Lily-Rose Depp is championing Sam Levinson and their joint project on HBO, “The Idol.”
On the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Depp shielded Levinson from the criticism he received for his one-season HBO drama “The Idol,” which was met with disapproval by critics and viewers. Depp, who portrayed the character of budding pop star Jocelyn in the series, mentioned that Levinson “always had the awareness that it would stir controversy” yet he persisted as he holds an interest in such work.
“The downside was hearing people bad-mouth Sam [Levinson], who is a dear friend and someone I consider as family,” said Depp. “I maintain a strong bond with him and Ashley — his wife and the show’s producer — they are amazing people, extremely kind, and they really took me under their wing.”
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Despite the negative reviews the show received and the bad press that followed the abrupt exit of director Amy Seimetz, Depp stated that the sole negative aspect of the experience was “people speaking ill of [Sam Levinson] because the things they accused him of, particularly as a filmmaker, are far from the truth based on my experience working with him. It feels awful. You never want to hear people bad-mouthing your friend.”
Depp expressed that she personally “adored” the show and her character and felt proud that she stood “firm” amid criticism. “It was a phase in my life where I learned so much,” Depp expressed. “I was pushed beyond my comfort zone, in a beautiful way, that fostered so much personal growth. I will always remember that as one of the most cherished periods of my life.”
“The Idol” showcased Depp’s character Jocelyn, who gets romantically entangled with a dubious self-help guru (The Weekend) after a mental breakdown derails her career. Following extensive reshoots and Seimetz’s departure, the episode count of “The Idol” was cut down to five and the show’s cancellation was announced shortly after.
Credit: variety.com
