The Leftovers’s Jasmin Savoy Brown Loves Being In A Cult

On The Leftovers, a show about the aftermath of millions of people vanishing, Jasmin Savoy Brown’s character takes part in her own disappearing act. Luckily for us (and you!), the gorgeous actress showed up for this interview.

You might recognize Brown from some of her guest acting work on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Fosters, but it’s her role as Evie Murphy on The Leftovers that you’ll likely remember the most. And even if you don’t remember her, don’t feel too bad — Brown can barely remember the name of her favourite character on Game of Thrones.

Your character has had a pretty wild season on The Leftovers.

It’s been a rollercoaster, but in the best way. When we meet Evie, it’s the first episode of the second season. She’s loved by her friends, adored by the community and close with her family. So when she disappears at the end of the episode, it’s heartbreaking. We don’t see her or her friends again until the end of the season, and they seem to have really changed. They joined a cult, the Guilty Remnant. No ones knows why.

Were you at all told what happened to your character when she disappeared?

They left us completely hanging. I don’t even think they had written the script for it yet. They had a few ideas, but they weren’t sure yet. I was so thrilled to find out my character joined the cult. [Laughs.] So thrilled! Before I was on the show and was just a fan, I loved the Guilty Remnant and wanted to be a part of it.

Yeah, I actually read that you were happy about it in another interview.

So excited! They’re so interesting. They don’t speak, which I thought was so compelling. The acting has to be subtle. I thought it would be fun and a challenge to communicate nonverbally.

How did your acting prep change between the scenes where you could speak and the ones where you couldn’t?

The nonverbal prep took a lot more work. When I walk on set, I need to know all the reasons behind why my character is doing what she’s doing. I can’t be saved by a line in a script. It’ll read on my face. I actually used a lot of the fan conspiracy theories about the cult as research.

You got to work with the always awesome Regina King. How was that experience?

Such a gift. I’ve been a fan of hers since I was a kid and I loved her in the most random movies: Daddy Day Care and Miss Congeniality 2. [Laughs.] I don’t know why, but they’re favourites of mine. I told her that and she laughed at me. She’s such a lovely person. It doesn’t get any better.

The Leftovers is on a lot of must-watch lists this year. What are you watching?

I just started The Grinder on FOX. It’s so good! I totally turned into a fan and tweeted Rob Lowe about how much I love the show and he favourited my tweet. I kind of freaked out. I also just started Game of Thrones, I’m a bit behind. I’m on episode five of season one.

Do you fall victim to online spoilers?

Yes! But, well, I mean…I forget things. [Laughs.] It sucks when I have stuff to do and forget about them, but it works out really well when I read spoilers and forget about them in a few days. I remember that important people have died and been killed, but I don’t know who.

Do you have a favourite character?

Oh my god, I don’t know her name! I don’t remember. Help me out, the blonde woman with the dragons?

Khaleesi?

Yes! The guy she’s with is really interesting. I can’t wait to see what happens with them. I’m so bad with names. Whatever.

How do you remember lines?

See, that’s the weird thing, remembering lines isn’t hard for me. I did an audition yesterday that was six pages and one of the pages was a whole monologue and I memorized it that morning. Not much else sticks. It’s a gift. I’m pretty lucky.

Photos courtesy of John Willy