The thrilling series “Yellowjackets” is back for more murder and mayhem in season two. It follows a high school girl’s soccer team, the titular Yellowjackets, destined for the national championship when things go south.
The team’s private plane crashed in the woods, leaving the group forced to resort to extreme measures to survive. The surviving members, now adults, struggle to come to terms with the traumatic events of their past and are desperate to conceal the secrets of their time in the woods.
Actress Simone Kessell joins the cast in season two as the adult version of Lottie Matthews. Kessell recently shared her thoughts and experiences on playing this complex character. Especially when it came to portraying the mental health aspects of the role.
“I was challenged just in the mental health aspects of present day Lottie. I really had to do my due diligence and study it and understand mental health,” she tells POPSUGAR Australia. “And not make it just a character choice because it was on the page and the scripts, but find the true version of that.”
Kessell also shared how important it was for her to bring truth to the portrayal of mental health. She wanted to “really honour” people who do suffer.
“It’s something that many of us have struggled with or we know people who struggle from it. And so I just really wanted to bring truth to that,” she added.
However, the New Zealand actress was excited to explore all the layers and complexities that is Lottie Matthews. Including her role as a cult leader with narcissistic tendencies, her true identity behind closed doors, and her experiences of possession and visions.
Despite the challenges of stepping into a coveted character, Kessell approached the role with creativity and dedication.
“I knew I could play her, but I just had to work out how to play her. And that was what was most daunting,” she admitted.
“Yellowjackets” Season 2 is streaming on Paramount Plus from March 24.
Related: The Unsettling True Story That May Have Inspired “Yellowjackets”
