Yellowjackets star Sophie Nlisse recalls watching The Handmaids Tale to prepare for this emotionally demanding scene
Sophie Nélisse cannot shake this “Yellowjackets” plot line.The Canadian actress, 25, recalled a particularly hard scene she filmed over her three-year reign on the Paramount+ psychological thriller as teen Shauna — and the popular shows that helped her through it.During the Season 3 finale event in North Hollywood, California, on Thursday, April 13, Nélisse got candid about her most challenging scene in the series to date.Warning: Spoilers below!“I would say the birthing episode in Season 2 was definitely the most physically and emotionally demanding, and we shot that for a week,” Nélisse told The Post, referencing her pregnant character being forced to give birth in the wilderness without a doctor after her soccer team’s plane went down, leaving them stranded for more than a year.To make matters worse, they were forced to reshoot parts of the daunting birth scene.“We actually lost the footage and had to reshoot some of the footage,” Nélisse said.
When asked to explain how she was able to give such a flawless performance, the “Irena’s Vow” actress explained that she watched birthing videos from two popular TV series.“There are great ones in ‘Handmaid’s Tale,’ even in like ‘House of Dragons,” noting that the characters in both shows are forced to give birth without the help of medical professionals.
Nélisse also noted that several important females in her life gave her guidance on what childbirth was really like.She shared that she talked to her mom, the scene’s director (Liz Garbus), and her female friends helped “talk” her through the process.
Garbus — who also Season 4 finale of “The Handmaid’s Tale” — spoke to Variety regarding the research the pair did to prepare Nélisse for the birthing scene.“I sent Sophie birthing videos and medical videos, and how it might be different in the wild.
We looked at The Handmaid’s Tale, and the episode where Elisabeth Moss’ character gives birth all by herself....