The bonds ofSupernaturalrun deep. Like the ongoing procedural,Law & Order, the 15-season drama was a stopping point for many acclaimed actors on their rise to the top. ForAdrianne Palicki, it was a speedy but recurring guest appearance just before she skyrocketed to fame inFriday Night Lights, whileSterling K. Browngot his hands dirty with the Winchester brothers beforeArmy Wives, which led him on the path towardsThis Is Us. Double-dipping into theSupernaturaluniverse, not only didLauren Cohanenjoy a guest-starring role as a complex villain, but she went on to star with fellowSupernaturalalum,Jeffrey Dean MorganinThe Walking Deadand its hit spin-off,The Walking Dead: Dead City, the latter of which having just debuted its second season.
The behind-the-scenes world ofSupernaturalhas a lore of its own, with plenty of fans waiting for furtherupdates about the reunionbrewing between its creator,Eric Kripke, and its trio of stars,Jensen Ackles,Jared Padalecki, andMisha Collins, on the former’s latest success story,The Boys. During an installment ofCollider’s Ladies Night,Perri Nemiroffcaught up with Cohan to celebrate the second season ofThe Walking Dead: Dead City, and found some time to pick the actress’ brain about her time on the beloved CW series of yesteryear.
Looking back on those introductory moments that led her to become part of theSupernaturalfamily, Cohan said:
“For some reason, the first thing that comes into my mind is professionalism, because I joined that show and I remember from arriving on set, meeting everybody, doing wardrobe fitting, meeting the guys, meeting Eric Kripke, I just felt like it was a well-oiled machine. It knew what it was.”
By the time the actress entered the scene, the show had already managed togather a huge fan baseand was well into its third season, so Cohan’s “well-oiled machine” comparison is spot on. It was one of her earliest acting roles, and she knew even then that it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, telling Nemiroff:
“I felt very grateful to be there.I knew it was a special opportunity. It’s always something happens, you’re excited, you get there, and then you’re like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. This is really life-changing. This is a big moment.’ And I had sort of just gotten settled in L.A., and then I went up to Vancouver into that. So, it was seminal.”
Lauren Cohan’s Villainous Transformation
For the most part, Cohan’s role as Maggie inThe Walking Deaduniverse has seen her stay in the lane of a so-called “good guy” until recent events involving Negan (Morgan) and her son Hershel (Logan Kim) led her totoe that fine line of morality. Of course, in life, there aren’t all good or all bad people, a truth that was reflected in herSupernaturalrole as Bela Talbot. The character was introduced in the third season and was said to have made a deal with a crossroads demon who took the life of her abusive father. She was a complicated character who tussled with Dean (Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Padalecki), but who also worked alongside them.
Understanding the commitment and undertaking that she signed on for, Cohan continued:
“It was such a big responsibility. It was a longer arc on a show. It was playing a baddie, so I was navigating enjoying being a baddie. I knew it was a fun show. Iknewit was a big deal. You never know any of the shows will go as long as they go. And the fanbase.”
Head over to Netflix to streamSupernaturaland see where it all started for Cohan. Cohan’s full episode ofLadies Nightwill arrive followingThe Walking Dead: Dead CitySeason 2’s sixth episode, on Monday, June 9. Stay tuned at Collider for more!
