A new episode of Superman & Lois airs tonight (June 15) at 9PM ET/PT, and before this week’s episode, KryptonSite had the privilege of interviewing Emmanuelle Chriqui about her character of Lana Lang-Cushing, whose character finally meets the Man of Steel in Episode 10 “O Mother, Where Art Thou?” We spoke with her about that, the Lana/Lois friendship, Cushings and more, but first, about that Superman thing….
“It’s literally like meeting your biggest celebrity crush. In that moment, that’s exactly what Lana seeing Superman was like,” Emmanuelle says, comparing it to a situation like if her 12 year old self were to meet a big celebrity like Madonna. The episode itself makes a reference to being so used to just seeing Superman on TV, and trust us, we can relate.
Interestingly, Chriqui had not seen previous takes on Lana Lang in the media. “Not at all, actually. I never watched Smallville. I had only ever seen the Richard Donner Superman movie. I was wildly unfamiliar,” she admits. “All I knew is that when they announced that I was playing Lana Lang, I saw all of these comic pictures, and there was all of this chatter about whether or not I was going to be a redhead!” With that said, she is very happy with the character she plays on Superman & Lois.
“I think what makes her special is a character is that she is vulnerable, first of all. We know that she’s loyal, but she’s vulnerable, and we really understand that she’s searching for meaning and for empowerment in her own life – as a woman, as a mother, as a wife. I think that just is such a human quality. It’s really embracing this notion of ‘I don’t know, but I’m just trying to do the best I can.’ That’s how I describe Lana,” she explains.
She is also happy that Superman & Lois has foregone the “Lois vs. Lana” trope and instead has portrayed Lois Lane and Lana Lang-Cushing as friends.
“I think that that seems to have hit a good chord with most people,” she says. “In Superman & Lois, we are exploring them as adults, and Lois and Lana are mothers, they’re wives, and they’re professionals. I think that it just makes so much more sense that they would have each other’s backs, instead of competing with each other.”
Emmanuelle points out that Superman & Lois showrunner Todd Helbing was very conscious about that — and he’s not the only one “For Bitsie [Tulloch] and I, as actors, we’re so pleased that that’s how they’re writing it. It is refreshing to see, and it’s just a reminder that we’re better together instead of fighting each other. That’s just silliness. We’re not young school girls. We’re not pining for the same guy. I think that it’s a beautiful friendship, and as actors playing it, I love when I get to go deep with Lois. It’s so fun to play.”
She also relishes the chance to work with Inde Navarette and Erik Valdez as her TV daughter and husband.
“I love my Cushings. They’re so amazing!” she enthuses. “First of all, they’re just amazing humans. They’re so talented, and I feel like we have a real family connection. Like, it’s so interesting. I don’t know, chalk it to great casting or what, I think we just have really good chemistry. I love the where it’s just a Cushing day, and we’re all in the kitchen, or we’re doing whatever. It’s always fun. It’s always easy. And it just feels really authentic.”
Chriqui hopes that she will someday have scenes with Wolé Parks’ character John Henry Irons because she thinks he is “brilliant.” A meatier scene with Dylan Walsh as Sam Lane is also on her list. However, she is appreciative for anyone she gets to work with in the cast. “I think that we have a truly stellar cast, so it would be nice to get to play with anybody on the show,” she says.
Finally, what attracted Emmanuelle Chriqui to Superman & Lois?
“To be honest with you, it was genuinely the vision that Todd Helbing had for this show that made me want to be a part of it,” she says. “He was really attempting to do something different.,something deeper, something that wasn’t typical “superhero” and was very character driven. That, to me, was just so appealing. As an actor, I was going to get to sometimes really sink my teeth into stuff in a real way. I thought his vision was a really unique and refreshing approach to the genre that seemed exciting to me.”
Come back to KryptonSite tonight after the show airs for some discussion about “O Mother, Where Art Thou?” and don’t miss the episode itself tonight at 9PM ET/PT on The CW!
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Good interview, Craig! I'm really liking the whole family dynamic, this time around. So far, I think I'm feeling it more with the Cushings, even more so than with the Kents. But that could develop as time goes on. I do feel the camaraderie between Lana & Lois, as well. I also think that could easily turn, given the circumstances (if it ever does, I hope it's not over-used for dramatic effect). I do hope the show gets a long run.