An Interview with Imogen Poots from ‘Outer Range’

Imogen Poots as Autumn Rivers in Season 2 of ‘Outer Range’. (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video.)

Imogen Poots is a highly accomplished actor that has appeared in some important projects over the course of her career, such as the powerhouse film Green Room, and the iconic horror feature, 28 Weeks Later. Currently, she stars as Autumn Rivers in the Prime Video series, Outer Range, and we here at NTG were honored to sit down with her to discuss season two of this magnificent series.

John Betancourt: I would love to know, what it means to be part of a show that is so ambitious storytelling wise.
 
Imogen Poots: Oh, it means so much to me, I think shows that are completely their own breed and not feeling that pressure to conform are few and far between. I think original content is harder than ever to get off the ground and get people to have faith and put money behind those ideas. So, it's really cool to be a part of something that very much was a risk, but seemed to connect with a lot of people. And yeah, I'm very proud of that. It’s cool.
 
John Betancourt:  You bring up a very good point that I'd love to follow up on. Why do you think this is a series that resonates so well with audiences?
 
Imogen Poots: Well, I think on the one hand, it's because people were sort of hungry for something which didn't feel like anything else. And also, I think, just the questions regarding all of these conundrums and queries that we all have, within humanity, things we really know nothing about, we don't really know what's going on. So, with parallel universes, and, you know, nature and time and the unknown, and our past, I mean it's all something that's very, very relatable to a lot of people. And then I also think on the flip side, if you're a fan of, which I am, of something like Twin Peaks, where it's just kind of… there are potential mysteries to be solved or clues that you may regard or discard. And there's a kitschiness to it, which I always really love that with, certainly with sort of sci fi movies and things.

John Betancourt: Now you do some heavy lifting in season two acting wise, and I’m very curious how you handle such gravity mentally, since Autumn has been through it.
 
Imogen Poots: Yeah, it's just tough. And I think it's that real specific place of feeling very relaxed and feeling very focused. But the actors in this cast are so insane that like, any scene, you get to be in with one of those actors, it's like, all you have to do is be present. And truthful to the moment. I mean, it's just, it's like a crazy caliber of, of talent in the cast.
 
John Betancourt: I’m also curious, what you hope audiences take away from season two from a depth standpoint?
 
Imogen Poots: I hope that they feel… there's more of an emotional engine generating throughout season two, and I hope that they themselves consider, you know, time. (Laughs) I think, I mean, I think season one was a setup of so many ideas. And season two is an exploration of those things. And in terms of what people like take away from it, I guess it's just about, it'd be fun if people spoke about it, what do you think is actually going on? And also, what could potentially happen? Because it opens itself up to that potential. And, yeah, it's sort of, you know, about how humans behave under pressure. And always in the face of sort of a desire or hunger for something greater. This notion that you could somehow transgress or transcend even humanity because of… it's very, it's very dark. So, I hope it teaches people some stuff.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what are most excited for audiences to experience in season two? Without any spoilers of course.
 
Imogen Poots: I think… there's something about the American West, the myth of the American West that I've always found… I've probably fetishized it, you know, I obviously, am English, and I grew up always with this fascination of the American West and, and the more I learned about it and read and saw, of course, there's also a real sinister side to that myth as well. And I think it's interrogating these ideas, interrogating masculinity, faith, power, the importance of family, and where you're from. I think all of those themes are in the show and those are quite cool to ponder.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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