Billionaire heiress, Molly Novak, has everything she’s ever wanted: a happy marriage, a cushy lifestyle, and not a single care in the world. That is until she doesn’t. Her life hits a screeching halt after finding out her long-time (billionaire) husband had been cheating on her. A post-divorce Molly is left in dire straits until an important phone call changes everything. Investing time and effort into an overlooked charity, Molly finds purpose in life once again on her path to self-discovery. In this Goggler exclusive, we speak to Maya Rudolph and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez on getting inside the mind of their characters in Loot and how it changed their worldview.
Umapagan Ampikaipakan: We know so little about the inner lives of billionaires and their families. Everything we know, we read in magazines, newspaper articles, and gossip columns. Was it particularly difficult to get inside the mind of a billionaire heiress?
Maya Rudolph: I thought the fun part was the billionaire heiress part. And then what I thought was going to be the juicy meat to get to was the personal. Someone who is at a real turning point in their life, and really devastated and disappointed with how her life has gone, and having to make such a big shift in her personal life. And I think that when we can create a character that people can relate to, that’s what really resonates. So I think the fun is like the idea of the billions and like what we get to see. But then the connective part is the person.
UA: There’s also just eating candy in a “candy room.” Which might be the most billionaire thing ever.
MR: God. I mean, that’s just sad that you’re eating candy in a candy room all by yourself.
UA: Oh, it’s all I want in life.
MR: But you know what? Just keep saying that out loud. I want my own candy room. Make it happen and…
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez: … it shall manifest.
UA: Michaela, Sofia is a really fascinating character because she’s so driven and focused on changing the world. I think we all know people like that. And I’m always amazed at where they find the motivation to keep going in the face of such a world. I’m curious if playing this character changed you and if it changed your worldview in any way.
MJR: I was always somebody who loved philanthropy. I love humanitarianism. I love being able to give back to the world through artistry or through advocacy. And she has taught me that in the world of being a corporate, strong, businesswoman that you can do that as well, and not play any games while doing so. She’s not frigid, right. But she is very stern and assured about what she wants. And she’s taught me a lot about being assured as a woman, even in this industry, even as a trans woman in this industry. She’s taught me a lot and I’m appreciative of that.
So I think those are the main things that I took away from her. And yeah, I just hope that there’s more expended on her side that is warm and people get to see the other side of Sofia versus her being like this knocked down woman.
MR: We cracked her open a little bit.
MJR: Yeah, yeah, for sure.
MR: Season 1 cracked her open. You want to see more? You got to see Season 2.
MJR: This is true.
UA: Wait. Did you just announce that season two is happening?
MR: No. No. *laughs*
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