overwhelming experience of falling in love.
BJ 13:08
Okay, so she has her point of view on how to fix the world, but she is open to some other viewpoints and might shift a little bit as the season goes on?
Amalia 13:19
Um, yes, I think that's how we... I mean, she'll trust you if you deserve to, if you show that you're worthy of it. So openness, a sense of being a searcher, a seeker. Seeking for the truth, seeking for the right path to do the best for the world. And then I mean, an extreme group as the Spree tends to get very dogmatic or radical and that can lock you out like lockout your your sense of being open to alternate explanations. And I'd say that when Scylla is at Fort Salem, it's easier to open up for alternate explanations of the truth.
BJ 13:57
Okay, seems like the future for Scylla, is gonna be pretty exciting. I know you can't tell us everything, but I think you're hinting at something.
Amalia 14:05
Yes, I may be.
BJ 14:09
So we also noticed that you've done work on feature films like The Girl in the Spider's Web, and Alena. So what were those experiences like and how does that compare to doing television?
Amalia 14:21
Actually, it's so funny that you asked about The Girl in the Spider's Web, because that was in the Spring of 2018. And I did one day on that film. And it was the last day of shooting, and it was a major film. And when they had like four days in Stockholm, I jumped in I did a small role. That was edited away in the final product, but the money I made that day, for that day onlym is exactly the money I used to fly myself to LA for the screen test for Motherland. Wow. Because they told me or my management that they would only... they wouldn't fly anyone in for the screencasts so if you were in LA, you could come in otherwise you'd do it over Skype and we just decided that I'm flying myself in and we'll say she's there. So I actually took the like, it was in my in my budgeting I was like that money goes there. So it's funny how those things connected even though I was edited out of the movie. And it was just I was supposed to be in the final scene, just flirting with the main guy, Sverrir Gudnason. But it was a great experience. It was such a lovely team and they really included me even though I was just there for a day. And yeah, it was my first time in a trailer as well. So that was fun. It was just yeah. Such a huge, huge production too of course. And Alena with a completely different experience. That was my first lead. And I was 19 years old. And I remember I like my second day of work, I had a little breakdown because I was trying to do like everyone's part. I didn't understand really the concept of like someone else tying my shoelaces like, I'm sorry, I can't like you do that. And they're like, please let me do my job. I'm like, okay, sorry. This is like I just wanted to help. Or like, I would get very stressed out when people had to wait for me because I felt like they were waiting for me. When what was happening was just like, okay, the lead is in costume, lead is in makeup, lead is at lunch. So it was just like, you know, the way, business works in a big production. But just accepting that I was the lead. That's something that I have a very hard time with. Because I always feel more like a crew member. And like, I'm part of something and I'm waiting for other people. So when I'm put in that position to be the one to sometimes even call shots, and of course, it's up to me to say like, guys, I'm really freezing now, but that doesn't come naturally to me. So I think that was a big challenge. But It was an amazing experience. And it was all... I mean, the production value. It was very low budget. It was supposed to be just for like a one hour TV movie, but we managed to do a whole feature film. And I think that much credit to the cinematographer, Simon Olsson just made it look amazing. And then also they added incredible original score, like the music of the movie made it's so good. And also costumes did wonders. In Sweden, we don't have like, we don't have boarding schools really in that sense and especially not all female boarding schools. So that was also just incredible to see how they created that universe. And it's all based on a comic book but for the movie adaption they changed a fact and they took out all men and I don't know that's something that's following me throughout my career. People want to see me in feminist like dystopias and utopians. So yeah, they made it into a lesbian love story rather than a heterosexual one, which was incredible to see because part of it was also supposed to be... there's a scene of sexual harassment in that film. And it was like a male bullying gang that would gang up against her and, like push her into... to the like into the wardrobes after they had a practice of lacrosse. And to me it was it was pretty new to be part of the movie where women were both protagonists, villains, and everything in between. And I just think that added depth and representation in the experience. I really liked that about the film.
BJ 18:40
And was taking on a lead role and kind of getting used to that, did it help build your confidence as an actor or help you kind of recognize your own skills?
Amalia 18:50
Definitely. I'd say that before that film. I was very, like my hobbies have been like volunteering or being active in NGOs and like student unions and stuff. So I always naturally took on some sort of, like, group leader role in different ways or supporting a group or a lot about being a part of a group and trying to see what's the best for the group. And so I think what happened in my mind when I took on a lead, especially it was that I thought, like, how am I going to maximize the performance of the group, whereas that's not my job at all. I'm just supposed to be there, do my part, of course collaborate with all my team members and cast members, but not in that sense, I'm not responsible for anyone else. And I think just the shift in like realizing that, oh, I can use all that energy in deepening my character work was amazing. And it's still kind of the spell that draws me to this field of work and I also feel like that's a new sense of leadership. That like I'm taking on my task as good as I can, and I put all my energy into doing my task as good as possible. And then I'm expecting the rest of the people to do the same, rather than trying to get into people's business and fix things and do that. So I'd say that that's been very rewarding in a sort of... in a way of growing as an actor and as a team member.
BJ 20:25
Awesome. And so we've also learned that you speak several languages, Swedish, Norwegian, German, and English. Do you find being multilingual helps you with your acting?
Amalia 20:36
That's such a great question. I actually do. Yeah, cause sometimes when I get stuck on a line, or it doesn't get into my head as easy as I would want it to, especially if like the rest of the dialogue is super easy, because it's so well written and it just sticks right away. And then a sentence doesn't, then I'll just read it in all those different languages. tried to get it into my, like linguistic memory in a sense and be like, oh, well, if I say it like that, then it sticks in that sort of sense memory. Because these languages are very different to me like emotionally, I'd say. Norwegian is from my first years of life, and I have all my father's family over there. And they're Christian. And I have like, my Christian belief from them. So I'd say that there's nostalgia to Norwegian to me, and a child's language. So if I'm approaching like a softer side, I can always go through Norwegian or innocence. And then English is something I've learned to be able to go out in the world. And it's what I was taught in high school, and it's always been a language of function, rather than emotion. And of course, as it's growing, it's now been attached as well to amazing experiences. My visits to New York or LA and now also my work experience in English. I did a series called Playground that was a mini action series that was an American-French production but it was filmed in France, and everyone spoke French, but it was in English. So it was... yeah, English is such a amazing language in my life, because it's what I'm using to communicate with people that I wouldn't have been able to communicate with. If not, it's been very functional. And in that sense, it's romantic. I don't know that sounds very contradictive. But there's something about English as a bridge to me, whereas Norwegian for example is like, my childhood home. And Swedish is the language I think in, I'd say most of the times. And German is... German is just like, I'm just so happy to have some German knowledge because to me, it's it's very important part of European history in a very complex way, and I feel like knowing that language I can get closer to some literature and some experiences of people that are very relevant in today, in terms of like prohibiting fascism and tyranny, and exploitation and racism and anti semitism and such. And also, I mean, it's a great source of a lot of cultural, like, masterpieces. I was actually hired as... this is a little embarrassing, but I'm sharing it now I was hired as a guide in this Swedish Museum, that's like a big ship that has mostly German visitors. But my conversational skills are great in German, my grammar, not so much. So it has to be sort of like it has to be a good flow, like there has to be good conversation going and then I'll be sort of fluid and like good pronunciation and such like that. But when it comes to like, much demanding high maintenance tourists from Germany that are expecting a lot of you, the grammar not so much. So I kind of ended up just being a guide in English and Swedish.
Mitu 24:09
German is a tough language to feel out. It's so... I studied it in college and there's so much rote memorization. And in Spanish and in romantic languages, you think, okay, if this ends in an A or an E, a specific article typically goes with that. In German, maybe emblematic of the culture because I lived in Berlin for a little bit. It's just by the rules. That's it. There's no rhythm to it or anything for the most part. It's just rote memorization, but it is such a beautiful language and culture. It's just very hard to get right.
Amalia 24:44
Indeed, indeed. Yeah. Most of the time. You just had to throw yourself out there and not be too scared to offend someone with the wrong preposition.
Mitu 24:52
Exactly.
BJ 24:55
Well, this is kind of inspiring me to study some languages again. I've forgotten all this Spanish and Italian I once knew.
Amalia 25:03
Well, I mean, you went for both Spanish and Italian. Isn't that like isn't that much harder because they're pretty alike.
BJ 25:10
I did them one after another and them being so similar does... it makes it easier and harder. You pick up on it quickly, but then you start to blend them together. And that can become a problem.
Amalia 25:23
I wonder... are Italian and Spanish people offended if you like mix them?
BJ 25:27
Yes. So back to your acting career. Have you ever thought about doing any work behind the camera in terms of directing or producing or writing?
Amalia 25:41
Well, yes, especially in Alena, but also the feature film I did before that it's called The Hidden Child. I just was mesmerized by the work of the script, the script supervisor. Wow, those minds can hold so many details. And yeah, I would just go in my breaks to sit next to the script supervisor, and people are like, well, you obviously like directing, and I'm like, I don't know, I just, this is the cool job. But I'm guessing that that also comes from a sort of sense or, like directing visions. I can have an idea of how I want things to be. But for now, I'm very happy with just I know, I'm not directing myself, but having my own visions, and then managing to fulfill those visions is just so satisfying. And I love when the vision is shared with a director and a writer and a producer. And that's just magic happening. I think that in the long run, I mean, I've written some outlines for a few short films that are stories very dear to my heart. And I have an idea for a feature, but I'm not in a hurry. I'm loving what I'm doing now. And also, I spent most of my writing time doing academia like papers for my bachelor's and I have a passion for that too. Social science and law and politics. So it's easy to misunderstand what you mean by that. It sounds very vague. So I'd say policy rather than governance, sort of. The more nerdy side of it, I guess. But I just wanted to circle back a little to the German part because I actually started one German movie, but it was a movie that was going to be dubbed. So I couldn't read my lines in German, but I communicated with the team in German. And then we did the scenes in Swedish. There I could really see what the assets of knowing that language was because there was so many nuances that I could pick up on that would be lost when everyone tried to speak English. So like bringing international teams together is amazing. I just have a very basic love for internationalism and globalism in that sense, and meeting like this. I mean you need guys over there and me.
Mitu 28:01
The world can be so flat. That we can all connect, I should say not that I believe the world is flat.
Amalia 28:07
Oops.
Mitu 28:11
How do you balance your studies with all that's going on in your career?
Amalia 28:17
Well, I know, I get pretty restless if I don't do anything. So in a way, I have a pretty high work capacity in that. But also, I must say, it's to thank the Swedish university system for it because we have free education. And you can take your bachelor in 10 years time. So I've done my bachelor in four years now instead of three. But that would not be possible if I were in England, or in many places in the US, of course, because there's mandatory things whereas ours... instead of having six courses at once you do one at a time. So when I'm away at work, I just skip a few and then I take them up like half year later, and that's possible. So therefore, I mean that helps a lot. But other than that I am... I feel like I'm growing out of it but at least for a few years, I have had, like a need to do so many things because I'm excited and passionate about many things. So I try to keep like, all my options open. And now, since a year back, I feel like wow, this acting thing seems to be going pretty well. So now I'm kind of more focused on it, I just want to get my degree done so I can leave that behind. But I'd say that I study when I'm in between work, or if I'm at work, and we have so much time that I've done... all I could like all I can do on my character work and like the work of the story. And I just feel like well, now let's write something about crisis management.
Mitu 29:44
And not to add anything else to your plate but we saw that you have a strong background in music and singing. Do you have any interest in pursuing that further as well?
Amalia 29:53
It's... to me singing is still very much a hobby and not anything that I want to put like the pressure of paying bills with on. But I've... for now, I mean, I have a few songs out that have all been other people's initiatives like can you record this song for us and stuff like that. And for the German film, there's a song out that I'm doing. I'd love to incorporate it in my work. I love to do musical at some point. And I really, really love singing and karaoke. I mean, that's where I have my outlet these days. And I play like basic skills of violin and piano. So yeah, I'd love to incorporate that in my acting, but I don't see myself pursuing it in any other way and becoming like on stage artists or anything. The only thing I have is on Christmas Eve, I always sing a song to my grandma over the phone because she's in Norway. And she has like, these special songs and I sing it like... I sing at family gatherings because they make me and I'm not opposed, but like, you'd have to ask me three times because otherwise I feel like my ego is blowing up. I can't just say yes, the first time. And I have this idea it would be cool to do like jazz versions of old folklore Swedish songs. And like, just songs in general. I think that'd be a cool idea. But I mean, now I've said it on a podcast, so anyone can take it and I think you go, you do it. I just want it to be out there because there's so many nice, old lyrics that don't go... like they never go out of fashion. So yeah. I love new adaptions of old things.
Mitu 31:40
That's really beautiful. So BJ and I also saw that you have lots of fun outdoor habits like cross country skiing. BJ and I recently learned how to ski two months ago, we took a class for people seven years old and up.
Amalia 31:54
Wow!
Mitu 31:55
We were the star pupils in that class. You're not supposed to insert yourself in your interview but I do want to make that clear.
Amalia 32:02
I mean, round of applause, jazz hands for you.
Mitu 32:05
Thank you. What are some of your other favorite outdoor hobbies? How did you build that interest?
Amalia 32:13
I mean, just like with Norwegian, I'm a very nostalgic person. So sometimes I do things like out of nostalgia but then when I'm doing them, I love it. In Scandinavia, there's like a very strong culture of outdoors activities. So I've learned to cross country ski when I was like three years old, and before that, I was just like lying in a sleigh that was dragged behind my parents as they were cross country skiing and like that's your equivalent of like, taking a walk in Norway and you always have your little like, you pack your food and then you like if you have the tools for it, you can just like make a little couch out in the snow because there's so much snow. In my childhood that is, there's not as much snow anymore unfortunately. I'm happy have experienced it other than that downhill, I love downhill and I love like experimenting with different versions of it. There's a skiing type called telemark. Where you like.. the combination of downhill and cross country so your heel is loose, but you're going down. So it's like, it's just the best, or the worst thigh workout like, I can't keep up with my like younger siblings when they are on regular like slalom skis. But what did you guys go downhill or cross country?
BJ 33:34
Downhill, and we were very sore afterwards.
Mitu 33:39
They told us to lean forward and that's how you stay safe. So I never unflexed my body. I did that leaning position the entire time. I noticed even when I was walking around, I would crouch and lean. I think because I was so scared. But you know, we didn't hurt ourselves. And it was it was the best/worst thigh workout for sure.
Amalia 34:00
I bet. I mean, that's very good of you because I feel like leaning forwards is so counterintuitive when you're going downwards. You're just like you want to lean back. But that's very dangerous as you've told yourself. So that's impressive that you managed to keep that discipline.
Mitu 34:15
Oh, no anything the instructor... the instructor could have said, if you pat your head three times before you go down, and you won't fall, I would have done it consistently. He could have said anything and I would have been like sure.
Amalia 34:26
And BJ would have filmed it.
BJ 34:28
I would have.
Mitu 34:29
That's true. You understand our dynamics well.
Amalia 34:32
I do, I think I got a hint of it. But I also am very fond of sailing and windsurfing. I'm very bad in the water, but I'm good on the water. Like I think I'm a wind person in that sense. So whenever I go to a new country, I want to find a place to windsurf, even though like the preconditions aren't as good. I just have to do it. That's also like just a hang up, I guess but it was a lot of fun and also to see like how fashionable windsurfing is in different parts of the world. Because to many people, it was just like, a little, like thing that happened in the 80s. But I think it's still a lot of fun. And it's a great workout as well. And it can go very fast if you learn it right. And you don't have to be in the water as much as like swimming and stuff. And yeah, same with sailing like, as a kid, I would just, my family would say that I would sit in the front and just like, pretend to be the leader of the of the ocean, like queen of the ocean, and sing all my lullabies to the ocean and I sing to the fishes. And you got the wind in your hair, and it was just, yeah, love that. So I guess that's the sort of experience I'm still trying to get.
Mitu 35:49
So do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with our listeners?
BJ 35:53
Well, of course I do have my fingers tightly crossed for a season two of Motherland. I guess we're finding out very soon and I'm of course open to the fact that it will be delayed in some sense, one sense or another due to the coronavirus. But other than that I have a Scandinavian series coming out called Delete Me where I do the lead. And it's centered around high performance, high ambition, synchronized swimming in high school, and also trying to get out of your comfort zone. Trying to get... well give it a shot to go out and be someone you want to be and not the person that you might be tired of. Something I think many young adults can relate to. And in that strive, you can really control the outcome of it. So I'd say that probably remind a lot of people of Euphoria in a sense and the struggles that are posed there, and it also evolves around a sex tape being leaked. And the fatal aspects of your social life that can happen after that and it's very visual just like Euphoria in that sense. And it's not shot... it's not even... you don't watch it in chronological order. So it'll start with the end of it. And then it's sort of also trying to figure out who leaked that video and why. So I'm very excited about that. But that production has, of course, been put on pause, we've done half of it. And we're going to do the restof it whenever we can. That's in Norway. So it was my first part as a Norwegian speaking part, which of course, as you know, by now would tap right into my nostalgia, and be like really important to my like, dual citizenship identity. So yeah, I have that coming up. And yeah, I also have a series called Last Days of Summer in English, but it's in Swedish, it's called Den Sista Sommaren. I'm sorry, BJ. I'm too harsh on you.
It's okay.
Amalia 37:54
You want to try to pronounce it?
Mitu 37:55
Yes, BJ, why don't you try it? Can you say it again, Amalia?
Amalia 38:00
Den Sista Sommaren
BJ 38:01
One more time.
Amalia 38:02
Den Sista Sommaren
BJ 38:04
Den Sista Sommaren
Amalia 38:06
That's so good!
BJ 38:08
Haha!
Mitu 38:09
Good job!
Amalia 38:10
Wow. Yeah, you nailed the vowels and the R in Sommaren and that's not very easy for Americans, actually.
BJ 38:17
Can I do it again? Probably not, but we haven't recorded. I've done it once.
Amalia 38:23
It'll be there for eternity.
BJ 38:26
Exactly.
Amalia 38:29
Which is a miniseries, a thriller. I play the lead in that called Nico, who also a little coming of age but a little older, she's 23 years old, and she's bringing her friends from high school to this cottage in the Swedish north, where she's very pushy in them having a good time. And you can see that these relationships are kind of over bloomed. So to say, they should probably not be friends anymore because they're not very nice to each other, but they're still trying to cling on to it. And there's a big discovery. There's a deadly disease that one of them is dying from and how they deal with that, and in the lack of trust, and just the fact that everyone's just thinking that everyone else is out to get them in a sense, and then all of that is a thriller, because it's also intercut with, like a police hearing, because one of the girls is missing. And it's all filmed with the found footage grip. So everyone's looking into the camera all the time, and one of the characters is filming. And I love that, it was a unique experience. And the result is just like nothing I've ever seen. So if anyone feels like hacking Swedish state television, go watch it.
Mitu 39:44
Both of those projects sounds so intriguing.
BJ 39:47
Yeah.
Amalia 39:47
Yeah, they've been very intriguing to me, and just so in a way very, very different characters and especially from Scylla as well. something completely different, but in a sense they are very like and I can see that in some sense I have a profile I guess for what I'm cast for and people like to see me go in between kind of victim sensitive, vulnerable, and then kind of super fast going over to the like predator or like stand up for yourself revenge sort of thing. So yeah, I mean that's very interesting as well in forming a career like seeing what your pattern is because you would never figure that out yourself. It's just gonna have to be like, what do they want me in. And I love that letting go of control. I mean, it's super creepy and nerve-racking to not have any control over what you work with or your future jobs or what your future holds. But is also just to accept the fact that you can't control it, it's also like giving me harmony and opposite to like, what the alternative would be where you have to craft and you have to sort of stake something out and have goals. I'm not a goal setting person. I just do my best in every situation and I try to see where that goes.
Mitu 41:03
That's a sure wonderful approach. And where can our listeners find you online?
Amalia 41:08
Your listeners can find me on Twitter and on Instagram. And I mean, I chose a very bad Instagram and Twitter name, but it was fun to me when I chose it. So in Sweden, yes is ja which you spell J-A. So it's Amalia Yes (amaliaja).
Mitu 41:26
That's actually great.
Amalia 41:27
And then on Twitter, it's Amalia Yes Yes. So ja ja (amaliajaja), and that was just because I thought they were playing with each other's I was like, oh, it's Amalia, yes. And then it's, oh, there she is, again, Amalia, yes, yes. Like that was my idea behind it. I don't know if I'll change it but that's what it is for now. So Amalia ja ja or in American ja ja. It doesn't work in English.
Mitu 41:52
I think it's so great.
BJ 41:53
Yeah, it's fun now knowing the mean.
Amalia 41:56
Yeah. It's gonna be fun to see if any of your listeners can like detangle whatever I just said there. Decode it, find me. And yeah, a big shout out to my amazing cast members and colleagues from Motherland. Eliot Laurence created this show, with the original idea of all female cast, no hetero norm, just an amazing alternate universe that people should give a chance. Not because of whoever you're quoting, like, because of the quotas or whoever's in there. I mean, the representation is very good in many aspects, but that's not why you should watch it. You should watch it because of the heart-wrenching stories and the power struggles that are just mesmerizing and then it doesn't hurt that it's also all female, like a pretty diverse cast and better sexual representation than I usually come across.
BJ 42:53
Amalia, we wanted to thank you again for joining us. We really enjoyed getting to know you. You've had lots of fun stories. An amazing career. I think I can speak for Mitu and myself when I say we're excited to see where you're going next.
Amalia 43:07
Thank you so much Mitu and BJ. It's been an honor. It was so fun. This is my first solo interview in English and I think was a lot of fun.
Mitu 43:16
Oh good. I'm glad you had fun.
Amalia 43:19
So flattered that you knew so much. Yeah.
Transcribed with the help of https://otter.ai