EXCLUSIVE: Khiyla Aynne is prepared for the highlight, which she could have tonight on the Paramount+ sequence Comfortable Face when her character Hazel Reed does the forbidden.
Hazel is the granddaughter of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, higher referred to as the titular Comfortable Face killer; each characters are based mostly on actual individuals. Aynne spoke to Deadline about her expertise taking part in a real-life particular person and the lengths manufacturing went to make her first interplay with Dennis Quaid, who performs her imprisoned grandfather, be as genuine as doable.
Watch a clip from their characters’ first interplay above.
The CBS Studios-produced Comfortable Face is impressed by the true-life story of Melissa Moore, the Comfortable Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore, and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Prepare dinner.
Leaping off from Moore’s true-life story, the sequence follows Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford) and her incarcerated father, referred to as the Comfortable Face Killer (Quaid). After a long time of no contact, he lastly finds a solution to drive himself again into his daughter’s life. In a race in opposition to the clock, Melissa should discover out if an harmless man goes to be put to loss of life for a criminal offense her father dedicated. All through, she discovers the impression her father had on his victims’ households and should face a reckoning of her personal identification.
Moore’s youngsters Hazel and Max Reed are performed by Aynne and Benjamin Mackey, respectively.
L-R Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa Reed, Benjamin Mackey as Max Reed, and Khiyla Aynne as Hazel Reed
Ed Araquel/Paramount+
DEADLINE: This sequence tackles heavy topics. What was it like being on set of a sequence based mostly on real-life occasions involving a serial killer?
KHIYLA AYNNE: Sure, it’s positively a heavy subject material, however we actually saved it gentle and optimistic between takes. Throughout breaks, we generally performed Uno and joked round a bit. Our crew was actually superb, and the forged was fantastic to work with.
DEADLINE: Episode 5 is a pivotal second in your character, Hazel. Her mother has efficiently saved her remoted from her grandfather despite the fact that Hazel has requested loads about him and proven curiosity in attending to know him. The 2 of you join behind her again, as we will see within the video clip. What are you able to share concerning the significance of their chat?
KA: Yeah, episode 5 is pivotal for Hazel, and he or she has some fairly massive moments. She is seen first speaking along with her grandfather, which I feel viewers shall be shocked about. Some in all probability shall be screaming at my character, saying, “Cease! Why are you doing that? Hold up the cellphone.” I feel what’s going by way of her head is that he doesn’t appear as unhealthy as her mother and her household have made him out to be. You’ll see how he’s validating her when he says, “You’re not a child anymore, and you’ll resolve for your self what you consider me.” She feels the alternative when her mom tells her what to suppose and what to do. In the meantime, this man who’s been hidden from her is validating her and telling her that she will be able to make up her personal thoughts and suppose the way in which she feels is finest.
DEADLINE: As an outsider wanting in, although, 15-year-olds suppose they know every thing and don’t understand their dad and mom have their security and finest curiosity at coronary heart. There need to be repercussions for Hazel, no?
KA: Undoubtedly. Going again to episode one, we see Hazel’s need to search out out the place she got here from and who she is after she overhears her mom saying that her father is the Comfortable Face killer. That sparks one thing inside her as she’s on this journey of self-discovery. This offers her one thing even deeper to dive into: her household’s previous and every thing. Once we see her talking with Keith for the primary time, we don’t actually know the place the connection’s going or what it will imply. He has entry to the surface world whereas being in jail, and for the bigger story, Melissa is seeing whether or not or not they’re going to do a trial for the homicide.
DEADLINE: What was your course of for stepping into character?
KA: It was a tough way of thinking to get into as a result of I’d be talking with a serial killer. That’s not a traditional factor, so it’s very completely different. Our director, Ramaa Mosley, was very useful with that. She made some superb selections, which included having Dennis and I not meet earlier than we filmed any of our scenes. I didn’t meet him for the primary time till our present premiered at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
DEADLINE: You by no means noticed one another on set?
KA: By no means. We noticed one another in passing one time throughout lunch, however we didn’t meet each other till SXSW. Ramaa selected that as a result of she needed our characters’ first time speaking to be as actual as doable. So within the scenes [airing tonight], these telephones are actual, and we had been doing our scenes collectively however aside.
DEADLINE: Did you are feeling any stress about taking part in a real-life particular person?
KA: Enjoying an actual particular person comes with added stress. It’s not a nasty stress, however you wish to do an excellent job since you are portraying them in a barely completely different model. You wish to make them proud.
DEADLINE: Did you get to satisfy Melissa or Hazel?
KA: I didn’t meet Melissa or Hazel till after we completed capturing. After I met them, they had been so welcoming, so beautiful. I gave her whole household hugs. It was good to see them nose to nose. We had spoken on social media, privately, earlier than we met. Hazel complimented the sequence and the way I portrayed this model of her. That meant loads to me. We frolicked loads in Austin.
DEADLINE: Earlier than we go, are you able to tease what’s forward for Hazel? She’s making massive errors and involving different individuals. This will’t finish too effectively.
KA: What I can say is Hazel has gone by way of arduous instances with the bullying she skilled within the earlier episodes and arduous instances along with her friends in school. So when [she starts talking to her grandfather], individuals begin giving her consideration and considering she’s so cool. Nevertheless, she’s making errors and letting these pals into her life. You’ll have to attend and see what else occurs for the remainder of this season.
