Meghann Fahy on Playing a Domestic Violence Survivor in 'Drop'

SPOILER WARNING: This story contains plot details from “Drop,” now playing in theaters.

Meghann Fahy has been a whirlwind of activity lately. Over the past few weeks, she’s been traveling across different parts of the country to publicize “Drop,” her debut lead role in a significant film. This Blumhouse-Universal production premiered at SXSW last month, and since then, Fahy has barely had a moment to rest.

Fahy shared with EbMaster on Friday afternoon from New York, sounding relieved and excited, that the movie he worked on, directed by Christopher Landon (of ‘Happy Death Day’), was finally hitting theaters. He expressed his joy that everything came together successfully.”

“On Friday afternoon, Fahy spoke to EbMaster from New York with a sense of relief and excitement. The movie he had worked on, directed by Christopher Landon (of ‘Happy Death Day’), was finally set to premiere in theaters, and he was thrilled that everything fell into place.

A short while ago, just before this conversation, Fahy walked the red carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles accompanied by her parents.

She expresses that it was exceptionally meaningful to let them in on this,” she notes. “My parents have consistently been my cheerleaders. I embarked on this journey when I turned 18. Instead of discouraging me, they didn’t once question my decision not to attend college. Instead, they encouraged me with words like ‘Go for it!’ and ‘We believe in you,’ assuring me that they were always there to support me if needed.

That was half a lifetime — and an Emmy nomination for “The White Lotus” — ago.

Over that period, Fahy solidified her status as a TV personality with significant roles in the second season of HBO’s vacation anthology, and Freeform’s series about growing up, “The Bold Type”, as well as Netflix’s murder mystery set by the sea, “The Perfect Couple”. Now, she’s transitioning to the big screen, perfectly timed for her 35th birthday.

However, Fahy doesn’t linger in her moment of fame from the movie; instead, she’s already moving forward to her next role. She explains, “I’m heading back to Atlanta because I’m currently working on a Peacock miniseries titled ‘The Good Daughter,’ alongside Rose Byrne, and I have work on Monday.

In “Drop,” Fahy portrays Violet, a grieving mother on a disastrous date. It’s not that her companion, Henry (Brandon Sklenar), is unremarkable. Quite the contrary; he’s an attractive photographer and almost fairytale prince. The issue lies in the mysterious individual who starts bombarding her with memes via AirDrop, followed by their ominous revelation: they have taken her son captive and will murder him if she doesn’t murder Henry.

In this performance, Fahy must balance between maintaining an engaging conversation with her date to keep them intrigued, all while concealing her fear from everyone except the spectators who are privy to the fact that Violet’s late spouse was abusive physically and emotionally, leaving deep emotional scars she’s yet to fully heal.

According to Fahy, the movie intentionally emphasizes its more exaggerated scenes, which is typical for this genre, and it also acknowledges its emotionally resonant aspects. The movie effectively balances all aspects of its narrative.

Here, Fahy ponders over her role in “Drop,” revealing insights about herself through her portrayal of Violet. She discovered her passion for action-packed films and acknowledged the profound impact such a role had on her personally, particularly when depicting a survivor of domestic violence.

What has it been like to be the “star,” the No. 1 on the call sheet, the eyes on the movie poster for the first time? What will you remember most about this experience?

Experiencing it has been truly extraordinary! There’s something captivating about capturing moments, only to revisit and share them with an audience a year later. That moment when you get to watch your work is simply incredible. The filmmaking process was such an enriching experience for me, offering numerous novelties. I learned so much during this journey, and had the privilege of meeting some truly remarkable individuals.

Developing such strong bonds with the cast, particularly Brandon Sklenar and Jeffrey Self, made experiencing those moments together an unforgettable memory for me. Reflecting back, I’ll cherish it because it seemed like a collaborative effort – a true team sport. The entire cast was consistently present throughout the filming process, from dawn to dusk, even if they didn’t appear on camera in every scene. We never knew how each scene would unfold, so everyone played an essential role in the movie-making process, fostering a strong sense of community and camaraderie.

You choose your work based on a gut feeling — what did your gut tell you about “Drop”?

Intuitively, I felt the project was a hit due to its ability to be captivating and unexpected. I found myself reading it at a rapid pace – a clear indication of how engaging it was. This was an exceptional sign. I appreciated the changes in tone, enjoyed the romantic aspect, admired the emotional depth, and had fun throughout. In essence, it was simply enjoyable.

So much of this movie requires pretending as a character while you’re also pretending as an actor. How did you navigate keeping all those secrets without showing it on your face? How have you perfected the skill of microexpressions?

I’m not sure about that. It’s not a topic I’ve deliberately pondered before. I believe such instances occur when I’m unaware of my facial expressions, which can be challenging to achieve at times.

Initially in my career, I was quite preoccupied with how things appeared or whatever. Nowadays, though, my focus has shifted dramatically; it’s rarely a concern. Instead, I strive to be present and authentic, inviting others into my thought process as it unfolds.

How did you and Chris develop a language for working through that since he’s really the only other person in on what’s going on with Violet?

In this project, Chris played a vital role for me, given his exceptional skills within the genre. He’s not only proficient but intuitive about his work. While it might seem obvious that a director should know their vision and communicate it effectively, in my case – being relatively new to most of this – Chris’ expertise was invaluable.

He would guide me when I felt I was doing enough, insisting that “No, it has to be more than that,” and during the tense or action-packed scenes, he skillfully steered me towards the right mindset. In all honesty, I had complete faith in his abilities.

I didn’t expect that Violet would be a domestic violence survivor, who uses her experience to counsel others. How did you wrap your head around the subtext this movie would address?

During our discussions, both before and during filming, Chris and I put a great emphasis on handling the situation sensitively and carefully. We sought advice from individuals who could provide insightful feedback, ensuring we remained truthful throughout the process. By the end of the movie, her character transforms into a self-reliant heroine, a journey beautifully portrayed as she emerges from her comfort zone.

What was your experience of playing those scenes?

It was really intense. I’ve never depicted violence like that before.

I understood it would be emotionally challenging, yet I felt compelled to inform my family about an intensely violent scene. This is a struggle many face daily, making it crucial we share such stories because they are brutally honest and heart-wrenching. The film effectively portrays these difficult moments while also telling Violet’s story of escape, healing, and rediscovering herself. It’s a moving journey for her character.

Violet has this heartbreaking conversation with Henry where she admits that she feels like she didn’t do anything — that she let the abuse happen to her. What was it like sitting across from Brandon during that scene?

The film’s events primarily revolved around Violet, which left limited opportunities for meaningful interactions between Violet and Henry. As actors, we both longed for a more profound connection between the characters, making the shoot of that particular scene particularly satisfying.

Brandon was phenomenal and provided such an outstanding source of support, and I find his accomplishments in that particular scene truly astounding as well. The film’s success significantly relies on the bond between these two characters, and it’s refreshing for viewers to momentarily pause and share their time with them during this date. That dialogue might have been exchanged during the date if things had gone smoothly.

How much fun did you have with the action sequences? And a moment for the jumpsuit too – we love when a character gets to do action in a practical outfit.

The jumpsuit felt incredibly comfortable, except for one minor inconvenience: the zipper was positioned at the back. This meant I had to ask someone’s help every time I needed to use the restroom, which became slightly bothersome. However, disregarding that issue, it was incredibly cozy, almost like wearing pajamas.

I thoroughly enjoyed the activities I participated in and look forward to doing even more in the future. During filming, my emotional involvement was so intense that switching to physical engagement offered a remarkable change for me. This shift in energy was truly invigorating.

What bit of the action did you enjoy the most — the driving, running, stabbing or hanging off the side of the building?

I found the kitchen scene with the stabbing particularly enjoyable, even though it was my stunt double who got flung across the table. However, they had me secured with a harness during this action, making the experience of shooting that entire sequence an absolute blast. It was truly thrilling to be lifted up and dropped back down repeatedly!

Before commencing with filming, we focused primarily on mastering one particular aspect – choreography. This involved internalizing the specific sequence of movements until it felt authentic, a process more challenging than it appears, and significantly harder than I initially anticipated. Rehearsals were essential in becoming comfortable with the required sounds and actions, aspects I hadn’t even considered beforehand.

I felt somewhat exposed, but as time passed, I became more at ease and stepped out of my comfort zone a bit.

How has this experience changed you and what types of roles you want to do moving forward?

Discovering new experiences broadens our horizons, reminding us all of the vast potential within us. Watching that film has inspired me immensely, as it opened my eyes to a world of possibilities I’d never considered before. I am thankful for this revelation and eager to explore more unfamiliar territories. Realizing that I can take on challenges and enjoy them is empowering and encourages me to continue seeking new adventures.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2025-04-14 20:47

Meghann Fahy on Playing a Domestic Violence Survivor in ‘Drop’