At 19 years old, actor Lexi Underwood is already so far along in her career. She first came to fame starring as Pearl Warren in the Hulu series Little Fires Everywhere, alongside Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. She went on to play Malia Obama in the Showtime limited series The First Lady, opposite Viola Davis.
Now, she’s acting in the second season of Cruel Summer, which premieres on Freeform on June 5. She plays the role of Isabella LaRue — replacing Eloise Payet — who hails from France as the daughter of a diplomat. She comes to this small town in the Pacific Northwest, spending time abroad as an exchange student living with Megan Landry (Sadie Stanley) and her mother, Debbie (KaDee Strickland), when things go tragically wrong. Set in 1999 and executive produced by Jessica Biel, the show is a retro throwback to the Y2K era, from the style to the music and makeup.
Not only is Underwood establishing herself on-screen, but she is also the founder of her own production company, Ultimate Dreamer Productions, and is an ardent voice for Gen Z. The actor speaks with Shondaland about the new series and working with legends on set.
NADJA SAYEJ: What was it like taking part in such a creepy show like this? It was so chilling to watch.
LEXI UNDERWOOD: I was so excited to take part in a series like this, which is super-chilling and creepy. It was different from other projects I’ve done before. My approach to this project had to be different as well; something that makes it so unique is that it’s set in three different timelines. When we first meet her, she’s very confident, charming, but we slowly start to question who she really is inside. As an actor, it was liberating to create a character from the ground up. I was able to play her throughout three different timelines. It’s a tricky thing.
NS: Those timelines were all set during the Y2K era, on the brink of the year 2000 back in 1999. What was it like exploring that era?
LU: I honestly loved it! It was so cool; I loved all the fashion. I love the 1990s in general. The early 1990s is such a special time. I feel like season one of Cruel Summer was so well done. I was born in 2003; I remember the CD players and the Caboodles makeup cases. It wasn’t just about immersing myself back into that era as a teen, but also the music, the fashion, the hair is a bonus. All those trends are coming back now, so it was fun to live them out.
NS: You’ve said in other interviews that you are inspired by Viola Davis and Kerry Washington. How have they made you the actor you are today?
LU: What I’ve learned the most from them is being your character’s keeper. It’s important to never judge your character. Approaching a role like Isabella, it’s normal to come into this role believing who I think this girl is. But with Viola and Kerry, they always showed up as their character’s keeper and were never timid to speak up and use their voice on set. As women, it’s easy to feel small and to feel as if our voices are not heard. I also learned how you show up in general in life. As No. 1 on the call sheet, it was the first time being at the helm of the show. They greeted everyone each morning and helped set the tone. Those little things matter. I’m so grateful I could continue to use what I have learned from them.
NS: Which 1990s fashion designer are you obsessed with?
LU: Tommy Hilfiger in general, and I love the work he did with Aaliyah. It would be a dream collaboration if I could work with him later in life.
NS: I see the Aaliyah influence in how your makeup is styled in the series.
LU: It was collaborative. A lot of the outfits — some of it was Aaliyah inspired, and we did that with the makeup.
NS: You’re only 19 — how do you manage it all with school and acting?
LU: Well, this is always what I felt like I was meant to do on this Earth. I believe if you love something, you’ll find time for it. So, you don’t lose yourself and go crazy.
NS: You also started a production company. Can you tell us more about it?
LU: I started it when I was 15; it’s called Ultimate Dreamer Productions. I was [horrified] by the events surrounding the white nationalists march at University of Virginia in 2017. I wanted to do something about it [and give marginalized people a voice] because I didn’t feel there was enough space for Gen Z stories specifically. So, I brought together a group of Gen Z voices and started a video series called “We the Voices of Gen Z: All Black Lives Matter,” a roundtable discussion series of social and political issues affecting us now.
NS: What kind of projects do you want to support?
LU: With Ultimate Dreamer Productions, I want to continuously make sure we are telling impactful stories and giving space to people who have been misrepresented or under-represented in TV and film.
NS: What is the most Gen Z thing about you?
LU: I’m so tech savvy, it’s the ongoing joke in my family. Whenever anyone has a problem with any tech in my family, they always call me and ask, “Can you help me with this?” I think it’s just a Gen Z thing. I’m just good at knowing how to work an iPhone.
NS: Which fashion designers do you want to collaborate with?
LU: Thom Browne. I was obsessed with what he did at the Met Gala, and I also love everything they’re doing at Chanel. I love people who are deliberate with their choices in fashion. Fashion is a passion of mine, and I want to express myself in fashion.
NS: What do you tell yourself before stepping onto red carpets?
LU: I’m naturally an introvert. I take a few deep breaths and tell myself everything will be fine. Everything is usually fine on the red carpet; it’s just the anxiety you get beforehand.
Nadja Sayej is an arts and culture journalist based in New York City who has written 5 books, including Biennale Bitch and The Celebrity Interview Book.
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