Britt Lower, star of Apple TV+’s hit series Severance, recently shared the powerful emotional reaction she had upon learning she was cast in the acclaimed sci-fi thriller.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lower revealed she “fell to her knees” after finding out she landed the role of Helly R./Helena Eagan. “It was a hardwood floor, so my knees hurt,” she said, recalling the moment she got the call from her team. At the time, she was preparing a sweet potato.
“I was at the point where there had been like three or four jobs that year that had just gone a different direction,” she explained. “I had developed that kind of resilience that you build from rejection, and you’re just like, ‘OK, cool, it wasn’t meant to be.’” But this time, it was. When asked how she planned to celebrate, Lower responded, “I’m going to eat a sweet potato,” laughing and crying at the same time.
Severance, which returned with new episodes in early 2025 following a three-year hiatus, continues to receive critical acclaim. Season 2 earned 27 Emmy nominations, including one for Lower in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She will compete against Kathy Bates (Matlock), Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), and Keri Russell (The Diplomat). Co-stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Trammel Tillman, Patricia Arquette, and John Turturro also received Emmy nods, and the series itself is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.
Lower also recalled her audition process, which began with a self-taped submission filmed in her bathroom. Her agent, Jo Yao of UTA, had encouraged her to audition for the part after sending her the pilot script. “I was like, ‘OK, well, this is the best one I’ve ever read,’” Lower said.
The audition tape, which included a scene involving the now-iconic “scary numbers,” led to a callback and a chemistry read with Adam Scott. “I made Ben Stiller laugh. That was the win,” Lower recalled, referring to the show’s director and executive producer.
Before landing her breakout role in Severance, Lower had appeared in guest roles on shows like American Horror Stories, High Maintenance, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She also starred in the FXX comedy Man Seeking Woman.
Looking ahead, Lower is set to headline a new Netflix series titled I Will Find You, a prison break thriller based on Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name. The cast includes Sam Worthington (Avatar), Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us), Erin Richards (Gotham), and Logan Browning (Dear White People). A release date for the series has not yet been announced.
Severance is available for streaming on Apple TV+.
Source: CBR