Evan Rachel Wood may play a distracted mom named Liz on FX’s “The Shards,” but offscreen the Emmy-nominated actress is a guardian to her young castmates.
The nine-episode adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel (premiering Aug. 5 on FX and Hulu, 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT) centers on a group of high school seniors in 1981, as privileged as they are beguiling.
Igby Rigney portrays a character named after the author with deep-seated suspicions about newcomer Robert Mallory (Homer Gere), who arrives in town as a serial killer dubbed "The Trawler" wreaks havoc. Robert quickly takes an interest in student body president Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), best frenemy of Liz’s daughter Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and high school sweetheart of sensitive jock
Thom Wright (Graham Campbell).
With all of the actors in their 20s, Wood tells USA TODAY, "I did feel protective of all of them, and especially since this is, for some of them, their first really big project."
The “Westworld” star, 38, started acting as a child in the ‘90s, appearing in projects like "Practical Magic," ABC drama "One and Again," and "Digging to China."
“I think I just always reminded them to protect themselves,” Wood says. “Don't let your boundaries get too crossed because you're afraid to disappoint or make people angry. You have to take care of your safety and your dignity. … When you're first in the game, I think it can be easy to just do whatever everybody wants. I think you have to be bold but careful."
Wood adds that she’s “so proud” of the young stars. “They did such an incredible job. This is a beast of a project, and they all carried it very well.”
Wood also became a source of entertainment for her costars, who enjoyed decompressing by belting out tunes, according to fellow "Shards" star and Tony Award winner Jordan Roth.
“We all sing together a lot,” says Roth, who embodies Steven Reinhardt, the calculated assistant of Debbie’s dad, producer Terry Schaffer (Wes Bentley).
“A lot of show tunes,” Wood specifies.
Wood has showcased her musical talents in “Across the Universe” and as Queen Iduna in “Frozen II.” She’s also in a band with guitarist Zane Carney, called Evan + Zane.
“Let me tell you: after a 16-hour day of filming, what you want to do is get in your van on the way back to your trailer and listen to Evan Rachel Wood sing,” says Roth, 50. “That's what you want.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Evan Rachel Wood felt ‘protective’ of young ‘Shards’ cast, reveals her advice
