How much did you know about The Walking Dead before you were cast?
I knew it was a comic, but I hadn’t read it. I didn’t get caught up on the comics until after I was cast. But it was my favorite TV show. We would have friends over and cook dinner and watch. It’s a dream to be working on the show; I didn’t think I would ever get an audition for it, let alone to be working on it. (Laughs.)
What was the audition process like? Did you know you’d be playing Eugene?
They’re very secretive about casting and I didn’t know who the character was or if he was in the comics. I was just trying to focus on the information that they gave me. After I was cast, I had a long conversation with [showrunner] Scott Gimple and that’s when he told me I was playing Eugene — and he has a mullet. I got really excited because it’s a fun character. I never thought I’d be on a drama looking like an idiot with a mullet!
Is that your real hair? Did you actually have to grow a mullet?!
Luckily, my hair was already grown out. I was actually going to get a haircut the week that the audition came down, but something happened and I didn’t get to it. I’m a natural blond, and they cut my hair into a flattop and left the longer hair in the back so they could clip in extensions and dye it all brown. When they take those extensions out, I look ridiculous. I was so embarrassed running around that I asked someone to take me to the store so I could get a hat because I was so mortified at what I looked like. They took me to Wal-Mart and I walked in and there were like five people with the same haircut. I thought, “You know what? I’m OK.” (Laughs.)
WARNING: DO NOT read the rest of the interview UNLESS you are current in the comics (or at least up to issue #70).
Read the full Hollywood Reporter Interview here!
