Things started out well for Addison Rae on Monster: The Ed Gein Story. “My first day on set, I got to roller-skate, which was really fun,” she tells Netflix. “I did get into a [roller-skating] phase after I shot that day. I loved it for about a month.”
Of course, her character’s story doesn’t have an equally fun ending. The He’s All That actor and “Diet Pepsi” pop star plays Evelyn Hartley, a babysitter who runs afoul of Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam), the disturbed serial killer at the center of this season of Monster. Poor Evelyn is totally unaware of Gein’s twisted upbringing, or his jealous motivation for kidnapping her (Evelyn took his job). All she knows is she’s been targeted by a madman.
Still, there was time for a laugh or two on set, even while filming Evelyn’s harrowing death scene. “His stomach growled while we were doing that scene, and I just remember we both laughed, and we were just like, ‘That needed to happen,’ because it’s nice to have a little bit of a break,” says Rae.
Read on to hear more from Rae about her work on Monster: The Ed Gein Story, now streaming on Netflix.
An edited version of the conversation follows.
Tell us a little bit about your character and how she fits into this story.
Addison Rae: Evelyn in the story is a babysitter to two really sweet children. I did research before I filmed about Evelyn. [The real Evelyn disappeared in 1953; Gein was never officially linked with that case.] There’s actually not much about her. They don’t really know exactly what happened in real life. So it was really interesting for me as an actor to lean into something that there was minimal information about.
You’ve said you’re a little bit skittish around scary stuff; what really drew you into doing this project?
Rae: Everyone [who was] involved — that was a really big draw for me. I’m such a big fan of Charlie, and he’s so amazing. And Laurie [Metcalf] and Suzanna [Son], I got to work with so many people whose work I’ve loved. I’m someone that cares so much about every detail, whether that’s hair or makeup or costume, and even the sets were just so elaborate. I’ve never worked on a production that felt so intentional in every piece. That is really inspiring to be around.
What do you think people find so interesting about the Monster anthology series?
Rae: I think it’s really wild to see a picture being painted that feels so insightful, and honest, and raw, and challenging in a lot of ways. It brings so much light to things that maybe people didn't explore before. I didn’t know much about Ed Gein, other than what movies were made based off of him. So it was interesting to dive into that in a different way, and also speak to Charlie, someone that had such an intimate understanding of who Ed Gein was.
What was your first reaction when you read the script?
Rae: I only got to read my parts and my episodes, which I actually think was really nice for me because there was a level of detachment in a way. I think that [detachment] was nice for Evelyn to have, to not be frightened or influenced by things that she wouldn't have known or seen.
What was it like for you getting put into the hair and makeup?
Rae: It was amazing … Everyone was energetic and involved and excited. Everybody on set in Chicago and in Los Angeles, it felt so, so much like a family unit.
How did the costumes help you transform into your character?
Rae: The roller skates were really authentic, which was nice, and same with the leg brace. Working with the props team was really fun; everyone just kept it so lighthearted. [But it] was a challenge. For me, I didn’t want to feel like a diva in a lot of the moments, so I wanted to keep the leg brace on as much as possible, learning how to walk up the stairs or down the stairs. Keeping it on as much as possible was something that helped me to feel grounded in it, and not so foreign to it.
Talk a little bit about what it was like sharing some of the more intense scenes with Charlie Hunnam.
Rae: Charlie is such a professional. Working with him was a dream. He's someone who, at all moments, is making sure everyone feels so welcome and loved. During those intense scenes, where it was just me and him, he was so amazing at checking in, and keeping the flow really positive. In all the moments that he could, he would ask me, “What can I do for you here?” He’s such a servant in that way. He just wants everyone to feel supported and comfortable, especially in such vulnerable scenes that feel so intense. I had to get this substance rubbed on my body, and I was mummy-wrapped for a long period of time.
And even through that, Charlie was just so attentive to me. He was holding my head or making sure I was supported — or my feet were supported. It was a pretty uncomfortable position to be in for that amount of time, but he was just constantly checking in on me. He made sure there was an end to those moments that didn’t feel so intense. And it’s not like we would cut and he would just go into his own place, and completely disregard what happened, or what was going on. He was just so attentive and so sweet.
How did you feel when production wrapped? You’re dealing with heavy material. Did it take a little bit of time to come out of that?
Rae: I actually think the last shot I did was on the table when I was wrapped up in this gauze, and had a very soaking wet substance on me. So it was a really interesting way to end the time on the set. I felt really sad that I wasn’t there longer. I feel like I was really just falling in love with Evelyn and the kids. I was having such an amazing time on set with them. And [director Max Winkler] and everybody that was there when I finished, it just felt like such a family. That is something that I find so comforting, when you feel the energy and love from everyone, and feeling like everybody was really proud. It made me sad to leave everyone behind, especially knowing that everyone was going to keep shooting.
But when I wrapped, there was just such an energy of comfort and safety and security. So I think that helps it not feel so heavy, because it did feel like there was always this nice friendship and comfort that existed after a scene.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is now streaming on Netflix.
