Joan Allen on navigating the trauma of Lisey's Story with director Pablo Larraín
When we first meet Joan Allen’s Amanda in the premiere of Lisey’s Story, a check-in call to her sister Lisey (Julianne Moore) soon turns into an emotional outburst, a harrowing scene of self-harm. It’s an admittedly jarring introduction to the character, and one that hints at the darker depths of the miniseries, an adaptation of the 2006 Stephen King novel that explores trauma, grief, and the ways we attempt to cope with both in our lives. By the end of the first two episodes (which premiered simultaneously on June 4 on AppleTV+), it becomes clear that Amanda’s methods of coping have transported her—at least spiritually—to Boo’Ya Moon, a King-ian otherworld as alluring as it is dangerous.
Why and how has Amanda found herself here? And how does it relate to the fiction of author Scott Landon (Clive Owen), Lisey’s late husband? For some insights, The A.V. Club spoke with the great Joan Allen about Amanda’s vulnerable state, and why running away from your problems is never a permanent solution. Here’s what Allen had to say about her approach to Amanda: