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I felt the most free that I have ever felt in my entire life, Rothwell says.
When youre about to do something, you move through the world with potential and hope.
Watching Mel jump into the lake was one of the most powerful moments of the season.
What do you feel Melissa was remembering about herself?
And what was she surrendering to the universe?I wasnt acting.
I have never been in a two-piece-underwear situation in public, let alone on national television.
I said absolutely not.
They had medics standing by, and I told them, When you call action, do not cut.
I will call cut.
I didnt want anyone to interrupt that experience for me.
I remember running in and feeling a shock of water … there were tears coming out of my eyes.
It just felt so good.
I was in my body; I didnt give a fuck.
I had rolls falling out.
It felt like a baptism.
I feel like a different person.
That moment of going in the water felt like release and acceptance for the character.
And I felt like that in my real life.
Could you tighten up the back?
I wanted that moment to be that moment and have my full body as part of the story.
And not as a teaching moment.
What if someone just loved themself enough to run into the lake?
That reminds me of Melissa finally taking flight in the finale.
I can ask for an extension, and that isnt a negative or shameful thing.
I wanted thegoodgood snacks.
Lets ensure the coffee is hot and the pencils are sharp.
We start the day by checking in with each other.
I wanted to see each of the people sitting around the table as real people with real lives.
You bring all of yourself into the room, and you put all of yourself on the page.
When I was very early in my therapy journey, I was loud and wrong a lot.
I would take some therapy-isms and stand behind them, not even understanding the principle.
I really wanted Melissa, in the name of doing what sheshouldbe doing, to do something so wrong.
It was cathartic to see that there is a consequence of that.
But it doesnt mean the spirit of it is wrong.
From previous interviews, I know you didnt want to make Melissas story one of before and after.
Living my own healing journey and watching that, its like,This is not adding up.
I havent seen the messiness of the journey exalted and honored.
I tend not to acknowledge and celebrate the process because I want to get to the goal.
This was a recent conversation with my therapist.
She asked if I was finally celebrating.
I said yeah, but she said, You could have been celebrating this whole process.
The process is just as worthy.
You start seeing how short life is.
That shit lasted a week.
How did it feel to live out that fun rom-com element?
This is the best job in the world.
I wanted her to have fine-ass men pining after her and be heartbroken over her.
That was so trope-y and overdone.
Proving myself in the arenas ofInsecureandThe White Lotusalerted the industry that I could be trusted to helm a show.
I wanted to know where we were taking this girl.
As soon as we get the green light, were ready for season two.
