Reflections With Taylor Schilling

Taylor was photographed by Alexandra Arnold; she was styled by Andrew Gelwicks at The Only Agency. Hair by Marco Santini at Walter Schupfer Management; makeup by Gita Bass at The Wall Group. Interview and design by Alison Engstrom; Photography assistants Sarah Gardner and Arielle Arnold.

Hi Taylor, it’s lovely to meet you. I love having conversations with creative women and talking about the hurdles and the triumphs that shape them and their careers. Reflecting on your career so far, how would you describe the road to where you are now?  

There are so many different lenses that I could look at it through, so it depends on the context. It’s interesting, the acting part of my life is just one part, it’s an important part, it’s why we are talking. The thing that characterizes it is that I’ve always felt like there was no question around it. I have always loved it. I did a play in my middle school cafeteria, when I was 11, and I felt like I belonged. I had friends and I made sense. It was a light turning on moment for me of oh, this just makes sense. There is a direct line from that to what I am doing today. It was a non-negotiable, it was always going to be something that I did and then doors opened, which I can say in retrospect. 

When was your first big door opened?

I think it was getting into college! I was a terrible student and I barely graduated from high school. I auditioned for a few schools because I knew I wanted to study theater and learn more. A great mentor in my life, Larry Sacharow—who passed the summer I graduated from college—auditioned me but saw my academic record. He called me up and said, “The college board at the university does not want to admit you. They are not into your academic record (laughs), but I am going to put myself on the line here to bring you into the theater department.” I ended up meeting really important people in my life while I was doing plays and shows. 

I always find it interesting when someone has such a strong conviction about pursuing something at a young age that they continue it through adulthood.

I was always fascinated with acting; I was a real performance nerd. I went to graduate school at NYU for theater. It became my obsession. I wanted to be the best I could be. It’s like someone doing something physical, like wanting to perfect a layup or a musical instrument. I was just obsessed with being as good as I could be. I didn’t think TV or film were going to be the thing. 

What’s been the most valuable piece of advice you have received on navigating a creative life? It’s not always even and easy. 

Absolutely, I’m navigating my way through that all of the time. I got pretty clear when I was younger about why I was choosing acting, what it meant to me, and why I thought it was valuable. It had nothing to do with fame, money, or visibility. It became much clearer to stay on my own track, which was being the best I could be. Also, it was about finding different ways to tell the truth and being interested in what was true and what resonated to me as being true. Can I be brave enough to share what’s true for me? It became this whole space of challenging myself to keep risking more because that’s what felt honest. 

That’s a beautiful way to put it. It’s about stepping outside that safety net and approaching things in a new way.

Yes and then the nexus of power comes back inside. It’s not about how other people are responding. It’s not about the external, it’s about the internal experience. 

It makes the work you do so much more meaningful.What needs to be in place in order for you to sign onto a project these days, what guides you or grabs your attention the most? 

I am mostly interested in the people involved. A script is really interesting, but if there is a director, a writer, or other actors who I admire, I am game to work on it. 

‘Dear Edward’, based on Ann Napolitano’s bestselling book, is a new 10-part series on Apple TV+. It definitely is a tearjerker, it’s very sad, but heart felt.

I know. I keep telling people if you are in the headspace to get on the ride, I think the show can be super cathartic and validating. 

What excited you most about this project?

I was interested in the conversation around motherhood. I thought where Lacey started was interesting. I had also really enjoyed Jason’s work (note, Jason Katim is the creator) and was excited by that.

How would you describe it for those who haven’t tuned in yet? 

For me, the show is about having the experiences of grief, healing, and community. The seed of the whole thing is the moment when you wake up and realize your life isn’t what you anticipated it to be and how to embrace that and exist inside of reality. 

Anyone who has experienced grief, especially shocking grief like the story in the series, will relate to the emotional storyline. Did you learn anything about grieving through your character Lacey or the plot, in general? 

I think the main headliner is that we need each other in grief. We need to connect to each other. It’s medicine to find our people and be together in our most vulnerable spaces. 

There are other story lines as well that are reveled throughout the series, but your character also grapples with infertility. This is a very relevant topic but it also digs deeper into this idea that motherhood, or the role of a mom can appear in unexpected places.

I think it does that for sure.

How do you replenish your creative stores after a project or between projects? 

When I am working on something it is a big part of my life, but it’s not the main focus. I spend a lot of time reading, being inside of my own community, and really way outside the business (laughs). 

Do you have any outside passions that fuel your professional work?

I love to consume other people’s work. I’m really galvanized by other people’s art and I go out of my way to experience it, whether that means reading a book, going to a museum, or gallery. The people in my close circle are inspiring and beautiful. The more attention I pay to the minutiae of my day-to-day life, by the time I am working, I am just ready and I’m present with what is in front of me.

stream new episodes of ‘dear edward’ every friday on apple tv +

A special thank you to this team, Shelter PR, and Apple TV+.