Regina Hall

Your character Carmel is absolutely loveable, but lost and tormented by the father of her children. Can you tell us more about Carmel?

I do think Carmel is wonderful and has a calm personality, but like most people and things in life there’s always duality. She certainly has a part of her that gets angry and has a few issues. I think her ex-husband being remarried, and not knowing anymore what role and purpose she has, especially with her kids, loving their stepmom, it leaves her with a lot of feelings of blame and really low self-esteem.

By episode five, your character Carmel has developed a connection with Lars, played by Luke Evans, a rather unusual connection. What does it mean for your character towards the finale?

I think it’s important for Carmel as one of the few people there who has come alone and feel so alone to connect with someone. It’s quite beautiful that ironically he ends up being the person that she attacks also, that their relationship comes full circle and yes, there is a payoff or there is more to their relationship that will be incredibly loving to Carmel as the series continues. A component that becomes so important for her healing.

How did you get approached to be in the series?

My agents told me that there was a wonderful script starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy, and they wanted me to read it to see if I’d be interested because we had the offer or anticipated an offer. I read it, and I read the first few episodes they didn’t have the whole show at that point. I loved it, and yes, and that was the beginning of it.

Nicole Kidman, Melisa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale and others, all perfectly brought together by David E. Kelly.
Did you enjoy working with everyone, and what was it like filming in Australia?

Everyone in the show was incredibly generous as actors, which is what you always love in a project. I think that’s the kind of stuff that you love as an artist to be able to play off with someone and someone who both of you together are really generous to each other in a scene. That was pretty incredible. We all laughed a lot. Bobby and I had a singing group that shall remain nameless, but that was pretty fun. It was a fun cast, and we had a great time in Australia which was just like another added character in this entire shoot for us to be away from everything that we knew that was normal and then also to be a part of a show that was also very far away from what we knew that was normal. It was great.

Do you have any fun stories that you had on the set. Do you want to elaborate on the singing group that you had?

I think we were like a ’70s R&B group. That was our inspiration. Bobby and I, we might have some hits coming down the line, look out for.

Were these the mushroom-inspired hits?

Unfortunately, no, we were sober. That’s the worst part of it.

In terms of just everything, either your character specifically, or the storyline, what attracted you most about this show?

Obviously, I loved all the people behind the camera. David E. Kelley, Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy. I think that was originally before I even read it was just interesting and then discovering that it was based on Liane Moriarty’s book. That was another compelling component and then reading the actual script was amazing. Then I loved the character of Carmel.

The show revolves around Psilocybin, the Magic Mushrooms in therapeutic form.
In November 2020, Oregon voted to legalize psilocybin therapy and will become legal in 2023.
The attitudes on psychedelics are shifting. That’s thanks largely to a renaissance of psychedelic research that’s been gaining steam since the 2000s, producing startling studies showing how psilocybin (and other psychedelics) can help alleviate mental health problems like major depression, anxiety, and addiction disorders. (Source: BigThink)
What’s your thoughts on moving back to methods for mental health treatments that were used for medicinal and spiritual purposes by our ancestors for millennia?

I think it has really great potential. I think something definitely needs to be done. There are many people suffering from depression, health issues and then mental illness and I think anyway that we can collectively contribute to support anyone who is in need, that’s something about also looking at things from a historical perspective. If there’s proof that those things actually at one point helped people I think especially with the numbers that we have today of people who are really having difficulties I think then it’s a great opportunity for us to be able to continue what was started before and then make it even better, especially if it helps people.

During the cover shoot, your Improv skills were outstanding. Our creative director and principal photographer, Mike Ruiz had a blast photographing you. Do you love the creative aspect and improvising on the spot?

I do sometimes a lot often, and especially when, I don’t know. I had a great time with him and I think when you feel really comfortable and– I think it’s fun to play, I guess I love make-believe. I like to do it when I’m joking around too.

In terms of the projects that might come to you in the future, is there an ultimate role for you or just something that would be beyond what you would expect or really love to play in a character?

I love things that challenge me. I just look forward to working with people and having roles that just allow me to continue to grow and expand as an artist. I don’t know that I’ve necessarily thought about what that would be. I just really look forward to working with people for having opportunities that are enriching and expansive ultimately.

You are flexing a relatively newer muscle with producing under the RH Negative production company. Do you find that you’re also inviting material the same way that you do as a talent as you do producer or do you look at it a little differently?

I think I looked at it probably similarly. I’m sure there are different reasons that I would look for things and especially because I don’t have to view through the lens of what I can do. I’d look at things that I’d love to watch or love to see other people as I’m reading it like, “Oh, such and such might be great,” or it’s an opportunity to discover a talent that I know is out there, but maybe haven’t seen. Also, put new faces on the screen mixed with familiar faces.
I think at this point it ends up being about a material and a response and the story that, that material as a whole is trying to say. It’s similar, but it’s a little bit different.

We focused a little bit on the present and a little bit on the future, but in a moment of reflection if you had a chance to give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?

Oh my goodness. Patience and then really enjoying time with the people you love, because there’s some anxiousness for things now. It’s really about enjoying the moment because ultimately everything works out the way it’s supposed to. I guess. Not necessarily the way you want, but it works out somehow. Keep pushing and love the people you love in the meantime.