Willa Fitzgerald

Following up a delightful interview with the artist last month, I have the pleasure to take you on a deep dive into the layers of Willa Fitzgerald, who seamlessly combines intelligence, confidence, sweetness, and maturity both as an individual and as a professional. It’s impossible not to admire her understated generosity and keen dedication to her craft, qualities that radiate from her performances across a range of works—whether in Little Women, Strange Darling or even her upcoming projects!

The artist’s dedication to her craft is evident not only in her performances but also in her approach to roles. She has seamlessly transitioned from her portrayal of the intense and complex character Emma Duval in MTV’s Scream to the fierce and determined athlete Colette in Dare Me. As we spoke, it became clear how Willa approaches each role with immense care and precision. The time she spent studying psychology and theater at Yale shaped her worldview, though she attributes her most direct influences to her theater studies. She recalls how those academic moments helped her develop an analytical eye, something she draws upon in each character she portrays. Yet, in true Willa form, she maintains a humility about it, noting that her psychology studies, while impactful, play more of a subconscious role in her craft: “I don’t know if I would say my time in the Yale Psychology Department plays a large role in my conscious preparation for a role… But a much bigger part of my time at Yale that I do draw on is my time in the theater studies department, in breaking down plays and looking at them from an analytical perspective.”

It is this blend of academic rigor and creative intuition that makes Willa’s performances so nuanced. She brings an openness to her roles, often allowing room for interpretation rather than delivering a neatly packaged message. This is particularly true in Strange Darling, where she appreciates the film’s ambiguity and its refusal to spoon-feed answers to the audience: “What I hope for audiences is that they get to watch this movie with friends, with family, and have conversations about what they think it means… It’s a really special part of getting to engage with art that doesn’t tell you exactly what it’s trying to state.”

Willa’s fascination with the unpredictability of acting and storytelling runs deep. Although she admits the industry’s uncertainty is sometimes unsettling, she embraces it as part of the adventure. “You never totally know where your career is going to take you next,” she says. Yet, even amid that unpredictability, Willa knows the core of her work lies in trusting herself. She advises actors not to chase someone else’s vision of how a role should be played: “I think that the differential I have to give as an actor is my own personal perspective on the world… That ultimately is where creativity comes from.”

In our conversation, Willa Fitzgerald’s dedication to her roles and her ability to balance intellect with an open-hearted approach to storytelling stood out. She’s a woman who not only commits fully to her craft but also leaves space for the complexities and nuances that make each role uniquely hers. This depth of understanding brings an undeniable richness to her characters, making each performance not just a role but a reflection of her own thoughtful exploration of the

human experience. This dedication, combined with the elegance and depth she brings to every project, ensures that she remains one of the most compelling and multifaceted actresses of her generation.

Willa Fitzgerald @willafitz
Photography Michele Laurita @michelelaurita assisted by Valentina Berti @valentinabertib
Styling Lisa Smith Craig @lscstyling assisted by Essence Carson @essencecarson @wemergenetwork
MakeUp Tamah Krinsky @tamah_krinsky
Hair Marty Harper @themartyharper
Interview Anna Dória @annadoria._
Production + Location BELLO Media Group x Maison Privée Isabela Costa @isa.chromatic @bellomediagroup x @maisonpriveepr_la