“The thing that really drew me to Penelope was that it wasn’t like anything I have ever read. It was young, fresh and freeing. It captured something we all began to see or feel during the pandemic and lockdown. That so much more is happening… I wanted to be a part of something creatively that touched upon our deepest primal level and the value of the inward journey.”

You might know her as Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Izzy in Little Fires Everywhere, but actress Megan Stott is stepping into new realms. Starring as the titular character in Penelope, an indie mini-series by The Morning Show’s Mark Duplass, she captures a sixteen-year-old girl’s journey as she escapes her modern life for one in the wilderness. The show, which premiered at Sundance and was subsequently sold to Netflix, is a raw and fierce coming-of-age project that proves Stott is a leading actor at the precipice of an award-worthy career.

We speak with the star about her early career, the impacts of Little Fires Everywhere, and taking on the role of Penelope. Keep reading…

Hey Megan! How are you doing?
Hey, I’m doing great, fall is coming and I couldn’t be happier!

Take us back to the beginning — when did you start acting and what was it that made you love it?
I started acting when my vocal instructor noticed that he thought I had a knack or gift for it. I was around 11 or 12 years old at the time. He took me to NY and a year later LA, I was grateful to get signed in both regions. I loved the total freedom to be creative and express my character through myself in any way that I thought possible. While having a collaborative team to guide an understanding of their vision for the character. Being able to give life to a character and seeing for a while the world through a different lens has helped me grow as a person. I am in awe of all the lives the characters touch and what they bring to others.

Your role in Little Fires Everywhere must have been a real career breakthrough. What did you learn from that experience that you’ve taken with you into other work?
LFE was my first role and I have a great love for all the people that believed in me, that encouraged me and could see that I could bring Izzy to the screen and forefront. Her story needed to be heard and I think offered so much to people that had struggled with their family relationships, their sexuality, acceptance and learning to find their strength and love themselves. I was privileged to be a part of an amazing positive environment and was able to work creatively with a team to build something that would touch the hearts of other people. The biggest lesson or advice that I have carried through with me was to be open, to be free and to not let your own ego get in the way. I say this because my role as Izzy was something that I felt really raw and vulnerable with and it took some time for me to understand that and that was okay. I had many mentors from Reese Witherspoon to Kerry Washington and Liz Tigelaar and the late Lynn Shelton, to name a few. So many people shared themselves and their wisdom with me. I wouldn’t have learned those things without them.

How did that project change things for you and open up doors?
It expanded my mind and understanding to diverse and emotional roles. It made me search for roles that would speak truths and touch the hearts of people. Working with such amazing and prestigious actors and actresses really showed me to not limit myself.

What do you tend to look for in scripts — and what was it about Penelope that caught your attention?
The thing that really drew me to Penelope was that it wasn’t like anything I have ever read. It was young, fresh and freeing. It captured something we all began to see or feel during the pandemic and lockdown. That so much more is happening. A side of ourselves that is less developed and needs developing. The disconnect that we felt and eagerness for something different really struck me. I wanted to be a part of something creatively that touched upon our deepest primal level and the value of the inward journey.

Can you tell us a bit about the character and what connected you to her?
A bit about Penelope is she is seeking something deeper than ourselves. Her instincts were telling her that there is more but initially she doesn’t entirely understand what it is. She is experiencing the feeling of media and phones, that never leave our side and a world that has lost its bond to our inner selves. Pen is young and sweet and doesn’t know where to go. She is reaching through the light, looking for a real connection, with nature, with herself, with something deeper. Regardless of her struggle, she deeply wants to find that.

I connected with Penelope on many levels. I understood not feeling like I clicked with my peers from my own experience of wanting to be a creative. I grew up camping, fishing, kayaking, mountain climbing. I have learned about foraging and some medicinals. In all of this I am not afraid to touch a fish or get in the dirt or be in the rain. I am comfortable being uncomfortable. My life experiences gave me such a strong understanding and love for this. I believe in embracing the quite, the sacred space. In stillness we find the depth within. To listen on that level to the sound of the trees, the wind, the whistle through a mountain, the scurrying of animals. The silent echoes of truth begin. If we pause life and breathe, your heart will speak. I wanted to be able to bring that to the character and it be as authentic as possible.

In general, how do you get into the mindset of a character — do you have a typical process or does it vary from role to role?
For me it’s different for each character. For Penelope specifically, I immersed myself in nature as often as possible. A peaceful calmness and mental clarity comes with that. Most of the time I will create a specific playlist for each character. For this role, I would connect songs to specific scenes that I thought would help me. I also always journal in my character daily, all of my characters’ emotions, the joys and challenges.

Do you have a favorite memory from set?
There is a specific moment that I remember so clearly in the first couple of episodes. Everyone was setting up and talking about camera angles and I was sitting by this giant tree at the top of a little mountain and the sun is streaming down through the branches. I stood up, held my head back and opened my arms so I could just feel the sun pouring down on me. I looked across and there were these stunning rays just dancing through the trees and I felt so much joy and happiness in that moment.

As an actor, how important is it to you that streaming platforms such as Netflix invest in indie television? What makes these projects so crucial to highlight?
I think it is important for Netflix and other platforms to invest in indie projects. It brings diverse opportunities for different stories and voices that we might not otherwise have exposure to. It brings new and creative ideas that are present. By bringing these projects to life it involves entire communities of people within the indie world. These projects might never make it to the viewers if streaming platforms weren’t willing to recognize the unique qualities that they bring to the screen.

Are there any other kinds of roles or genres on your bucket list?
I would love to do comedy and romantic comedy. I’m actually pretty light and funny. However, I’m never going to put myself in a box on what I’m looking for. Every script is new and exciting in its own way. If it calls to me then I invest all of myself into it.

Watch Penelope on Netflix.