Actress and singer-songwriter Eliza Bennett is having the kind of year you could only ever hope for when you enter your 30s. As The CW wraps up Dynasty, on which she plays Amanda Carrignton (sister to Liz Gillies' Fallon), you’ll be able to catch Bennett next in Netflix’s Do Revenge by director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who she previously worked with on MTV’s Sweet/Vicious. On top of that, Bennett released the lead single, “Hate That I Love You,” for her forthcoming debut EP, Late Twenties.
Ahead of Dynasty’s Sept. 2 episode, Bennett spoke with LA Confidential about the joys of working on a soap opera, the fun of “Do Revenge” and the vulnerability of releasing music.
How does it feel that Dynasty is headed into its final three episodes?
It feels crazy. It must be even crazier for the cast that have been on the show for five years. But even for me, this is the longest job I've ever done because I've never done a show that's 22 episodes a season, so it feels like a big chunk of my life. It was really emotional saying goodbye to the crew and cast literally just last month, actually. So I feel very grateful that I got to be a slice of this lovely five-years show and I feel honored and I'm excited for the fans to see what we've done with the finale on Sept. 16.
Tonight's episode basically brings up a lot of mother-daughter issues between Alexis and her daughters, Fallon and Amanda, who I play. There is definitely some fun light kidnapping that happens in true Dynasty style. I think it'll be fun to see an episode about the Carrington women.
How would you describe the finale in three words?
Heartfelt, overdue reunion.
What will you miss most about Amanda and Dynasty?
I don't think I'd ever done a show that was so wild and dramatic and crazy. My background, growing up as a child actor, was a lot more British dramas. And so Dynasty really offered me an opportunity to let go of being contained or reserved in any way, and so that was really fun playing a character in a world that's definitely heightened and lifted from reality.
And then the clothes are incredible. I’ll miss being able to have costume fittings where I get to try on designers I've never worn in my entire life. I've never done a show that had the costume department that we had on that show. I'll miss a lot of things about Dynasty. I'll miss our crew a lot, as well. They were really incredible.
We will also see you soon in Do Revenge. What can you tell us about your character, Jessica?
Do Revenge was a little surprise for me. Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson was the creator of the show I did for MTV, Sweet/Vicious. She is someone I would literally do anything for at any time because I think she's an incredible genius. And I was shooting Dynasty and she was shooting her movie in Atlanta, and she literally just texted me and was like, “Would you please come and do this part for me on Do Revenge?” And so I literally did it on a weekend off from Dynasty, and it was a true joy. Working on anything that Jen does is always a true joy. The sets are always magic because everyone is so excited to be working on her scripts and to be working with her because she's just a real visionary. It was really exciting. The role I play in it was really fun because I basically play Sophie Turner's best friend who just lives to be her friend and is the sidekick following behind Sophie Turner's very funny performance that people will get to see. It was just amazing to be able to come on and do a comedic bitchy role that, in a way, wasn't too far from Dynasty. It was surreal to be working with Jen again. I think people are gonna love it. Do Revenge is like that epic teen revenge movie that I don't think they make many like that anymore.
Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes have a lot of fun just from what I saw shooting— a really great repore and double act going on in the film I think people will be really excited to see. And I think Sophie Turner's cameo is a really fun watch and something that we've not really seen her do before.
Your new single, “Hate to Love You,” has been out for two weeks. How has it felt to finally have this song out in the world?
Releasing music is definitely a more vulnerable experience, I found at least. I think because with acting, you are part of a large machine where you have to do your job to make the machine work, but it's not all on your shoulders. Whereas when you're releasing music that you've written, that's under your name, that is about your life and then you're putting it out there, it does feel a lot more vulnerable. I completed this EP quite a long time ago, so it feels quite freeing. I'm ready for it to be out there in the world, and it gives me a lot of joy to see people enjoying the music and thinking something I wrote personal about me and then taking it and making it mean something to them— it's the magic of music really.
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You’ve released a number of singles over the years. Why does now feel like the right time for an EP?
You write a ton of songs and there's some that just float to the surface— ones that you can't let go of and they feel so clearly like the best of your work. And these songs floated to the top and when I looked back on them, I realized that there was a cohesive line running through them that these were all quite pivotal moments in my 20s that I felt like had really changed me. And there was a before and after for all of these different songs. “Hate to Love You” is about moving to L.A., which massively changed me and forced me to grow and really stretched me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I just looked at the songs and I was like, “Oh, they really feel like these are all about this decade of my life in my 20s.” And so that's where the idea blossomed from to make it into one EP.
When can we expect the full EP?
This year, three of the songs will come out. So on the 30th of September, my next single “Visit Me in Georgia” will come out, and then there'll be one more that drops before the end of the year. And then I'll take a short break while everyone just listens to Christmas music. Then I'll be back in the new year with the full thing.
See also: Madelaine Petsch On ‘Jane:' ‘It's Just A Really Fun, Delicious, Dark Story'
I can imagine this feels like a big year with all your milestones like turning 30, Dynasty ending and putting out new music. How does all this change impact your artistry?
I think turning 30 always feels quite pivotal. I had made the choice to really do all my processing before I turn 30 so that I can enjoy it and be excited about the new decade. But it is funny that this has been one of the craziest years I've had, and I'm now in England shooting a different TV show. I've moved state and country three times, which honestly has been quite difficult having to upheave your life so drastically. There has been a lot of time to think and process, and I've felt so creatively stimulated, which has been so rewarding after the COVID lockdown when a lot of people were just in a desert for being able to be employed. So I'm so grateful for this year. I'm in a place of reflecting on trying to make sure I don't walk through it. I'm trying to be as present as I can be in this crazy season of my life.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Photography by: Joseph Sinclair
