This interview contains spoilers for the finale of All Her Fault.
Key Insights
- Abby Elliott discusses the challenges and excitement of taking on a more dramatic role in All Her Fault.
- Elliott breaks down Lia’s shocking and “cathartic” ending.
- The actress also reveals what she knows about The Bear Season 5.
You probably know Abby Elliott for her comedy skills. Besides starring on four seasons of <em>Saturday Night Live</em>, where she impersonated everyone from Zooey Deschanel to Meryl Streep, she’s also starred on sitcoms like Odd Mom Out and Indebted. It’s safe to say her major breakout, however, came on The Bear as Carmy’s kind and grounded sister Sugar, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. A true dramedy, The Bear allows Elliott to show off her more serious side, but All Her Fault takes things to the next level.
A drama that combines elements of crime and mystery, All Her Fault stars Sarah Snook and Jake Lacy as Marissa and Peter, the parents of a young boy named Milo (Duke McCloud) who is kidnapped after school one day. The situation leads to shocking revelations and long-buried secrets coming to light, including for Peter’s siblings, the dryly comedic Brian (Daniel Monks) and recovering wild child Lia (Elliot). Lia has lived her life racked with guilt due to a tragedy from her childhood, for which she feels responsible, but everything she thought she knew about herself gets called into question over the course of the series’ twisty eight episodes.
Collider got the chance to speak to Elliott about her role in the show, which feels like a departure from much of her other work. Throughout the conversation, Elliott discusses the challenges and joys of acting in a drama, breaks down her shocking final scene, reveals whether she knows anything about The Bear Season 5, and more.
Abby Elliott Reveals Whether Her ‘The Bear’ or ‘All Her Fault’ Family Is More Dysfunctional
“There’s some redemption there in certain moments.”
COLLIDER: I really loved you on this show, and I obviously adore you on The Bear as well.
ABBY ELLIOTT: Aww, that’s so nice.
I mean, you’re so great in both. I do have to ask: Which family do you think is more dysfunctional? Is it the Irvines or is it the Berzattos?
ELLIOTT: Oh, hard to say, honestly. I think the Irvines. Because I do think with the Berzattos, there’s some redemption there in certain moments. I think it’s the Irvines.
They are giving each other a run for their money for sure.
ELLIOTT: They really are! Yeah, yeah.
You’re such a gifted comedic actress, but I really enjoyed seeing you show off your more dramatic chops in this show. What was the more nerve-wracking part of that, and then the more fun part of doing something a little bit more gritty and serious like this?
ELLIOTT: Obviously, I’m working with these incredibly talented, real actors. It was pretty nerve-wracking to go in and do this dramatic scene. Episode 5, I would say, was the most challenging because up until that point we knew who our characters were because it was on the page that Megan Gallagher, our showrunner, wrote. But Episode 5 kind of takes a turn, and Lia has to reveal this other part of herself, and things unfold, and she kind of becomes a different person. I met Daniel Monks, who plays Brian, and Jake Lacy, who plays Peter, and we really got along so we established that connection in the beginning. While we were shooting chronologically, when we got to Episode 5 things really took a turn — they changed and took a different direction — so that was the biggest challenge for me with that.
That is definitely the turning point for me too. I was like, “Okay, this show is going somewhere I didn’t see it going!”
Abby Elliott Breaks Down Lia’s “Cathartic” Ending
“All she wants to do is scream at the top of her lungs.”
You have one of the last scenes in the show, and one of the scenes that I find most interesting when Lia is being questioned about Peter’s death. She says she’s not gonna blame Marissa but then ultimately says that she didn’t see her look at the labels. Can you unpack that moment and what you think she’s thinking? I found that so layered and juicy.
ELLIOTT: I really loved doing that. Lia has been so pushed down her entire life and she’s been so silenced, and all she wants to do is scream at the top of her lungs. That’s why she’s so impulsive — that’s why she’s kind of a loose cannon. At that moment, it’s just her being very thoughtful and smart about how she is getting her redemption. In a way it’s passive because it’s not all her fault but she is complicit. So to be able to have that weight kind of be lifted and to feel it was really cathartic.
Oh my gosh, I can only imagine. You mentioned that her life does really get turned upside down over the course of this show. What do you think her life looks like after these events?
ELLIOTT: I hope she’s still the great aunt that she was and that she and Brian are as tight as ever, trusting each other even more now. I hope that she has a friendship with Marissa and remains part of their lives — something they can move past together. She’s truly wonderful.
I was sad that there’s obviously not gonna be a future with Colin because I found myself rooting for them despite their circumstances maybe not being ideal. Their chemistry felt sweet with a beautiful dynamic. Can you talk about working with Jay to develop that chemistry?
ELLIOTT: Working with Jay was amazing. He is so funny off-camera, which brought a lightness to our scenes together. Lia didn’t explore their relationship publicly due to her brother telling her it wasn’t a good idea — that’s how she’s lived her life. It’s just gaslighting from him while placing labels on her like “You’re the screw-up,” yet blaming her by asking “Why can’t you do this?” Working with Jay was such fun — he truly is fantastic.
I love it! You two are great together! We need a prequel spin-off or something where we can actually see them together more!
ELLIOTT: I love that idea!
You’re welcome! We’ll pitch it! We’ll make it happen!
Abby Elliott Reveals What She Knows About ‘The Bear’ Season 5
“I do want what’s best for her.”
I’m a huge fan of you onThe Bear.. I know you haven’t started filming the new season yet but have you discussed anything with the showrunner about what could be next for Sugar? Where do you think we might find her in next season?
ELLIOTT: I honestly have no idea what’s gonna happen. I haven’t seen anything.I haven’t really discussed anything but I’m excited, because like Lia I love Sugar too! She’s very different from Lia but I want what’s best for her — they’re like my children.
The great thing about both shows is there are so many shocking twists — I never know what to expect with either one! For this show what was your most shocking moment? Because there were definitely some jaw-dropping moments!
ELLIOTT: There are tons! In Episode 5,I would say that big reveal was unexpected.. Just being able to play that was such a gift — it was cool! And then so many other things unfold after it too — so yeah I’d say Episode 5 overall!
All Her Fault </emis streaming on Peacock.
Watch on Peacock
