You might remember her from the Netflix comedy Alexa & Katie.
May didn’t actually audition for the role of Elsa Dutton.
The young actress first met Sheridan by trying out forMayor of Kingstown, his other drama for Paramount+.
Emerson Miller/Paramount+
She didn’t get the job, but Sheridan certainly didn’t forget her.
“Two weeks later, he called and said, ‘I want you to be Elsa.
We’re gonna watch this story unfold through her eyes and her perspective.
Mindy Small/FilmMagic
I haven’t written anything and you will receive the scripts as I go along.’
That’s exactly what happened.
It was a bit wild and surreal, but I didn’t think about it too much.
I don’t trust anything until I see the result.
Eight months later and we’re actually almost done.
It’s just crazy.”
Tim and Faith … who?
They’re incredible people.
They’re not, you know,music stars, which was really nice."
This is her first series regular role in a drama series.
May’s biggest role to date was co-starring in theNetflix high school comedyAlexa & Katiefor three seasons.
Before that, she booked small roles inYoung Sheldonand the 2019 flickLet’s Scare Julie.
“I’m as unknown as you could possibly say,” she quips.
Born and raised in Southern California, May has never ridden a horse in her life.
(Her high school years were spent in an online school so she could pursue acting full time).
“I have a vendetta against it, so that’s what really prevented me from entering.
That, and I also sawJawswhen I was 7 and I have been terrified of sharks ever since.”
Her pioneer training also included accent lessons and a smattering of dirt on her face.
“I really wanted to get the accent right.
Our version of the Tennessee accent today doesn’t sound like what it would at that time.
So it’s just kind of an amalgamation of things.”
“I’m not wearing any makeup.
I’m wearing dirt and sweat.
They spray water on our faces constantly.
I’m just trying to look my age, like a real person.
And if I have a zit on my face, then the zit is gonna show.”
The location shoot for1883is as gritty (and hot) as it looks onscreen.
“I call it a free sauna.
There was sweat pouring down parts of my body I didn’t know where sweat could accumulate.
Of course, it’s a little challenging, but it’s also the point.
You’re a little bit miserable, but I secretly loved it.
I’ve really enjoyed everything.
1883is streaming now on Paramount+.
