Rising actress Shayna Benardo takes on one of the most pivotal roles in Peacock‘s The Good Daughter, which premiered yesterday, Nov. 12.
Based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novel of the same name, the series stars Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy, with all six episodes available to stream now.
Shayna plays Kelly Wilson, a deeply complex teenager with cognitive limitations whose story sits at the center of the series, with her character blurring the line between victim and culprit.
Sweety High got the chance to chat with Shayna to discuss taking on Kelly, the emotional preparation behind the role and what this moment means for her as an actress. Read our full interview with her below.
(Photo by: Mark Hill/Peacock)
Sweety High: What’s going through your mind as the release of The Good Daughter gets closer? What do you hope viewers take away from Kelly’s story?
Shayna Benardo: It’s surreal. We worked so hard on this show.
I hope we leave viewers entertained, but also with the message that trauma has no one face or timeline for healing.
As for Kelly, I hope her story can inspire people to talk about these difficult subjects with empathy, understanding and an open mind.
SH: What was your first reaction when you read Kelly Wilson on the page? What made you want to fight for the role?
SB: My only concern was, “How do I do Kelly justice? How can I portray someone whose experiences are so different from my own as respectfully and authentically as possible?” Approaching Kelly from that perspective was my absolute priority.
She has a rich inner world, but faces limitations connecting it to her immediate reality. From the jump I was extremely protective of her.
I’m so glad Steph [Green], Karin [Slaughter], Bruna [Papandrea], Steve [Hutensky] and Casey [Haver] saw something in my tape.
SH: Kelly is a complicated young character. How did you approach playing someone whose place in the story between victim and perpetrator isn’t clear-cut?
SB: I always describe Kelly as a blank canvas. People project their assumptions onto her, and she leans into them because it’s easier to.
But, like anyone else, Kelly is a complicated, whole human being. You can be two things at once.
Also read about: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy Star in Peacock’s The Good Daughter
SH: What did your process as an actress look like to get into that emotional and psychological mindset? How did you protect your own headspace while living in heavy material?
SB: I spent a lot of time researching the psychology surrounding the trauma that Kelly is revealed to have endured throughout the series. Nature was definitely a way in for me, both in my preparation and in those moments when I needed to protect my headspace.
Peacock and the whole team were really great about providing resources for grappling with this material. There was always someone I could talk to or ask for a hug from.
(Photo by: David Holloway/Peacock)
SH: How did you go about making sure you portrayed Kelly and her cognitive limitations with authenticity, care and respect?
SB: Instead of envisioning an end result of what Kelly “should” be like, it was always paramount to me to study the different characteristics and behaviors that come together to create the whole.
Honoring those different elements with as much honesty and informed research as possible, along with consulting with Karin and Steph, was key.
SH: What was it like working opposite Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy? What’s the most valuable thing you learned from watching them work?
SB: Rose and Meghann are both legends! I look up to them both so much and consider my time with them a real gift.
They’ve worked so hard to get to where they are, and I feel humbled to be along for this ride. I was just a little starstruck at first, but luckily, Kelly is also a little anxious.
Of course, there was never any reason to worry, they both operate without ego and with such kindness and humor. Watching them lead was truly inspiring.
I guess that’s what you get when you work with Oscar and Emmy-nominated actors!
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SH: Without spoiling anything, what was it like to play a character the whole story seems to revolve around?
SB: As an actor, getting to dance with all these legends is a dream. It was a real treat, and a real challenge.
This is the type of role us hungry actors dream of, and I was lucky enough to do it. It’s a responsibility I do not take lightly, but always felt encouraged and supported by our wonderful team.
To be trusted with this kind of role and this kind of material is rare, and that has stayed with me.
(Photo by: Heidi Gutman/Peacock)
SH: How did those experiences on projects like Doom Patrol and Sorority Secrets prepare you for this role? How did playing Kelly challenge you in ways you hadn’t been before?
SB: Working on those projects gave me the literacy necessary to work in this larger capacity with confidence. Kelly challenged me to really transform.
I got to sink my teeth into this really intense arc, surrounded by some of my idols. It’s nice to know I can do it.
Now, The Good Daughter and Kelly have given me even more tools for whatever comes next.
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SH: This feels like a breakout moment for you. As an actress and a writer, what does it mean to you, and what kinds of stories or roles do you want to take on next?
SB: I still pinch myself. I really want to continue to work on stories that broaden perspectives and aid in self-discovery.
Those are my kryptonite. And just because those sound serious doesn’t mean they have to be.
My producing partner and I just finished post-production on a comedy pilot that honors those themes just as well.
I’d love the challenge of a rom-com. A total departure from Kelly.
Challenges are how you grow, so I’d love to have more challenging roles thrown my way.
For more from actors in our most-anticipated releases, check out Ella Grace Helton Dishes on Working With Matthew McConaughey & Woody Harrelson in Brothers.
