Eliza Bennett On Joining The ‘Dynasty’ Carrington Clan

Past spring, Eliza Bennett had just bought a residence in Los Angeles with her partner, James Charlton, when she obtained a connect with to audition for the portion of Amanda Carrington on the CW’s Dynasty reboot. The English actress—who rose to fame as a youngster actor in the fantasy spouse and children film Inkheart and later on as one half of MTV’s shorter-lived comedy-drama collection Sweet/Vicious—had by no means watched either iteration of the primetime soap opera. But her dad and mom, who were being big enthusiasts of the ‘80s authentic, realized particularly what she was signing up for as the most up-to-date extended-missing relative to get there on the Carrington doorstep.

“I was putting on phony eyelashes in my audition, which I really don’t typically do, but I did for Dynasty,” Bennett informed Observer with a snicker. “I certainly was trying to nail the design of the display as significantly as attainable.”

Within just a week of her audition, Bennett uncovered that she had not only booked the position but would have to commute in between Los Angeles and Atlanta, the place output can take put for nine months of the yr. “I dragged my spouse to L.A. a few decades ago. And then I received the display, so I was like, ‘Guess exactly where we’re going—somewhere where you really don’t have any friends!’” she mentioned. “It really was a whirlwind with no a lot time to consider about what was going on. And before I understood it, I was in my initially costume fitting.”

In a video clip job interview from Atlanta, Bennett spoke exclusively with Observer about the issues that come with becoming a member of this kind of a beloved present, her near friendship with co-star (and onscreen sister, Fallon) Elizabeth Gillies, and Amanda’s descent into the soapy, electrical power-wielding entire world of the Carringtons.

Observer: In an interview with Zach Sang, Liz Gillies discovered that she basically arrived up to you and introduced herself once she identified out that you ended up playing her sister, which she doesn’t generally do for her other cast mates – just request Adam Huber! What do you try to remember from your 1st assembly?

Eliza Bennett: Yeah, she informed me that story about Adam and I couldn’t feel it. (Laughs.) I was like, “What do you imply you did not discuss to him for three episodes?” She was like, “I really do not know. He didn’t really make an impact.” And it’s funny mainly because Adam is so pretty, and now they are these types of very good pals.

I was in a coffee store the 1st time I satisfied Liz, just one of her beloved espresso shops—Brash in Buckhead. She arrived up to me and was like, “Hello! I’m Liz, and you are taking part in my sister.” She is the heart and soul of the show—so a lot of of the followers are in appreciate with Fallon. So I was overjoyed that we acquired on so well—maybe simply because we’re similar in age or the reality that we have been each child actors. I felt like we had a large amount in frequent, and it is been charming operating with Liz. The a lot more time I invest with her, the far more I appreciate her.

There is certainly a minor bit of welcoming fireplace among Fallon and Amanda when they to start with meet up with, but they seem to respect and realize each individual other. How would you like to see that partnership evolve?

The scenes I did with Liz past [season], it was entertaining observing them air for the reason that so a lot of men and women ended up loving Amanda and Fallon’s connection. I assume Fallon wants a female relatives member that she has a lot of respect for and is as fiery as her, but also encourages her to loosen up a little bit, which I Amanda did. I hope the following time we see a small little bit much more of that, but I have no concept!

I know you are also passionate about tunes. Could we ever see you singing on the exhibit with Liz?

I would appreciate to! I know Liz has been like, “You should do a song with me, Eliza. . .” We’ll see if the writers chunk. I know the present does it pretty a great deal, and when I was youthful, the musical episodes of Television set demonstrates had been constantly my favorite—Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scrubs. It would absolutely be a tick off my bucket checklist to be in a position to do a musical episode.

Amanda could be on superior terms with Fallon correct now, her partnership with Adam (Sam Underwood) could not be far more contentious. Whilst it is fantastic to see Amanda go toe-to-toe with him, will she at any time learn his dim facet, specifically immediately after what he did in the final time finale?

Perfectly, Amanda was on to him practically promptly, and I really do not assume she likes permitting bullies get away with matters. It is funny due to the fact she’s viewed a minor bit of Adam, and she by now is not allowing any of that rest, and we’ll commence to see in Season 5 that that just will get far more and a lot more heated. I can’t even consider what would take place if she uncovered out every thing that Adam has carried out. (Laughs.)

Does Amanda know about her other sibling, Steven (James Mackay)? No a person has seen him due to the fact Period 2, and it feels like we have to have to comprehensive this circle of Carrington siblings.

I know, and I’m a single of people persons. I don’t know possibly. I assume Amanda is refreshing in the environment and is just figuring out the entire world as it is. I do not know irrespective of whether that will be managed at some issue, but I’m guaranteed she’s informed that he is in Europe carrying out what ever he’s performing. But I’m probably not the just one you need to inquire. You should get a writer in listed here and pin them down! 

Amanda is an appealing character study in this plan of character as opposed to nurture. Does becoming lifted in a different natural environment from the rest of the Carringtons give Amanda a improved feeling of morality, or is she seriously a Carrington via and through?

I believe she in a natural way has some Carrington qualities, but I feel it is appealing viewing her appear in with a new perspective on almost everything. Within just about 4 episodes, she’s pointed out the challenges in Fallon’s marriage, she is expressing that she does not assume that Adam is a pretty good person. I believe she can see that her mum [Alexis, played by Elaine Hendrix] is basically fairly insecure underneath all of that madness, and she has compassion and appreciate for that, and she can see that her father [Blake, played by Grant Show] tries to manage the little ones also considerably and is much too targeted on success. So I feel she has this fresh planet perspective when she comes in. Regardless of whether she can keep on to that, when this gets her entire bubble for way too very long, will be fascinating to see. If she can continue to keep her sanity, I’ll be amazed.

This demonstrate is very preferred internationally, primarily in Europe. What variety of opinions have you acquired from lovers, your relatives and your friends?

The admirers have been so, so awesome. You by no means genuinely know how your character is heading to go down when people adore the exhibit so much that it feels like they have a very little little bit of possession in excess of it, so you’re generally hoping that you will get the seal of acceptance. Overall, every person has been so great about Amanda . . . and at minimum I’m looking through only the superior feedback so considerably. (Laughs.)

It is so humorous to me that the display is so substantial all above the globe. I wonder whether it’s like how so a lot of Individuals are obsessed with Downton Abbey. The exhibit is so un-British that I come to feel like individuals love diving into that globe, and it’s some thing which is not genuinely on our tv screens. My husband went back to England and expended some time with some of our friends that we grew up with, and they all view the clearly show, which I was so stunned [about]. So quite a few of them are supporters of it, so it’s definitely been selfishly definitely attractive for me to have a exhibit that my pals and family from home are energized about.

We simply cannot discuss about the present without the need of talking about the costumes. What has it been like to enter this globe with Arin Burke, your costume designer?

Arin is unbelievable. I have hardly ever accomplished a display in which I get to have on dresses like this. The minor woman in me loves to costume up. To begin with, I had to find out how to certainly wander in stilettos comfortably. I imagine Liz informed me that she stopped obtaining any sensation in her toes about midway by the 2nd period. She can wear any shoe for however extended, and I was like, “How?” And she was like, “Oh, they are useless! There’s no nerves.” (Laughs.) So I’m hoping to learn all of people factors. I’m learning to use spanx—that’s extremely pivotal on the show—which I have hardly ever finished just before, so those people issues have been studying curves.

This period, in the second episode, I obtained to have on an Oscar de la Renta gown. I have on it for a person scene, but I was just rolling about. I was so pleased in it, and it was so beautiful! And ingesting lunch is rather stressful, due to the fact you’re like, “Wow, if I spill this very small bit of food items on this $7,000 gown, I’m going to be in hassle.” (Laughs.)

Soon after Fallon did some digging into her earlier, Amanda discovered that she had an affair with a feminine judge named Florence that inevitably led to her dismissal from a prestigious law agency in the U.K. Would you be open to Amanda acquiring enjoy in Atlanta? What type of man or woman would be the correct in good shape for her?

Of course I would be open to Amanda finding love! I imagine she could do with owning an individual on her side who maybe will convey out her extra psychological and intimate aspect. I really don’t know for certain who that female may perhaps be, but I’m fired up to come across out. Due to the fact when you see anyone drop in love with anyone, there’s always this vulnerability and intimacy, so it’ll be appealing to see that facet of her.

What can you inform us about the two-hour vacation unique?

The episodes that occur out on [December] 20th are going to be a wild experience. You’re heading to see Amanda and Adam go toe-to-toe—I assume a whole lot of people want to see a person stand up to him. So with any luck , that will go . . . very well. (Laughs.) You also see Amanda and Alexis’ connection actually mature. I know Alexis is certainly an insane individual as effectively, but I feel it is pleasant to see her have an individual on her facet and to view her soften with a person of her little ones. For my storyline, that is what we have to occur. But definitely, we left Period 4 on a extremely massive cliffhanger for a ton of people, so there is a ton to locate out. It is going to be unmissable.

This interview has been edited and condensed for size and clarity.

The two-hour year premiere of Dynasty will air Monday, December 20, at 8 p.m. on The CW. The display will return with new episodes starting Friday, March 11. The 1st four seasons are also now streaming on Netflix.