Emily Hampshire
Emily Hampshire, a Canadian actress who is best known for her work as Stevie Budd in the award-winning series Schitt's Creek, a comedy about a wealthy family forced to move into the rundown motel of a small, impoverished community. Hampshire stars opposite Adrien Brody in the Stephen King-adapted miniseries Chapelwaite on Epix.
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Why did you decide to get into the entertainment industry?
It was twofold. As a gift for my Grade 6 graduation, my Mom took me to see Les Misérables, and I felt like I left the earth watching that. I WANTED to be Eponine. I wanted to be an actor and started doing plays and musicals in high school from that point on. But the thing that made me pursue being an actor with pretty much EVERYTHING in me. I actually wrote a contract with myself at 12 that I’d only allow myself one hour a day on non-acting related activities. I read every acting book and highlighted every sentence, which is futile because everything is highlighted. When my high school vice principal came up to me after one of our plays and told me I was really good, that was it. That’s all it took (I’m easy) to be good at something. From that point on, acting was all there was for me.
Who have been your biggest inspirations in the entertainment industry?
Jane Fonda was always a big one for me. I got introduced to Barbara Stanwyck early on, and she’s still my favorite actor. But I was very inspired by what Dan Levy did in creating Schitt’s Creek: he created this world with such a unique vision. No one was interested in KIND comedy when we were making Schitt’s. I think the world wanted “edgy” and “dark” comedy when they first went out with this show. No one was interested, even with Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy attached.! So, he made it in Canada at CBC exactly how he wanted to make it. Now, good-hearted comedy is what everyone’s wanting. Just look at Ted Lasso. That’s inspiring to me. To believe your idea so much that no “no” can stop you.
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What was it like to be a part of one of the most beloved TV shows of the past decade?
I mean, it doesn’t feel BAD! It’s just so interesting that we made this show that we all LOVED, but no one was all that interested in it until we were done making it. But I think that’s actually perfect. It’s somehow very “Schittscreekian” for us to all go to the Emmys when we were finished shooting. I, Annie Murphy, and Sarah Levy had been waiting for our phones to ring for almost a year after the show ended. We’d ask, “Have you been offered any work?” and respond with tumbleweed emojis. But having that experience makes all the attention we’ve gotten from the show’s ultimate success feel all the more special. And the truth is, we always knew it was special like that, so it’s great finally to have people seeing that, too.
In your free time you are a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and you identify as Pansexual. In what ways do you think you have been able to use your platform to support this cause?
It’s funny because I’ve never had any plan or strategy to advocate for what I believe should naturally be accepted. It’s great that people do that, but my only conscious action in this regard was to make a concerted effort to just be my most honest self. It was really first and foremost for my own mental health. I just know the experience of NOT being true to myself to make other’s feel better or not to rock the boat, and it was killing my spirit until I no longer knew who I was, what I liked, or didn’t like. In that, I found a deep empathy for others to be allowed/encouraged/ supported to be THEIR authentic self. I also know how much it means to me to see someone come out and celebrate something they once felt ashamed about. Seeing that bravery made my path easier. And so, I just want to be the positive influence that others have been for me.
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What themes within "Schitt's Creek" have resonated the most with you?
From the beginning, Dan had a mandate that there would be no homophobia, racism -- any of the intolerant-isms -- and the town and the townspeople would never be the bud of the joke. Creating a world of Schitt’s Creek on that foundation showed the real world what it would be like, look like, and feel like to live in a town where none of that hate and exclusion exists. Turns out no one missed it. Everyone wanted to live in Schitt’s Creek during the pandemic. People often say how the show affected them in such a positive way, and it did that to all of us working on it, too. So, I think once you do a show like Schitt’s that puts out such goodness into the world, it’s hard to go back to doing anything less.
You are a huge advocate for self-love and frequently talk about how it has allowed you to grow into the person you have "always wanted to become." How has this mentality affected your career, and what advice do you have for those struggling with these same ideals?
Whenever I’m being too hard on myself (which is often, not gonna lie), I think about how I would talk to a harmless child version of me, and it’s devastating to even imagine. That has a good way of snapping me out of my negative streak and solving issues in a healthier, more productive way. As for how it’s affected my career, those two things are intrinsically linked. When I’m not loving myself as much as I should be, it affects everything and everyone around me, and the outcome is always negative. When I’m loving myself, it has the much better opposite effect.
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How has the transition been from a comedy like "Schitt's Creek" to be a horror miniseries like "Chapelwaite?"
The smoothness of my transition from Schitt's Creek to Chapelwaite can be seen in my Instagram post from last Halloween when I was shooting the latter series. "Stevie King" did an excellent job of mixing flannel and fright.
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After having acted in a variety of genres, do you have a favorite? If so, why?
I get asked a lot which I prefer between comedy and drama, and the truth is I can't separate them. While I was doing Schitt's Creek, I was also on a science-fiction drama called 12 Monkeys. I think I've had some of my favorite dramatic moments in Schitt's (the Cabaret episode and Stevie's scene with David in the car gets posted a lot with sobbing stickers on Instagram) and some of my funniest stuff in 12 Monkeys. My sense of humor usually comes out of serious stuff, and when things are too serious, I can't help but laugh. So, I'm aware that didn't answer your question.
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What other projects can we expect to see from you in the future?
I just got back from a five-month shoot in Scotland for a new Amazon series called The Rig. I play a scientist who finds herself stranded on an oil rig when an ominous fog rolls in and strange stuff starts to happen. I think that’s all I can say right now, but it’s NOT a comedy. And I’m also taking a cue from Dan and creating my own series, a remake of a ’70s show called Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. It’s truly a dream come true.
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What is your Social? Social Security Number?
No idea. But my social media handle is @emilyhampshire
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CREW CREDITS:
Photographer: Sequoia Emmanuelle
Talent: Emily Hampshire
Fashion Stylist: Melvin Sanders
Hair: Joshua Murphy
Makeup: Lilly Keys
Photo Assistant: Pamela J Coutolenc
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Junior Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Julia Gastone, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
