Actress Chiara Aurelia chatted to Courageous Nerd about her role as “Jordy” on Hysteria!, now streaming on Peacock.
Read our full interview with Chiara below.
What inspired your interest in acting – was it a hobby before deciding to pursue a career?
Chiara Aurelia: Acting and performance have always been a passion for me. The actors and actresses I loved led me through my childhood and brought so much inspiration and light into my life. I dreamt of doing the same for the next generation.
My introduction to the industry was through theater in school, performing live on stage brings me so much joy.
My passions extended beyond acting to singing and dancing as well and I hope to one day perform on Broadway. This is part of why Hysteria! was such a perfect project for me. It gave me the opportunity to bring song into my acting career for the first time.
You have an upcoming role as “Jordy” in Peacock series Hysteria! How would you describe the premise and your character’s role for anyone unfamiliar?
Chiara Aurelia: Jordy was an immediately fascinating character to me and from the moment I read her I fell in love. I’m hoping the audience will be able to connect with her in the way I did.
I related to her exterior presenting one way and her interior feeling much more nuanced and complex.
She uses her sense of style as a form of self expression, rocking fierce eye makeup and her signature Victorian goth wardrobe.
She was tons of fun to play because there is much more to her than meets the eye. I can’t wait for the world to meet her!!
How much research, if any, did you do into the satanic panic to prepare?
Chiara Aurelia: There was a ton of research involved, but it was all super interesting! It’s very exciting to be able to dive into a different world so distanced from my current life.
Our show takes place in 1989, so there was tons to learn about the era, metal music and the satanic panic in general.
I’ve always loved music and have been a fan of all different genres. I wasn’t prepared for the heavy metal deep dive that was required for Hysteria!
With your co-stars including Julie Bowen, Bruce Campbell and Anna Camp, how was your experience working with them?
Chiara Aurelia: They are all so incredible. It was such an honor to be surrounded by such talented actors with such impressive careers under their belt. They all provided such a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
As a young actress. working alongside them was truly such a privilege.
In your opinion, what makes Hysteria! stand out from other shows in a similar genre?
Chiara Aurelia: Hysteria! is an incredibly unique show and in my opinion has a little bit of something for everyone!
When promoting this show we are trying to highlight the wide variety of genres, characters, actors, and stories that are within this universe.
Our incredible showrunner Matt Scott Kane takes you on the journey of a lifetime over the course of this season with so many twists and turns.
Similar to other shows in the “horror” genre we have all the scares and gore. But it’s surrounded by a coming-of-age story alongside heavy metal music in the 80s. What’s not to love!
In the 2022 film Luckiest Girl Alive, you played a younger version of Mila Kunis’ character. Did you have any discussions with Mila about keeping the character consistent?
Chiara Aurelia: Yes! Mila is an actress I’ve looked up to my entire life. Getting the opportunity to play a younger version of her was a dream come true.
That project as a whole took me on the journey of a lifetime. To this day, [it] is one of my favorite projects I’ve worked on.
When creating Ani, Mila and I had many conversations about highlighting the similarities and differences between our performances. Of course, we are playing the same role but there are nuances to the changes that occur with age and time.
Across your projects that I haven’t mentioned, do any stand out in particular as memorable experiences?
Chiara Aurelia: I’ve been so lucky to work on many amazing projects over the course of my career and each has its own highlights.
Every character has guided me forward in my life and my craft. Meeting different roles at different ages and having many of my “high school” to young adult experiences on camera.
I’m incredibly humbled and grateful for every job I’ve been a part of, as they have led me to a new place in my work and personal life. I’ve met some of my best friends, made incredible memories, and grown so much over the years through my work!
When will people be able to check out Hysteria!?
Chiara Aurelia: You can watch Hysteria! streaming on Peacock on October 18th!
Follow writer Conor O’Brien on Twitter/X
A lifelong TV and Film buff, Conor founded Courageous Nerd in 2019. He has conducted hundreds of interviews for the site, as well as written comprehensive feature articles on a variety of topics. You can find him on X: @conorrcn.
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