Elizabeth Henstridge has the looks, charm and style that could fit into any role she puts her mind to; a tough-as-nails woman, that digs in and gets the job done, leaving many to believe the saying ‘looks can be deceiving’. Elizabeth has graced us all with her wonderfully British presence on screen in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D now coming up for her 5th year running.
Elizabeth talka to us before landing in Australia and before her visit to the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming over the next few weeks in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast. We chat about hobbies and what it’s like on the set day to day as everything changes so drastically this season and her highlights of the show thus far and what Elizabeth is getting up to while in Australia.
David Hunter: Hey, Elizabeth. How are you, you even sound extremely far away? (talking from the U.K.)
Elizabeth Henstridge: It’s crazy that we’re even talking on the phone, I love it.
It’s a small world actually, I lived just about an hour and a half away from you in Lincolnshire, England, and also grew up on and around a farm.
No way!?
So, we’re basically related okay?
Yeah, I mean we probably are!
I saw on yours and Chloe’s Instagram when it was Clark Gregg’s birthday. Were you on set with Chloe and co when his cake arrived?
Yeah. No, I wasn’t on set that day. I know, it’s very sad. I’m still waiting (as of writing) to give him his birthday hug.
It’s always fun, which it’s somebody’s birthday, mostly, because there’s so much cake on set. But for our leader to have his birthday, that’s a special one.
Your star sign would be a Virgo and being a Virgo means doing everything to its full extent, So, that would mean on your Birthday you rest up hard or party harder?
I party harder, I think. Yeah, have to on your birthday. I mean Virgo’s just do everything meticulously, right? So if it’s your birthday, you’ve got to make it your birthday. Yeah, I would say, I would say I like a good party.
What are your hobbies outside of filming and you know, teasing everybody with set photos and delicious foods on your Instagram?
Well, I mean, we film in Los Angeles, so there are the most amazing hikes here, which is so different from what I would grow up with in England. So, I love to go on hikes, I love working out and going to the movies and theatre. Just anything, I love anything related to the arts, I guess, art galleries. I mean, theatre is my main one, that’s kind of my favourite thing to do, but yeah, other than that is just sleeping and getting ready for the next week.
That’s awesome. Myself and my best mate, Ben, the last few years, we’ve watched “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, you know, at least one night as religiously as we can. We’re up to the season finale of season 4 in Australia for me. So please don’t kill me, but I haven’t watched any of “S.H.I.E.L.D. in Space” yet.
Okay. I’ll try not to spoil anything.
Has the entire credit process changed a lot in any major ways with the big shift to space in the new season of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Yeah, everything, I don’t want to spoil too many things for you, but in season 5, everything changes for Simmons. She splits up from Fitz (Leo Fitz), so that’s a huge one for her and they’re all just desperately trying to survive, they’re working out what happened and how they could possibly fix it and where everybody is, it’s all kind of secondary to just staying alive. So, it’s been my favourite season yet because it’s been so different. The Kree aliens and just the look of the show, it’s so different. Yeah, it’s been a really good one. I don’t know how the writers do it, but they’ve managed to put all the characters in new and interesting circumstances that make our jobs really fun and hopefully, make it fun to watch.
It’s definitely fun to watch. Every season, it’s just a great. I love everything you do with it as well and with Jemma, the relationship with Fitz has been one of the biggest highlights of the series for me. As well, as you seriously kicking ass in “Agents of Hydra.”, your character being trapped in that alternate universe with the evil Grant Ward (we nickname him Wardy Ward).
Can you tell us what’s been some of your favourite escapades during S.H.I.E.L.D. up until now?
I loved being in the framework, it was the alternate universe and I hated Fitz being Leopold and the doctor and kind of a baddy, but it did make for brilliant drama and it was fun to see Simmons completely out of her element, on her own. She was really the only one in there that wasn’t sort of brainwashed. She died in there and was nicely, woken up in her own grave, which was cool and having Brett Dalton back was really fun, seeing him on set again was really nice.
I loved what they did with Daisy with her changing from being Skye and everything. It reinvigorated everybody’s character a little bit. I think this past season, I loved the Kree, I loved just watching the make-up artists work their magic with all the different people they’ve created. You’d get to know someone in a scene and you’d see them on the walk to your car and have absolutely no idea who they are because they’re not blue with prosthetics all over their face. So, I mean, it’s like you got double the amount of friends on set that day.
We’re filming the finale now of season 5. And there’s a lot that happens in it. I’m excited, I’m excited for people to see it.
Is this the last season or can we possibly get another?
We don’t know. Nobody knows. I mean, hopefully, we’ll find out soon.
You’d think the studios wouldn’t wait until the last minute?
I know, there’s a lot of moving pieces and we feel, I’m so grateful to have had this job for so long and to have been able to be a part of telling so many different stories. It would be wonderful if it continued, but none of us know.
Well, what’s next for you if and when “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” finishes up? Have you got any ideas? Or you don’t want to think about it yet?
I mean I have a ton of things I would love to do. I think, spending some time in England is a big one. We film for a long time and I miss my family when I’m here, so it would be lovely to go back for a bit. But, I’m a Virgo, as you say, so I would have a week off and then kind of start getting itchy feet again wanting to do work again. Travel is a really important thing for me and that’s why I’m doubly excited to come to Australia. I just love exploring different cultures and different landscapes, so that would be something definitely. As soon as we wrap each year, I usually go off somewhere, so, this year’s it’s Australia. So, I’m really excited about that.
You’re headed to Supanova Comic Con & Gaming here in Australia, of course, have you been over here before or what are you looking forward to the most when you spend some time down under?
Yes, I’ve been to Australia a few years ago. I brought my parents over there and that was really fun. I’ve never been to the Gold Coast. I’m really excited about that. I’m going to go see the Great Barrier Reef and your food is so amazing and the coffee. I just remember the coffee being some of the best coffee I’ve ever had.
Starbucks doesn’t compare?
That is a very different animal.
You get to see the Great Barrier Reef before it’s destroyed, well at least they’re getting it back into shape as best they can, but it’s not doing so well. The more tourists the more money goes towards it I guess.
Yes, I’m excited. I was going to say I’ve been careful to try and pick tour people that are there to preserve, not to just destroy and that’s the catch-22, I want to see it, but I don’t want to hurt it.
Well, you’re going to enjoy the Gold Coast. It’s one of our favourite holiday spots. It’s amazing. Try out the theme parks while you’re there as well.
Theme parks? Okay I will, I want to try everything.
Supanova Comic Con & Gaming will be held in Melbourne April 20th – 22nd at the Melbourne Showgrounds and again on the Gold Coast April 27th – 29th at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
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