Lauren Ridloff on The Walking Dead return, Marvel’s Eternals, and Sound of Metal – Mirror Online

Actress Lauren Ridloff is having quite an exciting time.

Not only has the 42-year-old actress broken new ground being cast as Marvels first cinematic deaf superhero, but she also portrays the popular Connie on The Walking Dead who recently survived a rather dangerous brush with death on the hit zombie apocalypse series.

Now, as the actress is set to be seen in Amazon Studios acclaimed drama Sound of Metal, Lauren has also been named as a BAFTA Breakthrough Talent.

Lauren recently spoke to the Mirror about being selected as part of BAFTA Breakthrough Talent: "I feel honoured. When I saw the list of all the other recipients of this year's breakthrough award, I was blown away because I wasn't expecting to see so much inclusivity within the group, and inclusion, and I was, you know, expecting to be the only one who was differently-abled, and the only one only deaf person, the only person with a disability.

"But it's so diverse, so many people, people of colour, women, men, I mean, I'm just so proud to be a part of this cohort and it just tells me that the world is ready for real stories from real people."

The actress, who is deaf in real life, also discussed her groundbreaking role as Makkari in Eternals.

The character will be the first deaf superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and possesses the power of super-speed.

The Eternals are an immortal race of superpowered individuals created by the God-like Celestials and have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years, protecting humans from their evil counterparts known as the Deviants.

The film was due for release in November this year but has now been pushed back for a cinema release in November 2021.

Describing the film, Lauren said: "They're a different kind of superheroes. I love that this movie is coming out at the right time. I mean, actually, it's one year too late. I wish it was supposed to come out now, but because of Covid and everything that's going on it's been postponed until next year, which I understand but the fact that the movie was there, and it exists today is wonderful, because it's a reflection of, you know, the globalisation that is occurring right now.

"I mean, people are interacting with different ideas and different cultures faster than ever. And I feel like people are so ready, and thirsty for different representation out there. And I think that the Eternals has really responded to that."

Not only does the film feature an ethnically diverse cast, but it also features the first superhero to be depicted as gay in the MCU with Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent cosmic-powered inventor, Phastos.

Lauren was also excited to work with director Chloe Zhao on the film, who has previously found acclaim with the likes of The Rider and this years Oscar contender Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand.

The actress praised Zhao, saying that she is such a powerhouse with so much strength, and such a strong vision".

Thankfully, Lauren was given a break from her beloved role as Connie in The Walking Dead to film Marvels Eternals, but it meant viewers were unsure if her character was dead when she was left in a dangerous situation before vanishing for multiple episodes.

It was soon revealed before the show recently went off-air that Connie was alive.

On keeping her characters fate a secret, Lauren said: Well, what made it less challenging, keeping this secret, was how The Walking Dead cast and the creative team handled the whole thing.

"They were so supportive and so proud that they actually gave me a nice little send-off surprise and I just felt so okay with taking that break to focus on this other project, because I knew that they were cheering for me.

When speaking to the Mirror, Lauren said that the show was getting ready to begin shooting once again but she was mostly in the dark about what comes next.

She noted: Hopefully, Connie is gonna be alright.

The star did address the prospect of a romantic relationship between fan-favourite Daryl Dixon ( Norman Reedus ) and Connie, which some have labelled 'Donnie'.

Lauren said: Of course, for me, it's kind of funny, because just to see how much passion that people, you know, have for 'Donnie', you know, those shippers, and to see all the fans, all the fan art out there, I appreciate it."

She said fans often relate to the human relationships in the series, despite its zombie trappings.

That means something to people who are watching and they believe in those relationships and I suspect that they see themselves in those relationships, she commented. So I feel like that those Donnie shippers out there see themselves in Daryl and Connie.

As if roles in a blockbuster television series and blockbuster film were not enough, you will be able to see Lauren in an Oscar contender for Amazon Studios.

Sound of Metal follows a heavy metal drummer, played by British actor Riz Ahmed, who experiences hearing loss as a result of his proximity to such loud volumes and explores his life following this loss.

Speaking of Rizs performance, Lauren said: I have so much respect for his ability to portray his character Ruben perfectly and he does the work, he deserves an award for that.

I mean, and working also with Paul Raci, another character who's in the story, another actor who's wonderful also.

"So I just feel like [director Darius Marder] really did a wonderful job with casting."

She also advocated how important it is to just have people be able to see that deaf people are actually individuals, their experiences or deafness is different.

Some talk about the loss of hearing and its grieving process and other people being born with it and never knew anything that was different."

Lauren also spoke about the responsibility and pride she feels representing the deaf community through major film and television roles, describing it as her civic duty as a deaf person and as a person of colour and as a woman, to take that place and respond to that call of duty.

She added: I have to, I have to do right, I don't think I have a choice. People are willing to give me this time, the time of day for some reason. And so I need to take that chance and opportunity and use it. And in that part, I feel it's natural.

But I do get a bit hesitant, worried about is how the audience will interpret my different representations. I feel like now people are becoming so much more worldly, aware that what they see on the screen is not always, you know, universal for all deaf people, that one person doesn't represent a whole. You know, we're not a monolith.

So I think with The Walking Dead, for example, you see two deaf characters, you have Connie and then you have Kelly. And the two of us are on two different journeys as deaf individuals: [Kelly]s going through that hearing loss, whereas Connie has always been deaf from birth. So I think that people are becoming more willing to accept those ideas.

Sound of Metal will be released in the UK on January 21, 2020, while Marvels Eternals will be released on November 5, 2021.

The Walking Dead returns for season 11 in 2021.

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Lauren Ridloff on The Walking Dead return, Marvel's Eternals, and Sound of Metal - Mirror Online

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero