Co-written by Grant, who will serve as showrunner, Michael Chabon (John Carter) & Ayelet Waldman (Applebaum), Unbelievable is based on The Marshall Project and ProPublica Pulitzer Prize-winning December 2015 article, An Unbelievable Story of Rape, written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, and the This American Life radio episode about the same case, Anatomy of Doubt. It tells the true story of Marie, a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed a twisting path to arrive at the truth. In 'Unbelievable' Danielle Macdonald Gives Voice To - Deadline [10], She has guest-starred on a number of TV shows, including New Girl, The Good Wife, Conviction, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Wire. So, the first thing I did was read the ProPublica article and then listened to the podcast. And I know that they were very much about protecting the identity of these people and I know that Susannah didnt get to talk to Amber in real life. [10], Wever is perhaps best known for her role as Zoey Barkow in the series Nurse Jackie, which premiered on Showtime in June 2009. DEADLINE: Kaitlyn told me she was so grateful to know that having it on screen had actually served as some form of healing. You just have to work a little harder. When I read the pilot, and I thought it was incredibly well-written. Details of Macdonalds character are not being revealed. AD: That reminds of the first time that Amber speaks to Karen Duvall. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. DM: That moment crushed me. Danielle Macdonald Rich Fury Getty Images Send us a tip using our annonymous form. He wasnt trained. And that was incredibly touching to hear from people that reached out. Edna Hendershot (Grace Rasmussen in the show), had investigated more than 100 rapes by 2011. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat. Once I heard who was behind it and got to talk to them about where they wanted to go with it, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. Merritt Carmen Wever [1] (born August 11, 1980) [2] [3] is an American actress. But yeah, just Falling for Figaro and French Exit right now. AD: What I think Unbelievable does really well, from the very first episode, is telling the viewer to believe survivors stories. Thats rare for me. Merritt Wever. But theres something about the way that our business works, and the way that as actors were dependent on other people seeing us a certain way and choosing us, allowing us to do our work, that can sometimes make it OK for people to tell you those things very directly to your face. [12] Wever received widespread critical acclaim for her role on the show. And so, telling someone. 5 of 88. I didnt know anything about my role. The sheer volume and the fact that nothing really happens. Toni Collette and Merritt Wever's Performances in - TVLine That pilot [of Run] was Id never read anything like it. Thats how Im going to survive this. Unbelievable (2019) - IMDb Its actually insane. I really have a strong suspicion that appreciation of Karen is a result of how much people care about Marie. A lot of it is really heavy and the next time Id have a scene, a lot of stuff has happened, and I had to figure out how Id go from being fine to being at a gun range and hooking up with random guys other than my boyfriend. (Laughs). "We're just telling the story, and we are giving the facts," Kaitlyn says. Your arm is kind of draped on him, so theres a physical connection there. HBO's Run: Domhnall Gleeson & Merritt Wever Light Up Rom - IndieWire Merritt Wever is an American actress, who earned an Emmy Award for playing the character Zoey on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie. It makes you wonder how many people you know whove experienced this and been disbelieved. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Im lucky in that I got to be a working actor for many years and didnt have to do a lot of this. DM: Id carry it home with me a lot. I felt that was very important because, while I loved the pilot, it also doesnt focus so heavily on that the entire time so you are able to watch it. I heard the rest of the series would be more about the investigation. Kim Kardashian's 10 Met Gala Looks Ranked After She Walked Yara Shahidi Wows in Mermaid Gown at Met Gala 2023, Manu Rios Shows Off Perfect Smile at Met Gala 2023. Merritt Wever is managed by Santa Monica-based talent agency,Innovative Artists. Best Dressed at Met Gala 2023 - The Top 30 Red Carpet Looks, Ranked in Order! So, the fact that that is a reality, the fact that we all know that, we know that there are all these untold stories. In 2019, Wever starred in another Netflix miniseries Unbelievable, opposite Toni Collette and Kaitlyn Dever released on September 13, 2019. I learned how common this all is and thats horrifying. Synopsis: Inspired by real events, a teen reports (Kaitlyn Dever) and eventually recants her reported rape, while two female detectives (Wever and Toni Collette), states away, investigate evidence that could reveal the truth. AD: This could have been just a standard procedural, but the subject matter is handled with such exquisite care. MACDONALD: I hope so. [The entirety of Wever's acceptance speech after winning the 2013 Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series] [6] Since she began her career, Wever has performed in numerous feature films, including: Into the Wild, Neal Cassady, Michael Clayton, Series 7: The Contenders, Signs, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Bringing Rain, Tiny Furniture and All I Wanna Do, among others. DEADLINE: Was it important that this show was made by women? Netflix's 'Unbelievable' Retells a Confounding Story of Injustice They were able to talk through a counselor to her about her experiences. I wrote her something along the lines of I cant be that girl for you. It was such a mind trip. I gotta go. He wasnt understanding what I was going through. She started her career by appearing in a number of low-budget short films. Thats a long-winded answer. The three ladies were also joined at the event by co-star Eric Lange, as well as showrunner Susannah Grant, producers Sarah Timberman and Lisa Cholodenko, and Netflix original series VP's Allie Goss and Cindy Holland. its an absolute minefield. It made me really understand what she was going through. Wever graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and Sarah Lawrence College,[9] and she trained in acting in New York. That shouldnt be something that even crosses someones mind, but it does. MACDONALD: Yeah. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant, CBS TV Studios, studio-based producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly (Masters of Sex, Elementary) and Katie Couric. But again, talking about anything else than whats going on right now feels like some kind of inappropriate human betrayal. How do you make this entertaining but tell a true story, but also give a voice to victims and survivors everywhere. with anything other than the big thing, she says. Amber is courteous while she answers Wevers questionsthe trauma hasnt hit yet. Now you might have a better understanding of what someone has gone through. You know this actually happened to people and I instantly wanted to see where this was going. Everyone experiences very different reactions, and this show does that beautifully. Thats where, I think, the system needs to pick up. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. DM: That was what I took most from the show. You have to remember that the characters life is continuing. Ive been told that. Out of all the people I know, I know about one person that came forward and someone is in jail for that. MACDONALD: That was a lot of fun. Because I get it. Its an indication of how exceptional Kaitlyn Dever [who plays the rape survivor] is within the whole show. And I think its incredible that she allowed that in the first place. After graduating from high school, she got enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. Danielle Macdonald - IMDb Unbelievable is streaming now on Netflix. Entertainment Weekly titled its review of Godless "Merritt Wever rides tall in Netflix's Godless" and wrote that "no one is more electric than the always extraordinary Merritt Wever". She had an understanding that everyone reacts differently, and that was the most important part. How do you accommodate all of that? Even though this was true, she recanted her claim soon after and said she made it all up. She said in interviews that she had been intimidated by the role: "I spent so much of this shoot thinking I would come off as a fool, that nobody would buy me as this and it wouldn't be believable. DM: One of the focuses I found was that they are showing the different kinds of trauma that people experience. Titles Unbelievable. Titles Unbelievable. Vicky is really lovely and really wonderful and she believed in me throughout all this, even when I truly didnt believe in myself. Danielle Macdonald and Kaitlyn Dever strike a pose alongside their co-star Merritt Wever while attending the cast and crew screening of their Netflix series Unbelievable held at The. Theres less time with television than with film, I feel like. DEADLINE: Theres that scene where Amber is with her boyfriend Eric and we can tell youre silently nervous Eric will judge you for being raped, like its your fault. '", Like in the ProPublica piece, the Netflix series compares Marie's police experience with another woman, Amber. I dont think his character is a bad person, but these people arent trainedtheyre not taught. In the pivotal role of Amber Stevenson, Macdonald manages to convey so much with little screen time. DM: If you look up the statistics, a lot of the time society might say, Well, these people are lying. If you look at the amount of people who are assaulted versus the people that lie about it, its less than one percent or something. On top of that, watching the show is about these cops finding this guy without having all the clues. AD: There are so many moments where the emotion comes out, but they are times where the camera isnt entirely focused on you. Netflix Rape Series 'Unbelievable' Team on Different Trauma Responses It was crazy because when youre filming on set, youre surrounded by the same people every day. It's based on a true story about a . Merritt Wever Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics - Healthy Celeb As a result, Marie was charged with a gross demeanor and had to pay $500 for court costs. Im spending days like I normally would and then Im called on set for three or so days. I thought of her as somebody who was starving for something. Stacy "often volunteered to take rape cases," and was "good at empathizing with the victims." DEADLINE: I know Kaitlyn Dever, who plays the lead role of Marie Adler, heard Marie got some closure from seeing the show. And I think that that was really key in me wanting to do this. Youre smiling in a lot of moments when we first see you. She also "listened to the woman with a sense of alarm.". Merritt Wever went to LaGuardia High School. There were a lot of shifts and a lot of turns, and I think I had to give in to always feeling like I was behind her. We want to hear from you! This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. It helps with having compassion and what people have going on in their lives. Or you arent speaking directly to the camera. 'Unbelievable' a credible, exceptional story of the system helping It was a lot of fun to do and Michelle and Lucas are incredible. The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. Should this make sense? MACDONALD: I havent actually. Emily In Paris' Lily Collins & Ashley Park Bring the Karl Lagerfeld's Beloved Cat Choupette Cockroach Goes Viral After Walking Met Just Jared's Beauty Superlatives - The 33 Stars Made Their Met Gala Debuts at 20 movies & TV shows are leaving Netflix in May -. Masters' Amy Schneider's News, Watch the 'Mission: Impossible' Movies in Order, Naomi Watts, 54, Stuns in a Poolside Bikini Photo, Leann Rimes Shares Video Montage for Anniversary, Read Erin Napier's Post about 'Home Town', Christie Brinkley = Iconic In Bareback Riding Pic, 35 Celebrity Relationships That Upset Fans. There are a lot of sirens, and I cant pretend Ive been out of the house recently, she says by phone from her Brooklyn apartment. DEADLINE: What made you really want this role? [5][6] Her mother is from Texas, and is a feminist and political activist.[7][8]. Merritt most recently won an Emmy Award for her role in Netflix's 2018 western Godless, and Toni recently starred in raunchy BBC One drama Wanderlust. Merritt Wever - Bio, Wiki, Family, Movies, Series, Boyfriend, Children Netflix's Unbelievable review: True story will leave viewers enraged And thats another level of what people have to deal with after a sexual assault. I will add my thoughts about the DEI standards following these rule changes. Im struggling to feel appropriate taking up space right now you know what I mean? It took a really long time because we were doing it in flashes, and she was just so incredible about explaining exactly was coming up in the shot for that segment of the scene I was like, Oh, this is a different experience. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. It was a no-brainer for me. Merritt Wever - IMDb Im okay with that. Education, Ethnicity Merritt Wever Danielle Macdonald Pictures, Photos & Images - Zimbio When it came to what was going on inside, it was strange I had recently said to someone that I wanted to play a detective. AD: There is that moment where Erics character gets a call from another detective and the way that he says, Theres no victim here really hit me hard. So my experience is not one of using this time to read the books that I havent read. I grew up in lefty circles, going to a summer camp called Camp Kinderland that was a red-diaper baby camp started by Jewish labor organizers as a way to get their kids out of the city in the summer. I know multiple people that have been, and it gives me a better understanding and maybe that means I dont understand what theyve been through, you know what I mean? Based on reporting from ProPublica and the Marshall Project, the series follows Marie, but also the two detectives who, much later, gave her case a chance to be solved. DEADLINE: And singing with Joanna Lumley in Falling For Figaro? She was conceived via a sperm donor and raised by her mother, Georgia. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Umthank you so much! 'Unbelievable' Review - The Hollywood Reporter Danielle Macdonald. Is it the cop she has and how understanding she is? She is known for starring as a perennially upbeat young nurse in Nurse Jackie (20092015), an intrepid widow in the Netflix period miniseries Godless (2017), and a detective investigating a serial rapist in the Netflix crime mini-series Unbelievable (2019). When they cast me, I wanted to make sure that they werent mistaking me for someone else. Merritt Wever and Toni Collette play two detectives investigating a series of sexual assaults. Merritt Wever, left, and Michelle Dockery in Godless., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, understated but steely performance as Karen Duvall, stunned, 11-word instant classic of an acceptance speech, The unforgettable scene in Unbelievable between Merritt Wevers detective and a rape victim, Review: White House Plumbers reenacts the mishaps of Watergates operatives for laughs, Get ready for the 2023 Met Gala: Heres when, and how, to tune in live, Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon blasted at White House Correspondents dinner, Tom Jones review: PBS Masterpieces latest period drama is laid-back and enjoyable. She was a feminist and a political activist and a caseworker for the city of New York and did not subscribe to a lot of what mainstream culture is. But girls like me dont get parts like this., Created by Vicky Jones, who directed the original stage version of Fleabag, and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the series represents another milestone in what has already been a remarkable creative period for Wever. Shouldnt everyones reaction to trauma just automatically make sense? And it doesnt. I agree. I feel like anything that comes my way is actually a side effect of both Kaitlyn as an actor and Marie the real Marie and its my gravest and deepest hope that Marie somehow knows that any of the light that gets shined on this project is really borne of a deep care for and validation of her. What's more, Stacy's partner on the greater sexual-assault investigation, Sgt. Instead, shes at home and, like the rest of us, struggling to adjust to the bizarre reality of life in a pandemic. Her co-star Danielle Macdonald also revealed what she thought of Marie's investigation. I started doing this professionally when I was 15, and my first agent told me, Well, if you dont lose X amount of pounds, youll only ever play the best friend. And I remember thinking, Well, Id be lucky to play a best friend. Because I knew that stuff was bull and because I came from a community and an environment that didnt subscribe to those kinds of ideas, I thought that I could somehow participate in this business without having it affect me. Thats important, because when we see someone who is sexually assaulted or raped, we assume they have to react a specific way. "[14], In 2016, Wever had a recurring role on AMC's The Walking Dead as Denise Cloyd. She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to win an Emmy Award for her work on the show. The show finds the balance really beautifully. The audio was produced and edited by Jessica Reedy. That was my big thing. Hats! Grant, Chabon, Waldman, Timberman, Beverly and Couric executive produce. Thats how I found Amber. She has also delivered memorable performances in popular shows such asThe Walking Dead and New Girl. Thats where I had to go since I had limited information. Parker and Pruitt portray real-life investigators Sgt. I guess well see them when we see them. And I am so incredibly inspired by her, truly, for the fact that she did come forward and did speak up. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. He is a proud member of GALECA, Critics Choice, and HCA. Prior to her new position, she was the Senior News and Entertainment Editor for the brand, covering and editing all things in the entertainment, pop culture and celebrity world forGood Housekeeping. Netflix's Unbelievable: Cast and Character Guide Her retraction came after detectives Sgt. In 'Unbelievable' Danielle Macdonald Gives Voice To - Deadline AD: Other than that aspect about the show, what do you want people to take away most from Unbelievable? Listen to what they have to say. When her character was killed off in the 6th season of. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. UmI gotta go. Bye. "I was walking through base camp, going to a makeup trailer and Merritt comes out, sees me, and then rushes over and gives me a big hug. She appeared in the films Birdman, Into the Wild, Neal Cassady, Michael Clayton, Series 7: The Contenders, Signs, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Bringing Rain, All I Wanna Do, and Marriage Story, among others. AD: That was so interesting because we dont get to see a lot of moments between survivors and the partners that they choose to be with. We were in that car and we couldnt have the AC on because of sound, and then youre like, Okay, were in the right circumstances for this.. And our privilege. If you or someone you know needs help or has been affected by sexual assault, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Then Merritt comes in," Danielle says. MACDONALD: I guess I cant really either because that wasnt my experience. Writers & Studios Talk What They Couldnt (And Could) Agree On, Late-Night Shows To Shut Down Immediately As Writers Guild Calls Strike, WGA Leadership Says AMPTP Refused To Bargain On Guilds Core Issues, Strike Explained: The Issues, The Stakes, Whats Affected & How Long It Might Last. Kaitlyn Dever & Danielle Macdonald Team Up for - Just Jared I dont think I get any messages that women in other professions dont get all the time. If you would like to talk to Joey about cheese, corgis, or Julianne Moore, follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Grant, Chabon, Waldman, Timberman, Beverly and Couric executive produce. [11] Zoey is described on the official Nurse Jackie website as "an irrepressibly bubbly trauma nurse, who serves as a comic foil to Edie Falco's hard-bitten (and prescription drug-addicted) titular character". It starts with that. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant, CBS TV Studios, studio-based producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly (Masters of Sex, Elementary) and Katie Couric. It was one of those strange things where you put something out and it comes back to you. She has performed in theater productions, including a performance in Brooke Berman's play Smashing, and in Cavedweller with Deidre O'Connell, both off-Broadway. Shes also worked as a social editor for House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook,CosmopolitanandSeventeen. Jeffrey Mason and Jerry Rittgarn. Performances we love: In Netflixs Unbelievable, Merritt Wever delivers not so much a performance as a near-spiritual service to the message of the series. If I can keep this together, maybe they can catch him. For that reason, the only thing I knew was what I read or heard in the podcast. Thats really scary. And later there is a scene between Amber and Karen, but Eric is there and talking with Karen about the lack of probability that this guy will be caught. Merritt Wever - IMDb Coming into a show, youre snippets. We will all become more compassionate and learn how this can happen. "We can't just treat these people as one large group we can't do that. Speech. It was his characters second-ever rape case. DEADLINE: Next you have Falling for Figaro opposite Joanna Lumley coming up, and French Exit with Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. Last week, we at TVLine revealed our 20 finalists for Performer of the Year. And maybe it also just felt right because they were so involved about this, and they knew exactly what they wanted to do with this, that you felt safe going into it and you knew it was going to be told the right way, and you felt safe and taken care of within that. It was an incredible experience. It did. By contrast, Jeffrey had only taken on two rape cases before Marie's, while Jerry worked as a technician in the aerospace industry before becoming a detective. Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, and Danielle Macdonald at an event for Unbelievable (2019) Amber is very calm and very courteous to her. Details of Macdonalds character are not being revealed. When you call your friend to see if you can stay with her, we dont see your face, but we hear your voice breaking. Were there conversations with Lisa, or with Susannah? Part of my research made me think, Is this just how shes coping? They need that training and know the statistics. I was like, Wait, why doesnt this make sense? All Rights Reserved. With a cast led by Merritt Wever, Toni Collette, and Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable also features performances of staggering realism from its supporting players like Annaleigh Ashford, Jayne Taini, and Danielle Macdonald. Is it just this cop? Part of it is how we deal with things as a human being and part of it is how its handled. Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article by ProPublica and the Marshall project, and an episode of the podcast This American Life, limited series Unbelievable follows the true story of a group of sexual assault survivors and the two detectives (Merrit Wever and Toni Collette) who track down their attacker. DM: Even just acknowledging that is a good thing, because we cant understand how people are going to react. In the pivotal role of Amber Stevenson, Macdonald manages to convey so much with little screen time. All Rights Reserved. Merritt Wever - Bio, Age, Parents, Siblings. I instantly felt . Kendall Jenner (in a Sheer Dress) & Bad Bunny Couple Up at Met Gala 2023 After Party (Photos), Met Gala 2023: See Every Celeb's Red Carpet Fashion, Full Guest List Revealed (Photos), Florence Pugh Debuts Newly Shaved Head at Met Gala 2023. Godless: With Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever. Merritt Wever plays Detective Karen Duvall. Did you have that thought? Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? 14 of 124. Born Name Wever played a lead role in 2017's miniseries Godless as Mary Agnes McNue, a tough leader of a female-dominated town. Macdonald is repped by CAA, Justice and Ponder and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson. That was an incredibly difficult scene to film. Beth Dubber/Netflix That partly has to do with how Merritt [Wever] and Toni [Collette] respond to the victims. It was interesting to film something like this and just come in for small parts. "I just started watching #Unbelievable and am already so angry. Toni Collette Merritt Wever Kaitlyn Dever Dale Dickey Scott Lawrence Danielle Macdonald Austin Hbert Eric Lange Elizabeth Marvel . How did you convey that? She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to win an Emmy Award for her work on the show. It's based on a true story about a young woman named Marie who was sexually assaulted and pressured by the police into recanting her story. Won the 2018 Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category for her role as Mary Agnes in. And I dont think theres anything wrong with that, and if this show that we made not long ago at all, but at a very different time and in a very different world, can provide that to people, thats our pleasure. Danielle Macdonald (who plays Amber) talks with Merritt Wever (Stacy Galbraith, in real life). I finally found myself in a room of people who werent telling me that I couldnt do this or couldnt be that. After that shell star opposite Jamie Bell in Skin and will appear with Emma Roberts in Paradise Hills. The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. Get our L.A. It affected my personal life. It feels like another time.. In 1997, Merritt Wever made her first TV show appearance as Myra in the Mad Dog episode of the crime drama TV series,Law & Order.