Interview With Actress Sarah Jones
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New to the playing television playing field, Apple TV + have come ready with a well-orchestrated freshman class to take on the network leagues. One of the very first series up to bat from team Apple is “For All Mankind”, an already well acclaimed show that tells the story of a global space race that did not happen.
Naively, after watching each episode pass you begin to think about how little you knew about our space exploits. Yet only after the series had come to an end, did I realise (after a quick Google search) that this story was despite how believable and invested you become not based on any sort of reality -a credit very much so due to the actors that bring the script to life. One such creative talent is Sarah Jones – a woman with her eyes set upon playing intelligent and empowered characters. She’s just not the blonde sidekick, she’s Detective Madsen of Alcatraz. She’s not the damsel in distress, she’s wise Alison Kemp escaping The Path and now she’s not just the astronaut’s wife, she’s Tracy Stevens - the astronaut.
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Sarah Jones has been working her way through our television screens for quite some time now- and although it would be considerably easier to play the typical roles and earning a decent living doing so, the thought of leaving a legacy behind is very much so in the forefront of her thinking. For her, it’s a classic case of quality of quantity – and after quickly watching all episodes of “For All Mankind” its safe to say she has the quality locked down now. With her character starting the series with a somewhat humble beginning, a nice impression is made and almost nothing more. However with words spoken a little too soon, Jones gradually transforms an underdog story into a believable NASA phenomenon, a character whom, you not only root for but also want to become.
Very so often, we as an audience are gifted with a character that leaves thinking more- more about who we want to be, what would we do and what can I take away from this. Those performances are the one’s that leave a mark on television history, a small knit group of great characters that Sarah Jones’ Tracy Stevens is soon to join. Bring on Season 2.
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Congratulation on being cast on “For All Mankind”. How does it feel to apart of the beginning stage of Apple television?
Sarah: (Laughs) It’s a journey for everyone, I suppose. I think that any company willing to invest their time and money into creating quality content outside of their standard product distribution is exciting. Why not? Also, the idea that Apple can release and advertise their content through their own highly profitable tech products is a hell of a concept. Who knows where it will go, the accessibility of it all; I try not to think about it, but I imagine Apple executives are already on it (laughs). Aside from that, yeah, I dig being apart of one of Apple’s original series.
You have been apart of some great TV shows in the past, can you tell us what stood out for you on this project?
Sarah: Working with Ron Moore. No one else had signed on when I was approached on playing Tracy so it was a bit of a leap of faith. I was only given the first two episodes; and for anyone that has seen the first two episodes, they’re very much in line with the storytelling we’ve seen on American space endeavor in the late 1960s. And rightfully so, as it sets the tone and atmosphere of the NASA community and politics in Houston and DC of that era. However, I had no interest in playing an astronaut’s wife. Once I learned that the astronaut’s wife would become the astronaut, and the consequences of that dynamic would be explored, curiosity took over.
Nowadays with the abundance of streaming services, the smaller screen has started to considerably gain more acclaim than film. What do you love about TV?
Sarah: There’s more room to dive deeper into the story and the humanity of the characters within that story. Granted, I think there’s a limit there for anyone creatively involved to tell the best version of that story; and the ten episode/five season model seems to be the sweet spot for that.
Which characters and actors were you obsessing over when you first started out in the industry?
Sarah: I grew up dancing so I didn’t have a lot of interest in TV or film. I obsessed over dancers, choreographers, composers, and musicians. With that said, Charlize Theron’s performance in ‘Monster’ was what sparked an interest in acting.
What was about these names, that drew your interest?
Sarah: My impression of ‘blonde actress’ roles were that they were essentially objectified archetypes more often than not- just a lot of projection without a lot of substance beyond what the actress personally brought to it, ya know? And I’m aware that’s been a universal issue with most actresses, but because I’m a blonde and dealt with some of the stereotypes classically handed to blondes, I’m more sensitive to the ‘blonde personas.’ Anyway, I wasn’t really interested. Then Charlize Theron comes along, tells a story about a murderer, not only from the perspective of a serial killer, but from the female perspective as well. Holy shit. It was revolutionary for me.
“For All Mankind” backdrop is outer space, how did you and your cast mates prefer for such an experience?
Sarah: Well, we all signed on and no one has expressed any regrets (laughs)...I remember the first time I tried on the flight suit and the Apollo spacesuit. Even though I had done absolutely nothing to qualify wearing either of those garments, I felt this odd sense of pride and responsibility.
What was it about Tracy Stevens that drew you to this role?
Sarah: It’s more about what I came to appreciate about her storyline in season one since I didn’t have anything more than the first two episodes to go on. But I would say it was the transition she went through from the realization of what she would accept for herself and the life she was bold enough to live, to the declaration and ownership of that.
The show rightfully so has a feministic tone, and so aside from entertaining viewers, what do you want people to take away from this series?
Sarah: When people hear or see the word ‘feminist,’ it seems that often times the picture of women dominating an environment with a fury, accompanied by Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries,’ comes to mind. It’s absurd. And our show is far from that. Our show is ‘feministic’ in that the environment is much more balanced in the roles that men and women take, both domestically and industrially. As the season goes on, the equality aspect that the NASA community begins to practice becomes less of a big deal. Personally, I get frustrated when there’s ‘news’ of women taking on a job (and doing it well) that men have predominantly participated in because it should be the social norm by now. I don’t know if this show will inspire that notion; but I’d like to think that we, as a society, will get to a place, sooner than later, where we stop patting ourselves on the back for just showing respect for one another and letting people live their lives the way they see fit. When we don’t have to remind people by claiming, ‘The first insert race/gender/creed to accomplish fill in the blank,’ because it’s already well established, that’ll be a solid indicative of our progress.
Aside from acting, what’s on your mind these days? Could you provide us with some more insight into your other endeavours you are passionate about?
Sarah: Currently, I lend whatever help I can to Defenders of Wildlife which is an incredible non-profit dedicated to protecting various species and their habitats in the States by using a range of effective tactics—from helping farmers implement humane solutions and techniques to protect their cattle without having to harm or kill wildlife, to taking our government or corporations to court when they try to side step over laws already in place to protect wildlife. Many times, the effort of protecting wildlife and their habitats also protect the communities living on the land and the natural resources within it (yup, like water). They’re not about fear tactics, they’re about facts, solutions, and results.
If you could go back in time, what advise would you give your younger self?
Sarah: (Thinks) Well...the past doesn’t exist anymore, it’s not happening currently, so what’s the point of indulging in the fantasy of trying to change it, ya know?
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Sarah: (Laughs) The future doesn’t exist either, so, I don’t know...I’m just trying to stay aware. I’m not always consistent. I mean, I certainly fall into the traps of regret and anxiety or even nostalgia, but yeah. I got right now. So I’m gonna do my best with that.
Words / QUADE AU
This PIBE online exclusive has been produced by:
Talent / Sarah Jones
Photography / Lili Peper
Styling / Melissa Lynn
Make up / Bethany McCarty
Hair / Aaron Barry