Actress and artist Annalise Basso sits down for a one-on-one with Bode Magazine writer Ashley Dawson to talk quarantine past times, post-apocalyptic acting, and life off-screen.

With all of the chaos in the world right now we opted to profile someone special and particularly entertaining. Enter amber-haired beauty — Annalise Basso — the young actress who has starred in thrillers and action movies alike, alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars. Basso is exploring the range of her talent in TNT’s new post-apocalyptic thriller Snowpiercer, and we wanted to get down to the nitty-gritty of what life on set, and life during quarantine, has been like for Basso; and she did not disappoint.

Basso classifies herself in three words: ballerina, thalassophile, and bedhead. The first speaks to her nature as an artist, the second to her love of the outdoors, and the third to her dedication to being her authentic self. During today’s mandates for the self-quarantine and social distance it can prove difficult for artists and actors to keep up their normal every-day activities. Basso says that while she has been inside, she has taken to “exploring some great hiking trails” in Colorado and “rediscovering [her] passion for photography.” Constantly stalking social media for various pieces of inspiration and setting up photoshoots with her mom and sister, the actress has kept herself busy during the pandemic. Choosing to stay positive during this time, Basso turned her focus to reading, writing, painting, dance, and of course her guilty pleasure, Downton Abbey.

It is no secret that everyone is on the edge of their seats to see Basso’s latest work in TNT’s thriller, Snowpiercer. The young actress portrays the unstable and dark character LJ Folger and worked hard for three years to break out of her comfort zone to bring this character to life the way the script demanded. Basso says she had “never been given the chance” to take on a role like LJ before, and amidst costars like Jennifer Connelly she was eager to show everyone on set that LJ “wasn’t playing around.” Giving us insight into her character, Basso reveals that LJ lived “the majority of her life inside of a cage,” and that as a result she has developed “a few issues.” To prepare for the role, Basso studied the behaviors of wild animals held in captivity, a big clue into what LJ maybe like on-screen.

Snowpiercer is “a futuristic, post-apocalyptic thriller exploring themes of class, revenge, power, control, and survival,” shares Basso. “It is a show perfect for anyone who enjoys serious special effects and exceptional storytelling.” In admiration, the actress hints that the producers and crew did almost “too” good of a job bringing the world to life, so much so that you could get lost in it. Her favorite moments on the set include scenes with the renowned Jennifer Connelly and her first attempts at portraying LJ’s character in a way that packed a dramatic punch. In her own words, Basso says that she and LJ are “definitely more different than we are similar, but we are both trying to find our place in the world.” LJ is destructive, unstable, and hell-bent on creating chaos wherever she can —everything that Basso is not. But this, she claims, is what she loves about her craft; “the challenge of creating an entirely new identity outside of yourself.” Getting into the headspace of LJ was where her “heavy-duty” creativity came out to play. 

Anyone who knows Basso’s portfolio knows that she has a star-studded resume and has worked with some of Hollywood’s covet-worthy castmates. Basso has already developed a notable mélange of costars including Jon Hamm, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Connelly, Viggo Mortensen, Daveed Diggs, Chris Pratt, and Amy Poehler. With all of this talent surrounding and influencing her, Basso deems the experience alongside seasoned veterans in the industry as a crucial component in the development of her craft. Also noting that “the process of getting to a level where you can work with that caliber talent is really hard. You have to learn how to handle rejection and not take criticism personally.”

Flourishing under the pressure and limelight of Hollywood, Basso tells us a bit about her online life and how she finds a balance between reality and social media. Adamant (and forced) to spend as much time with her family as possible, Basso reveals she is “never given the chance to get too big for my britches,” laughs the actress, “because they’re always keeping my humility in check.” Always intentional to share exactly who she is with her followers, Basso also attempts not to share too much. She admits that she enjoys a private life, but with her choice of work and social media that can be difficult. “There’s always a balance,” Basso says, “and I’ve found one that works. My Instagram is as real as I am.” She stresses the idea of authenticity and admits to laughing off “haters” and comments that lean toward the negative. “Growing up as the youngest sibling was one of the greatest things that could have prepared me for that,” she says.

Naturally, our conversation took a turn toward fashion as we tend to do here at Bode. Basso was quick to crown Ralph Lauren as her all-time favorite designer. To her, fashion is about storytelling, and the way Ralph Lauren creates a different story behind every look is how Basso strives to express herself through her outfits. “I wear Chanel when I want to feel like the ultimate woman: elegant feminine, and powerful. Zimmerman when I hang out at my place in the Palisades, and Filson and Carhartt are the basic brands in every good mountain girl’s closet.” Reminiscing to her days as a young girl, the actress recalls her mother dressing her in Oilily constantly, and has come to terms that those colorful, whimsical outfits influenced her style subconsciously. Indeed, her closet is a vast array of different stories from across her universe, and include everything from high-end designer pieces to Dad tees and baseball caps with cheesy catchphrases.

“The characters I play are always changing, so my outfits and personality are constantly evolving, too,” Basso says. Whimsically and romantically, if this amber-haired daydreamer were not an actress, she would be “in a castle somewhere in Northern Scotland, baking fresh bread and tending to [her] garden, horseback riding, maybe stumbling upon something magical.” This sort of whimsy and endless need to paint a picture with words is what draws so many viewers to Basso’s countless performances. For the moment, the actress is continuing to social distance with her family for the duration of quarantine, but reveals that the moment mandates are lifted she will be “getting a buttery mushroom truffle crepe at [her] favorite restaurant in Aspen, and then walking over to the Ralph Lauren storefront to bask in its beauty.” The actress even hints at a few new projects in the works and urges you to stay tuned to her Instagram to find out what they are. Until then, we bid her adieu in her safe and happy mountain world.