MÄDCHEN AMICK ON THE ENJOYABLE CHAOS OF RIVERDALE, TWIN PEAKS & THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH

BY IRVIN RIVERA

PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA
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American actress MÄDCHEN AMICK known for her iconic role as Shelly Johnson on TWIN PEAKS and as Alice Smith in RIVERDALE is also all about advocating for the importance of Mental Health.

MÄDCHEN spoke about her non-profit foundation dontMINDme.org and how she and her family values the importance of mental health in life. In this interview, the charming and talented actress also spoke about her acting journey, the people who influenced her career, the characters she played, and more.

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Who have been the biggest influences in your acting career?

Jessica Lange's performance in the film “Frances” really inspired me. Her raw vulnerability was breathtaking.

Meryl Streep’s performance in “Silkwood” was out of this world. Another vulnerable performance and yet her character’s resilience moved me.

The film “La Femme Nikita” directed by Luc Besson was a HUGE influence on me as a filmmaker. Such a badass female character that had to fight her way back from tragedy. The action sequences felt so real. And the soundtrack is one of my favorites to date! I’ve watched this film over and over...

Which have been your favorite projects that you’ve worked on throughout the years?

I really enjoyed the journey of filming “Dream Lover” written and directed by Nicholas Kazan where I starred alongside James Spader. It was my first female lead character and the material was so deep and fun to find on film.

I also really loved the experience of shooting the sitcom “Freddie” produced, written and created by Freddie Prinze Jr. It was so much fun to play with that material and goof around with all of my co-stars.

I magically (no pun intended) bonded with the cast of “Witches of East End” where I starred alongside Julia Ormand, Jenna Dewan, Rachel Boston, Eric Winter and Daniel DiTomasso. We were a tight knit group of actors and have stayed quite close since.

“Twin Peaks” is arguably one of the biggest shows ever to exist on the air. How does it feel to have been a part of a program that has been so influential to so many different series?

It’ s almost hard to fathom how much “Twin Peaks” changed the landscape of television AND film. It broke open the mold of formulaic programming and has never been the same since. I’m so lucky to have had that be my introduction into the business. It sent me on a different creative path for sure. Showed me how to never conform.

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Did you enjoy returning to the role of Shelley in “Twin Peaks” after so many years of doing other roles?

Oh my gosh YES! It was truly touching. It felt very nostalgic for all of us returning actors and crew. I basically teared up the entire time on set. I loved seeing old friends and am truly thankful for the experience.

“Riverdale” puts a dark twist on the iconic Archie Comics. How has your own connection to the comics influenced your ability to play this new version of the same classic characters?

I think it’s a fun take on the Archie Universe. Probably the best way to bring it to life. Full of mystery and enjoyable chaos. I love how we still nod to the iconic feel of the original comic by setting it in an almost timeless period. Embracing the 1950’s/1960’s with its look and yet it has modern technology. It’s definitely a time warp.

As someone who is well-versed in playing the teenager in “Twin Peaks”, how has the transition been in playing the mother of a teenager in “Riverdale”?

Quite natural actually. Because I have two kids the same age as the younger cast. It's funny at one point in Season 2 (the late) Luke Perry and I turned to each other and said, “Whoa, we’re now the older generation on a TV show. How the f*ck did that happen?!” And then we had a good laugh about it.

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How have you seen the dynamic of teen or high-school dramas change since you first started working within that genre?

I’m not sure how I’ve noticed them change over the years, but I've noted that the successful ones include storylines that not only delve into the younger generation, but they also fill out the storylines with the older generation. It creates a good balance to the story-telling in my opinion. And brings a much more diverse audience. I think both "Twin Peaks" and “Riverdale" have done really well with that.

Are you looking forward to the premiere of the new season of “Riverdale”?

Very much so. I’m always excited to see what new mysteries our showrunner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, is going to take our quirky little town into.

What advice would you have for aspiring actors and actresses who look up to you?

First of all, acting is a skill. You have to study and work hard at it. There are plenty of attractive charismatic people who will get jobs for that reason alone, but the ones who actually have a skill will be the ones who will have a long lasting and successful career. Don’t take it for granted. And hang in there! No one is actually “discovered overnight.” That’s a myth. It takes a lot of dedication to put yourself in a position to get “discovered."

As an actor who’s successfully worked behind the camera, can you impart a little about your experience directing?

If you have a desire to become a filmmaker in front of or behind the camera, don’t hesitate. The “perfect time” will never come. We need diverse story-tellers. Nowadays you can shoot short movies on your iPhone. Throw an anamorphic lens on and shoot away! Find out what makes you tick as an artist. What stories would you like to tell? And tell them authentically. Don’t try to fit into anyone’s box.

You’ve always been a mental health advocate, so why did you decide to launch your own foundation? Can you share some background on don’t MIND me?

My family and I (my husband David, daughter Mina and son Sylvester) decided that we were sick of seeing our current mental health care system fail people, like us. So we were compelled to make a difference. We not only want to join the cause of raising awareness by sharing our story, but we want to bring direct impact to those in need of treatment and resources. We will use donations from our non-profit foundation dontMINDme.org to sponsor those in need of care who otherwise can’t get it due to lack of insurance or funds themselves, advocate for mental health funding at a federal level for our existing hospitals, first responders and community based resources, as well as become a resource to find existing support services for those who suffer from mental illness and their supportive loved ones. Our goal is to help people find their way out of "suffering from" into "living with" their diagnosis. Help everyone find their unique path towards recovery.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

She Did It Her Way