AMC
The Walking Dead is finally back! The moment all fans have spent the last 7 months fantasizing about is finally here and we’ve got an exclusive with one of the cast members, Lauren Cohan! Lauren has played Maggie since since 2011, and since her first introduction as one of Hershel’s daughters, her character has grown right in front of us and become one of the central members of the group. We wanted to learn firsthand what it was that Lauren loves about Maggie. She told us that, the hardest scene she’s ever had to shoot, and what Maggie is absolutely unwilling to lose in season 5, and more!
You’ve been playing Maggie for a while now, we wanted to know what your favorite trait about her was?
She’s a very compassionate person. That’s probably one of my favorite traits. I think that she’s sort of done when she’s need to, to survive, but it’s always been about protecting her family and keeping people alive as long as possible. One of my favorite relationships is obviously my husband (Glenn), but also my father/daughter relationship (Hershel/Maggie). I think seeing that any way that Hershel can get through to Maggie has been one of the most enjoyable paths of this journey. We miss Hershel, a lot.
Actually, we were wondering, was that the hardest scene [Hershel’s death in season 4] you’ve had to film so far or has there been one harder than that?
Within what’s aired in the first four seasons, that’s the hardest one that’s happened. I think that will still be the hardest thing that we’ve ever shot. I think that’s a loss of somebody that we all will say we felt the most. It was just so cruel. It was that last moment when you thought everything was going to be okay. Scott [Wilson] gives that little nod to Rick and you just think, he sort of passing on this compassion and leadership. But you still think he’s not going to go and that everything’s going to be okay. It’s a beautiful fatherly moment and I think a lot of people saw and felt and compared that to a moment in their lives.
He’s kind of like the ultimate grandfather and sage. That’s how it was at work, don’t get me wrong he’s the silliest, funniest person, but he’s also incredibly caring and wise. It’s hard to lose someone like that. When he’s on a television show that people watch every week, he really is part of their lives. It’s sad and for us it was really hard, there was no acting required during that scene where we lost him. I think what was interesting, no one has the chance to process it, so it happens and we will still had to get running, get going. So far Maggie and Glenn, you don’t see them processing what happens with Hershel for a while. And for Maggie still not knowing where he sister is, it’s a crazy finish for that part of the season. And then damn that Terminus.
Was the reunion between you and Glenn emotional for you as an actress? There was all that time after Hershel’s death where you two didn’t know if the other was alive or not.
Yeah, I think what’s interesting is Maggie is always creating a goal to work towards in the future. I think that’s how we sort of operate. She could keep doing that until she was literally in the tunnel and she fell apart and couldn’t go any further. So your hands are literally tied. For that moment, when he appears, it was a really symbolic time for both of them. The characters are both so set on finding each other and they keep that going. It’s what keeps them alive. I think that’s what keeps hope alive in that episode. It was difficult, with the show, we talk about preparation as an actor. Just being there is part of the preparation. We spend 8 months of the year together, shooting these episodes. You form a real relationship with these people. Steve and I have been creating that Maggie/Glenn relationship for so long, you never really see them separated.
I really enjoy this couple because you don’t see the drama of them fighting. You see their relationship tested in little slivers, like the brief moment after The Governor had Maggie trapped, but other than that, it’s refreshing to me that their love is steady. Their trust and protection of each other is steady. I definitely want to see that continue and I want to see it uphold hope in the story. I was rooting for them to find each other. I love that scene, I remember when she shot that, I sort of tripped when I was running towards him and it just makes sense. I thought of it like your husband goes away to war you don’t know if you’re ever going to see him again and then you do and for a second you don’t even trust it. Then you just get so overwhelmed with that feeling, that’s how it felt.
Do you think Maggie and Glenn being the only couple changes the dynamic of the show and how the group works?
I know what it’s like being around couples and friends and if someone in the group is an awesome couple, it definitely uplifts the group. I think it grounds the group. We might be some of the younger members of the group to be having this sort of relationship. But I think in anyway, we’re all affected, consciously or unconsciously, by them having this relationship. As we progress and we try to resemble family. It’s so interesting. There are things we haven’t even touched on yet that other people found. I don’t think they’re the only hope in the show. You’ll see in this upcoming season.
Yeah, at the end of last season, it looked like we were going to see something more between a few other characters, but then you guys got to Terminus and it got real, really fast. Did you see that coming at all?
With Terminus, they wanted to believe so badly. But now, they obviously know better. But walking up, they had their arms wide open and sort of in this dream like trance that Terminus could be safe. I kind of chalk that up to lack of sleep. But they were also so needy. It’s interesting too because Rick is such a naturally cautious person. There’s too much I can’t say, as it’s coming back so soon. I like what Scott Gimple says, I was doing an interview with him once. He said, [The Walking Dead] is one of the most hopeful shows. You see these people in impossible situations and they actually succeed. I love that about the show. It’s very real, life and death. And they make it out sometimes, not every time, but most times.
If you, not Maggie, had the choice of using guns, Michonne’s katana, or Daryl’s crossbow, which would you pick?
Crossbow sounds pretty good, so you could protect yourself at a distance. But anything that doesn’t require ammunition is probably the safest bet, just because any gun is going to run out of bullets. They’re also pretty heavy. We’re all trucking around with these machine guns in these scenes, and it gets really exhausting, sometimes we have two huge machine guns. They’re also not as tactical. I think I like knives, crossbows, and trail mix are probably the best.
What’s the one thing that Maggie is absolutely unwilling to lose?
Oh gosh, her hope.
Season 5 of The Walking Dead airs on AMC, Sundays at 9/8c. Will you be watching?
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