Zero Day star Joan Allen spoke to ComingSoon’s Tyler Treese about her role as Sheila Mullen in the Netflix miniseries. Allen spoke about her character’s backstory that isn’t shown in the show, plus working with Robert De Niro. The six-episode series is now streaming on Netflix.
“Zero Day asks the question on everyone’s mind — how do we find truth in a world in crisis, one seemingly being torn apart by forces outside our control? And in an era rife with conspiracy theory and subterfuge, how much of those forces are products of our own doing, perhaps even of our own imagining?” says the synopsis for Zero Day starring Joan Allen.
Tyler Treese: Joan, you’re playing a former first lady here. How was it fleshing out the character? Because she really has an active role. She’s much more than just being the main character’s wife, and it’d be so easy just to make her one note, but she’s not.
Joan Allen: I really thought about her past history. She’s been involved in politics for years, decades through her marriage. We had talked about it. You don’t see it on screen, but when we talked about backstory as actors before we started shooting, what was their history? What happened? We had decided that George had been the governor of New York State, so she had been the first lady of New York State, then she’s been the first lady in the White House, and has is a lawyer and has her own [career]. You see she’s running and being considered for this judgeship. So she has her own professional life herself as well. I just think she has seen so much and been through so much as a politician’s wife, and personally, they’ve had complex tragedies in the Mullen family. She’s seen so much. I feel like she just kind of is a straight shooter because what hasn’t happened to her at this point in her life?
That’s so interesting that you mapped out all that history because even if it’s not said in the script, you feel it when you’re watching. So, I do think that actually makes a difference.
It’s great seeing you on screen with Robert De Niro, such a legend. What stood out about him as a scene partner? Because he just has the ability to turn that spark on and just really ramp up his performance when he needs to and really accentuate a scene.
Yeah, he is a force of nature and brilliant and very spontaneous and in the moment. I started doing theater when I was in my twenties. I was working with a theater company, and we kind of approached things a little bit in that regard. Like, let’s keep it fresh. Let’s do something different every time. You don’t rehearse a play, and then it’s set in stone. It’s a live, breathing thing, and the most important thing is the story, and let’s stay open to each other. So, I felt very comfortable being with Bob because I think his openness was something that was familiar to me. Just staying open and not putting things into boxes and expecting something to be a certain way is how I was trained, and I think it worked well with Bob and me working together.
One aspect of the show I really like is that Leslie Gladder, the director, did all six episodes. It really helps the show have a consistent feeling and tone to it. What did you like most about having a consistent presence there, helming all six episodes?
It was very key, and it was one of the boxes that I wanted to check in terms of agreeing to do the series. Leslie was so right, smart, sturdy, the beacon, hardworking, and clear. I felt this is such an advantage that it will keep the entire series together. That was a big draw for me, and I relied on her tremendously throughout the work, throughout the process of talking before we started shooting. I just felt like she was my anchor, and it was wonderful to know throughout the entire series that she was gonna be the person to go to. Very comforting and important, I think, in terms of keeping the whole thing feel like of the same world.
Thanks to Joan Allen for taking time to talk about Zero Day.
