Candid chat with This Is Us actress Alexandra Hetherington Breckenridge

Alexandra Hetherington BreckenridgeAlexandra Hetherington Breckenridge is an American actress and photographer In 2017 Breckenridge appeared in the recurring role of Sophie Kates childhood friend and Kevins exwife on the first season of NBC drama series This Is Us she was promoted to the fulltime cast for the series the second seasonBreckenridge currently stars as Sophie Kevin Pearson s exwife When they were kids Sophie was also the best friend of Kevins sister Kate At the end of season one Kevin made a pitch to Sophie asking her to take him back She did but hes had to move back to Los Angeles to work on a movie while she has remained in New YorkAfter accepting the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series with the rest of her castmates the 35year old actress who plays Kevins love interest Sophie went home to be with her 6week old daughter Billie She admitted in an interview with that she thought sheamp39d put her job in jeopardy after she got pregnantBreckenridge had actually tested with Mandy for the role of Rebecca for the pilot And on seeing Mandy in the audition room she knew Mandy would be the one to nail the character and though that maybe she should audition for another role instead And later she was cast as SophieDo you have contact with the actress that plays youAlexandra I mean I dontwe dont like talk on the phone or text or anything But Ive met the youngest version of Sophie and I havent met the teen version We just dont work on the same daysBut theres no like Im going to do this Im going to do thisAlexandra No you know what no That would be more interesting Ill make sure to make that happen Ill talk to the writers about thatThis is a show that is all about getting to the emotional truth of thingsYeahAnd acknowledging emotional realities that some other TV shows might notAlexandra YeahYour storyline takes place a lot of the time in the show business world which isnt known for its you know portrayals of emotional realityAlexandra YeahDo you find that its a fresh take on sort of the portraying Hollywood and the portraying the entertainment industryAlexandra RightDo you think it kind of goes is it more true to life than other things youve seenAlexandra I think it is in terms of Kevins storyline and what hes going through as an actor I think its pretty pretty true to life I mean I dont hes obviously started a new pill addiction in the last couple episodes Which I know happens that happens across the United States and the world So thats not particularly you know just a Hollywood thing to happen But yeah interms of just sort of the rise and fall of you know having fame one second and then not having anything the next struggling to find yourself in the midst of it can be kind of overwhelming andyeah So I think in the direction that its been going I think its very true to true to lifeOf course Kevin could be received as more shallowAlexandra SureEspecially in relationships Why so what do you think that your relationship you know brings to his character And also if were going to know more about you you know your characterAlexandra Yeah I think that I think that Kevin wants to keep it on the surface purposefully I dont think that Kevins character wants to feel too much and hes actually been sort of saying that in the last few episodes But Kevin and Sophie have known each other obviously throughout their childhood And theyve grown up together And you know I think it was sortof love at first sight for both of them which is really sweet And I didnt experience that I had to go through multiple boyfriends before I found the right one I think that because theyve known each other for so long Sophie really knows Kevin for Kevin And she sees through any defenses that he might put up and you know the sort of shallowness that he puts as a front because he doesnt want any to really let anyone in Sophie you know she knows all of those things about Kevin She loves him You know so it doesnt really matter to her Obviously But well see where that where that takes them obviously Because it looks like hes starting to go down the path where he might have to confront some of thatBeing a working actress yourself do you feel like you need that person thats not in show business and that knows you Not from thatAlexandra Right So as like a significant otherOr just a friend Like do you need like people that are outside ofAlexandra To sort of be balanced I think yeah I think that you know Ive lived in California for twentythree years I moved here when I was eleven and I started acting and working when I was fifteen years old So most of the people that I know are you know in the industry in some aspect And it does get to be a little bit old Not that I dont respect my peers I do And IIObviously most of my friends are actors or producers or writers or whathaveyou But its definitely nice to just have a conversation that doesnt involved the industry At all You know My husband and I actually got a house in Georgia because we wanted to just not have any of it around us and sort of have a place where we could have children that would just be just normal You know So yeah But my husband hes a musician He plays guitar So hes somewhat in the industry but hes not an actor and so hes a little less selfinvolved than I am which is importantHow does that work in terms of being here I mean you spend a lot of time here and then you go back to GeorgiaAlexandra Yeah Weve been Well I was pregnant all of last year and I got pregnant againCongratulationsAlexandra Thank you That was sort of not a planned thingSo a lot of sitting down at tables this season then for youAlexandra Yeah Behind counters The last episode they actually digitally removed the baby Yeah I didnt get to see that part because I actually turned the TV on a little bit after that There was a scene earlier when shes trying on dresses and they just its just gone They just took it out Its really fascinating what they can do But yeah So last year I spent most of my time in Georgia in our house And weve got such an incredible community and neighbours And you know I have a friend thats an anesthesiologist who lives down the street and another friend whos a drug rep and like you know they just dont do what I do Which is nice so When we hang out we dont we dont have to talk about that But yeah When were here were here to you know Im here filming and my husband used to play guitar to Katy Perry so he just quit his job to stay home with our kids because he wouldve been on tour for I dont even know how longAnd we know from the show that doesnt go wellAlexandra From oh To be on tour Yeah yeah Or just to be gone Yeah long distance relationships are not not awesome always But some people are really good at making them work I dont have to do that now So thats goodWhat was it like joining a show you know in season one there was kind of already in the swing of itAlexandra I think anytime you join a show sort of midshowLike if its been if theyve been filming for a while or you come in later in the first season or the second season theyve already kind of established the relationships the actors and the crew and the producers and everyoneSo its always a little bit hard to kind of poke your way in there But everyones so nice and lovely and hysterical So thats fun to be around and easyIts just easy to work with everyone Its an easy working environmentWhen did you find out you were joining the show WasHow deep into the season was the show Were you watching itAlexandra I had not watched it yet I had just had my son I wasHe was about three months old And so I was a little bit busy with him I wasnt watching a whole lot of TV Actually I was watching I was rewatching the entire series of Lost at the time For some reason But I no I cant remember what showThat show has a lot in common with thisAlexandra LostYeahAlexandra It doesMysteries being revealed in each episode Flashbacks TimelinesAlexandra Ok I think were reaching but ok Yes True true There are some Theres not as much like weirdYeah theres not someAlexandra Monsters and things Yeah No polar bears No black smoke I dont remember what episode they were airing at the time but I knew the show was doing really well and I had friends that had watched it and they loved it I had actually tested with Mandy for the role of Rebecca For the pilot And it was me and her and another girl I remember seeing her in theaudition room and just being Oh my God Just give it to Mandy Shes completely perfect for this part like thats Ill go and maybe Ill come back later And I did So I knew the show and I knew the producers I was very excited that there was another role So I put myself on tape at my house in Georgia And I you know which is great because you can light yourself and do it thirty times or more if you need to And they hired me Off of my tape Which was greatSo it kind of wasnt quite the phenomenon that we know it to be when you did that selftape Like This is Us was it airing by that point I meanAlexandra It had been airing and I think it was yeah it was it was doing really well Obviously I mean I was sort of in my cocoon in Georgia with my newborn not really knowing what was going on in the world of acting because I had sort of taken some time off And then when I got on the phone with my managers and they told me how well the show was doing I was likeOh great Such nice people So yeah I think it kind of was already sort of at the point where it is now I dont know Maybe its a little bit bigger now than it was in the middle of But I think they had aired like ten episodes Or somethingHow much more of the previous relationship are we going to seeAlexandra The previous relationship Oh before they broke up I dont know Im waiting to find out Im as in the dark as you are They they I think they you know theyre constantly writing and coming up with new directions to take the show in So you know there have been storylines that have been pitched and thrown around but I dont really know whats stickingWeve been talking about fan encounters and how people come up to them with their stories Have you had any experienceAlexandra I havent I havent had that And I think that thats awesome and fascinating and sort of a testament to how this show is affecting people emotionally and how people are connecting to the characters and the storylines Im so happy to be able to work on a show that touches people You know Because the last job I had was The Walking Dead Which alsotouched people in a different way Although on that show I did actually I had more women come up to me because they had been victims of domestic abuse And so they had spoken to me about how I was inspiring them Which was which was great And actually would I dont know what Im sayingWhat is it that you think is connecting with people That is landing and touching peopleAlexandra I feel like the storylines are so relatable and the characters are relatable And you know All of the actors are such lovely people and they play lovely people that that really comes across on screen I mean you know I remember when I first started watching the show after I had gotten the part and I would get weepy every episode I watched And even storylines that you have no experience with in real life just are touching They just are You know The storyline specifically this season that I find the most moving is the adoption with Beth and Randall And the very talented Deja shesIts really moving I mean you think that Beth isnt going to be supportive of this because of how shes reacting to his you know sort of overzealously I really want I have to make this happen and then she sort of takes it in another direction that is actually far more profound taking in an older child that might have a lot of issues And the child does have a lot of issues and its just Its really moving to seepeople you know give up part of themselves just to help someone You know I have no experience with adoption but I find it really movingDo you find yourself sort of guessing or hoping that the story that your story that the characters story will go a certain way Do you ever think about whatsAlexandra Yeah Definitely I would love to find out more about what exactly happened before Sophie and Kevin broke up and where the strain in their relationship was taking place I mean I obviously theres the obvious reason that he ended up cheating on her But you know that long distance tension that they had that theyre clearly having again this season Id like to know if its mirroring itself in anyway now as it did in the past or Id also like to see you know when they got married How did they actually get engaged And you know Yeah so theres definitely more to their story that Id like to to see in the scriptsIs it weird or different that normally when you play a role the backstory is you can sort of figure out the backstory yourself because it will never be revealed But now you know there is one somewhere And so when you think of something then you could be proven wrong orAlexandra I know Well that that happens a lot with television You dont get that as much in a movie because its just sort of there But in TV yeah you can end up in season three and all of a sudden they say Oh this happened to you And youve never been playing that part of your character And then suddenly Oh Really Ok Ok So you kind of have to roll with wherever the story goesSo theyll sometimes tell you whats ahead but they wont tell you whats back Whats previousAlexandra Yeah because they havent figured it all out themselves You know were still waiting to find outThey dont know So they cantIve tried to pull information and actually some of the information that I had received in the beginning when I first got the part has changed So you know I dont knowBut you must it must be comforting for an actor to know that even if you break up with him again that you probably can come back Or even if you die because the dad has died and hes still in the showAlexandra Yeah its better than getting eaten by zombies and knowing that youre just done Youre like Oh I got eaten Oh wellHow do you feel about playing this character as opposed to Rebecca that you also you know went for Do you think it was meant to be And in a sense you may be offering something to this character that you couldnt have offered maybe to RebeccaAlexandra Yes I do I mean I think that personally I think that had I gotten the role of Rebecca that wouldve been a bad choice because I think that I honestly do think that Mandy is absolutely perfect for it And I think that Im perfect for the part that Im playing Based on the imaginary ideas that I have of Sophie that may or may not be true Based on where the scriptgoes But I think that you know Justin and I play so well off of each other I mean hes just a fantastic actor and hes extremely giving and kind to work with We can pick up on each others energy really easily and sort of bounce off of each other So you know You dont always find that when you just get hired to be someones significant other you might have absolutely no chemistry with them And that sucks But luckily we have chemistry SoWhy is that do you think that Mandy is perfect for RebeccaAlexandra I just think that she has all of them you knowShe has all of the lovely qualities of her character I mean shes thoughtful and shes kind but shes strong and shes you know I dont know I just shes perfect for it I see her as Rebecca you know And her and Milo look so great togetherSophie really inexplicably finds Kevin funnyAlexandra I knowWhich IAlexandra And hes not always that funny yeahBut its you really do see that Is it I mean because the show is sort of all about how we are the people we are because of the things weve been through earlier and our families and obviously theyve been part of each others lives for so long I mean is she kind of a huge part of his selfimage in a way Because hes always had her reflecting him back at himAlexandra Maybe Yeah I like that Thats really sweet Yeah I mean I think that Kevin finds You know Sophie finds him charming and endearing and funny And that boosts Kevins selfesteem constantly because he loves her so much and I think looks up to her and adores her And so that you know kind of always gives him the boost that he needs But I think thats truein relationships that you find your significant other funny when other people dont Or at least I hope you do because thats really important I mean I think my husbands hysterical He cracks me up constantlyIs the the strong emotional content of the show is it taxingAlexandra Taxing Well I havent actuallyI havent had any I havent personally had very many emotionally taxing scenes Ive had a few And yeah It certainly can be I think for any actor when youre having to dig into your emotions and As humans we dont want to feel sad We dont want to bring up painful memories We dont want to you know were not charging in to feel awful So as an actor thats what youre doing Youre going head first into all those nasty areas that you dont want to be in life normally So I mean if I have a day where Im doing a scene thats you know breaking my heart I come home exhausted Yeah For sure Some people might be better with it than I am I dont know Some people might leave set and just be totally fine but I find it to be pretty exhausting yeah I am getting kicked right now like you would not believe I think she also has the hiccups She has the hiccups And shes kicking me Shes like Im done being in here Thanks but no thanksI was wondering you were on The Walking Dead and did you think that the world resemblesThe Walking Dead Like This is Us is kind of you know the anecdote to because you knowWere living the apocalypseAlexandra What Wait you guys get it I Im confusedCause were living in the apocalypse now we need shows like This is UsAlexandra Oh were living in the apocalypse now Gosh I hope were not Jeez Oh its depressing Yes we do need shows like This is Us I would prefer to watch This is Us than Walking Dead in the current state of things Because I want to be made I want to feel something a little more uplifting than you know people constantly dying and being eaten by zombies But thats just me Some people like to watch things like The Walking Dead because its thats worse right Then whats happeningAt least were not dealing with thatAlexandra Yeah At least Im not having to fight for my life every day Well we might be Not directlyCatch the heartwarming finale of This Is Us season 2 on 24th March at 9pm only on Star World and Star World HD in IndiaCatch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates