Task’s Emilia Jones Tested Her Delco Accent at Wawa

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Even before the main story of *Task* really gets going, Maeve, played by Emilia Jones, is already frustrated with her life. Still grieving the death of her father, a biker, she’s a 21-year-old living in Delaware County, Pennsylvania – and has a noticeable local accent. Things get more complicated when she has to look after her uncle Robbie’s kids, Wyatt and Harper, after he moves in. Living with them would be difficult enough, even without complaints about her cooking, but it becomes dangerous when Robbie, a sanitation worker who robs drug dealers at night, brings home the young son of two men he killed during a botched robbery. This boy, Sam, becomes the focus of a missing persons investigation, and if discovered, could expose Robbie’s involvement to Perry, a biker seeking revenge.

Despite being only 23 years old, Emilia Jones is already experienced at portraying characters facing difficult decisions. She’s been acting since she was eight, with roles in projects like Paolo Sorrentino’s *Youth*, *Doctor Who*, the Netflix series *Locke & Key*, and, most notably, as the lead in the Academy Award-winning film *CODA*, where she played a talented musician balancing her dreams of attending Berklee College of Music with her family obligations as their only hearing member. But none of those roles prepared her for having to pretend to bake what looked like a truly terrible casserole.

Before discussing the latest episode, I’m curious about Task’s very first challenge. Specifically, the dish you prepared – was it a recipe from Ree Drummond, like that marshmallow casserole?

Is Maeve’s cooking truly terrible, or is her family simply hesitant to try new things? Maeve is 21 and still learning to cook. I had to learn to cook for a movie role recently, and I was quite bad at it beforehand. Maeve always puts in her best effort, and she’s trying to impress her family and the kids with more elaborate meals. Honestly, everyone would probably enjoy simpler dishes like pasta or grilled cheese, and she’d likely be more successful making them. Maeve and Robbie have a playful, teasing dynamic – they’re both quick-witted and sarcastic, so he’s likely to tease her regardless of what she cooks.

Honestly, it’s probably not very good. But I’m choosing to believe it’s better than it seems.

Your recent project features many young actors, and you began acting at a young age yourself. Do you find that experience helpful when working with them? Absolutely. It was a new experience to move from *being* the child actor to someone who helps look after them. I could really relate to the kids, especially Kennedy Moyer, who plays Harper. She’s mature for her age and was thrilled to be on set. I think being around adults from a young age speeds up your development. I brought the kids gifts because I remember how much it meant to me when someone did that for me when I was a child actor.

Ben, who played Sam, loved photography, so I got him a Polaroid camera and suggested he document the filming process by taking pictures of the crew and locations. I thought it would be nice for him to create a scrapbook as a keepsake when filming wrapped, to help with saying goodbye. It’s tough leaving a set because when you’re young, the cast and crew really become like a family, and I used to get very upset when a project finished – I’m getting better at handling it now, though. Luckily, you sometimes get to work with the same people again. I really enjoyed working with the young actors; they were incredibly talented. It’s amazing to watch kids perform because they’re so natural, unselfconscious, and genuinely happy to be there.

I didn’t realize it was you right away – Maeve’s new haircut threw me off. Did you influence that decision? Brad and I talked a lot about Maeve before I came here, even before my audition. The thing is, Maeve is starting to lose herself. She’s getting lost in this family, taking on all the responsibilities of childcare, cooking, and cleaning, and she’s only 21. It’s a lot for someone so young to handle.

Brad and I expected her to be creative – she’s passionate about photography and art. With her strong local accent, plans for tattoos, and a childhood spent around bikers – complete with rings on every finger – we figured she’d express herself through a bold look. I imagined a dramatic haircut, almost like a final expression of who she was before life got too busy. We finally decided on a mullet, and I absolutely loved it! As soon as I styled my own hair that way, I felt completely transformed – it was the best haircut ever.

But you couldn’t exactly use that look for most job interviews, could you? That’s exactly what I experienced while filming. I was going to auditions, and if the role called for a sophisticated British woman, I’d think to myself, ‘There’s no way I’ll get this with my current hairstyle!’

Maeve’s first major scene this episode features a very tense interaction with Perry. Watching it, I was struck by the initial dynamic – they’re both sizing each other up and being dishonest. The scene makes you wonder when Maeve realizes her deception isn’t working.

From the beginning of the series, when Robbie gets involved in crime, Maeve anticipates what’s coming. She’s incredibly intelligent and has faced similar situations before, particularly with her father. So, when Perry appears, she expects it and understands the pattern. Despite being frightened – she dislikes Perry and finds him intimidating – she knows she must stay strong to protect her children and even try to help Robbie. It was a fascinating scene to film with Jamie, who plays Perry. He’s incredibly scary on screen, but a genuinely kind person off camera – it’s a strange contrast to see him being so evil and then offering you his jacket between takes. He’s a real sweetheart.

I find it fascinating when a character says one thing but feels something completely different. It was really enjoyable to play with that in this scene, because Maeve is incredibly scared, but she’s desperately trying to appear brave in front of Perry, not wanting him to know how much his presence is unsettling her.

The show features many scenes with imposing male characters. As Maeve is a determined character, I was asked how I avoided feeling intimidated during those scenes. I actually enjoy a good challenge, which is what initially attracted me to the project. Maeve faces a lot throughout the season, and many scenes were demanding in a great way. I often finished scenes with a huge adrenaline rush – it was incredibly fun! While daunting at times, I felt Maeve simply confronts whatever comes her way. She’s incredibly resilient, as demonstrated even in the first episode with Robbie, where she firmly asserts herself. Maeve deeply dislikes unfairness, and that drive is consistent in all her interactions with these powerful men.

This episode centers around her difficult choice to report Sam to the police, despite the risks it poses to herself. What finally makes her take that step? Ultimately, she’s driven by a need to protect her family, realizing Sam’s presence continues to endanger them. With Perry now on the scene, she understands they’ve located her and are closing in, so getting Sam away becomes critical. She finally decides it’s the right thing to do for Sam, Wyatt, and Harper.

What I really appreciate about the show is that the characters feel unique and original. Sam, for example, isn’t just the typical quiet or shy kid – he’s genuinely quirky and inquisitive. That’s Brad’s strength as a writer; he creates fully realized characters with clear motivations and detailed backstories. It’s unusual for a show with so many characters to give everyone such compelling and meaningful stories, and we were fortunate to have that strong foundation to build on.

Maeve identifies with Sam because they share similar backgrounds. While she had a loving relationship with her father, her childhood was difficult, which helped her become resilient. The loss of her father further strengthened her. Seeing herself in Sam, she feels compelled to protect him, and that’s why she finally decides to go to the police.

You have a key scene with Martha Plimpton, who plays FBI agent Kathleen McGinty, where she questions your character, Maeve, after she brings in Sam. It’s arguably Maeve’s most subdued moment in the series. What’s she thinking during that scene?

She’s incredibly conflicted, unsure of what the best course of action is, but hoping that protecting Sam is the right choice. Being in that intense situation really hits her. She’s been building up to making a decision, trying to do what she believes is right, and when she finally sits down with Kathleen at the FBI, she’s completely drained. The adrenaline has been so high, but once she *makes* the decision, it all comes crashing down.

This scene is really different from everything else she’s done up until now. I actually remember filming it – I barely had any lines, mostly just responding with single words! It was great to work with Martha, she’s incredibly funny.

She’s a former child actor, like many others, who successfully transitioned into a fantastic adult career. We talked about that, and she’s truly wonderful. We recently went to an Olivia Rodrigo concert together.

We talked about the Delco accent earlier, and it’s really important to get it right, especially after the success of *Mare of Easttown*. I’m not sure *when* I perfected it, but I was thrilled to see a review in the *Philadelphia Inquirer* saying I’d captured it well. Honestly, that was all I was hoping for – to make people from Delco proud. It seems like they were happy with it and felt my accent was accurate.

I connected with some people from Delaware County while filming to help me perfect the accent and get a feel for how people speak there. I was definitely feeling the pressure, especially since Kate Winslet is amazing at accents. To prepare for the role, I watched *Mare of Easttown* repeatedly. Whenever I tried to watch something else, I’d notice an accent – Texan or otherwise – and realize I needed to stay focused on the Delco sound! So I’d go back and rewatch *Mare of Easttown*. It was a challenge to live up to that performance, but the community is wonderful, and I was thrilled to represent them.

I tried to blend in like a local, even going to Wawa. I practiced my Philadelphia accent while ordering a hoagie, and of course, I visited the Rocky steps. It’s funny, I didn’t actually try water ice until I was doing interviews in New York for the movie *Task*. While filming, I didn’t get a chance because I wasn’t working at Rita’s, so I missed out. But I’ve finally had it now, and I feel like a true Delaware County local!

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2025-10-06 05:59