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By now, you’ve probably stopped sobbing over this week’s episode of The Walking Dead — probably! — and, if that’s so, it means two things: 1) You need some Visine. And 2) you have questions.
To answer them, TVLine turns to Sarah Wayne Callies, whose final scenes as ill-fated Lori Grimes were as beautiful — and as horrifying — as any we’ve ever seen.
In the following Q&A with TVLine, the actress opens up about lying to the world for five months, her biggest regret about leaving the show, why she believes Lori’s final wish was the right one, whether she will continue to watch the show and much more.
TVLINE | Your performance last night was amazing, but I have to say, what really impressed me was that you kept this secret for so long. You shot the episode in June, which means you had to basically lie your way through Comic-Con.
It was the single hardest thing of this entire process, knowing that I had to [keep quiet] from the middle of June until the middle of November. And then I had to work on another project, [the film Black Sky]. I got onto that set and there were a lot of people who were fans of the show that were like, “Aren’t you shooting right now?” And I basically told them that every character this season has more episodes off than they’ve ever had, and the writers were kind enough to accommodate this schedule — all of which is true. But it was also deliberately misleading. It was by far the hardest thing. But [AMC] was very clear: You can tell your mom, you can tell your husband, and that’s basically it. [Laughs] It was a real challenge. I think we were all very conscious of the ways in which Shane’s death got out [before the episode aired]. And while it didn’t diminish [Jon Bernthal’s] performance, I think it diminished the experience of the audience watching it. So the publicity team at AMC said, “Look, we’re going to keep working like you are still the leading lady of the show for the rest of the season. And then when you die it’s going to be crazy.” And it seems like that worked. To be honest, I can’t believe it. I’m floored.
RELATED | Walking Dead Exec Producer Robert Kirkman Reveals Why Lori Had to Die
TVLINE | I was looking back at the interview I did with you at Comic-Con [scroll down for video] and I actually asked you what it will be like when the inevitable day comes when Lori dies — and you lied to my face. Well done.
Well, I do lie for a living. [Laughs] I’m an actor.
TVLINE | I want to ask you about the choice Lori made to sacrifice her own life to save her child’s. What would you say to those folks who think it was a selfish decision to saddle Rick with not one but two children in the apocalypse?
I think that’s ridiculous. [Laughs] She’s providing the most powerful symbol of hope and renewal that exists — which is this idea that life can go on and can grow, even in the midst of the end of the world. She was also losing about a cup of blood a minute. And if you can’t deliver the baby and you can’t stop the bleeding then she’s dying one way or the other. As soon as the blood hit Maggie’s hand Lori knows she’s not leaving the boiler room. And if she dies and the baby dies then the baby turns. So then someone’s going to have to put a bullet in that baby. She realizes that one of them could potentially come out of this alive or they could both die for sure. And given how hard Rick has worked to protect Lori and the baby, the greatest gift she can give him at that point is at least the success with the baby. He did it. He did it. He got her to term; he kept the baby alive.
TVLINE | Were you on set for the climactic scene in the prison yard where Rick learns that Lori died.
Andy [Lincoln] asked me not to be on set. But I couldn’t leave, so I was at base camp with the trailers. I could hear him screaming and crying [while shooting the scene]. I was sitting there with IronE Singleton [T-Dog] kind of going, “Oh my God. This is horrible.” And then one by one as the scene ended they came back to the trailers to change and go home, and I put my arms around Andy. When he goes down the rabbit hole he goes all the way down. I put my arms around him and I was like, “Look at me. I’m right here. I’m alive! Andy and Sarah are just fine. Rick and Lori are over, but Andy and Sarah are just fine.” [Laughs]
TVLINE | What did you think of that particular scene when you saw it for the first time?
I thought it was brilliant. I thought it was brilliantly shot to have Carl strong and cold in the foreground and Rick collapsed. I know they shot it a bunch of different ways. There were a bunch of different ideas about how that scene could play. But it was beautiful because in some ways it’s the apotheosis of Carl. It’s this young boy having just performed a great act of both mercy and violence [against] his mother recognizing that dad’s not going to be able to get me through this right now, so I’ll be the strong one.
TVLINE | Is there any part of you that’s bummed you never got to play a zombie?
[Hesitates]. No. [Laughs] Not really at all. The only regret that I have about that is that [Walking Dead special effects guru] Greg Nicotero has these amazing stylized posters made of the people who have left the show as zombies, and the one of Jon is phenomenal. And I asked him, “Do I get a poster?! I want a poster!” And he was like, “You didn’t turn into a zombie.” But I remember Jon telling me that the zombie transformation is so hard. We spend the entire show hating them and running from them and trying to kill them. And to watch that transformation would be incredibly difficult. Greg has told me that they’ve had people weep in the chair. Some grown-up actors needed a scotch. It’s an emotional transformation. And I think maybe I’ve had enough emotion already. [Laughs]
TVLINE | Will you watch the show as a fan now?
Yes. I’m kind of looking forward to it [because] it’ll be the first time I’ll be watching without knowing what’s going to happen. I get really easily scared, so I may have to watch from across the room with a pillow over my eyes for some of it. [Laughs] But they are phenomenal actors. Especially David [Morrissey]. The stuff he’s doing this season [as the Governor] is just blowing me away. One of my biggest regrets is that I don’t get to work with him. We were both really looking forward to working together.
TVLINE | Are you interested in another TV gig? And, if so, would you be looking for something, um, a touch lighter?
My mom and my best friend have both asked that the next thing I’m in involve ponies and rainbows. [Laughs] To be perfectly honest, I can’t imagine anybody casting a sitcom going, “I know — we need Sarah Wayne Callies!” [Laughs] If I was looking to star in the next 2 Broke Girls I don’t think anyone would take me seriously. That said, a good script is a good script. And whether it’s television or theater or feature films, you go where the writing is. I shot Black Sky over the summer and right now I’m not doing anything. [Laughs] I’m taking off for the holidays. But starting in January, they’ll send me a bunch of scripts and I’ll read them and see which ones I love and see which ones love me. And we’ll figure out what comes next.
I think she is awesome! Loved her in prison break and walking dead… Sad she is gone.
I agree. Man, that ending was heartbreaking.
why did she leave the show?
she was da bomb in Tarzan!
I could not beleive that she died loves her on the walking dead and prison break!!!!(:
yes she is awesome lori not so much
Ever since the beginning I’ve liked Sarah Wayne Callies. Lori not so much, but Sarah always seems so nice. She’s done such an amazing job, making us go from disliking/hating/being annoyed by her character to crying over her death. (At least I did) Terrific job!! Can’t wait to have her back on oud screens again :)
What an absolutely true statement!!! Perfectly describes my love-hate relationship with Lori. She was brilliant last night!
I agree with u 100%
yes, cottage your statement is the same for me
Spoiler alert would be nice, it’s only the day after, some of us haven’t seen it yet and you can clearly tell something really bad happens from what you can see on the home page.
I avoid this site after shows air because of spoilery headlines so it’s o you if you come here. BUT I had to unlike them on facebook because their spoilers were showing up in my newsfeed.
They are putting spoilers in titles, front pages and headlines now, and just not caring about their readers anymore. Way to completely disrespect your readers, isn’t it? We used to avoid the post-mortem interviews and the recaps, now we have to avoid the site as a whole.
Exactly. It was the first thing that popped up when I opened the page earlier. I hadn’t yet seen the episode (just finished) so obviously it gives something away. I was okay with that this time since I had heard awhile back that Lori was set to do in the first 4 or 5 episodes so I chose to come to the site so I could read other articles and recaps. As you’ve pointed out, TVLine just doesn’t care anymore. I used to rave about how great this site was in regards to spoilers and respecting their readers. Not anymore. I only continue to come because I enjoy the commenters who enjoy the same shows I do.
You should know not to go and read walkind dead articles the day after they aired. And yes this is a walkind dead article
I was actually just scrolling down the tvline home page and the tiny blurb prior to the jump showed some words that leave no doubt to her fate. Normally Ausiello posts a warning first and at least doesn’t make the spoiler visible even without having to click the link to the rest of the story.
especially when it clearly states in the FIRST PARAGRAPH that it will be discussing THIS WEEKS episode.
Don’t go to TV sites if you haven’t watched a show 2 days after it aired. I watched it last night and I didn’t come here or any TV sites until after I watched the show.
That just makes sense, if you choose to wait, everyone else doesn’t have to wait for you.
Yeah, watching that Comic-Con interview again, she really did a great job of casually lying to your face about getting killed off, Ausiello.
She seems to be a very lovely lady.
Loved her on Prison Break and TWD, never really understood all the Lori hate. Having said that I have to say that Kirkman could take a lesson from Kurt Sutter of SOA. Sutter purposely went to his fans and told them in no uncertain terms to stay OFF of social media sites on the day/night of the upcoming “death” episode (if you watch SOA you know what I’m referring to). He even asked east coast fans NOT to spoil for others. He also said to be sure to watch it live because we would regret it if we didn’t. So we knew something big was coming and it didn’t take anything away from the shock. Because of this I followed his lead and when I watched the episode I was completely taken back and was so grateful that I hadn’t been spoiled. Unfortunately, because I didn’t know this was going to be a surprise “death” episode on TWD I was spoiled by folks in the east who were tweeting about it. It was still a great episode and I’ll be watching it again a couple more times before next Sunday but sad that it was spoiled for us over on the west coast. I know it’s just the woes of social media and that’s how it is now but why can’t people understand different time zones??? Even Michael Rooker (Merle) was doing it. And before you even go there Sutter did not do this to boost his ratings, he doesn’t need too. They are through the roof every week.
I’m on the West Coast and my AMC shows WD at 6:00 so its the same time as it airs on the East.. then it re-runs later… Do others not get the same feed?
I think it also depends on who your provider is. For me it comes on at 9:00.
No. If you have dish or premium cable, you can watch the east coast airing at 6and the west coast at 9. If you are on the west coast with basic cable, 9 (10 mtn) is your only option
I’m on Mountain Time and TWD starts at 7PM, then Talking Dead at 8PM, then encore presentation of TWD at 9PM.
If you can’t stay off of social media sights for a measly 2 days, you have a problem my friend.
Sad everyone on the show has to die. Enjoy Sarah very much and will miss her and her character. :-(
Poor T-Dog, another black man dies and doesn’t even rate a mention on TVLine. But the white girl, she gets the attention lol. And yes I am kidding.
He was on the Talking Dead last night don’t go all race war on a TV show.
If they reveal Victoria on Revenge has a sister, then Sarah would be the perfect choice! Make it happen ABC!
Please… She starred in Prison Break and Walking Dead, she deserves a better show. I can see the resemblance between her and Madeleine but if Sarah is going to do TV again in the near future, she deserves to be the star of her own kick-ass drama.
She was also in Tarzan & Jane in the WB… so… Picky she isn’t!
She would be lucky to get on Revenge, stuck up Lili.
All this is well and good but did they have to kill the longest standing blck guy on the show T dog but wait u replaced him wit another bald headed black guy. So I guess the walking dead producers went green and recycled. One black bald guy for another. Maybe this guy will actually have at least a couple lines each episode.SMH
They said T Dog would have a bigger role in Season 3. It gets no bigger than dying.
Brothers are always the red shirts. But hey, they replaced him with another black dude and made him an inmate! No stereotypes here lol.
Actually the new black guy even said in last nights episode that he worked at the prison…
Yeah as a prisoner. Not a real job
well 90% of prisons are populated by blacks, no offense
So sad that Lori and T-Dog were killed off ;(
I only started watching WD because of SWC. Of course I am hooked now but will miss her presence. Still can not believe she is dead. And T-Dog as well. Holy cow what an episode last night.
Good riddance.
Love her character ~ always strong but behind the groups eyes showing thats she’s just as human as the rest of us. Maybe they can bring Sarah back on as another character …one that looks like Lori but not ….conflict for Rick ..maybe he sees only glimpse of this new character and it haunts him until he/we find out who she really is …you know ..we all have a twin alike out there ;)
Holy crap she did a great job of lying about her death to you. Even knowing the truth now I still find it hard to believe she knew already. Wow. She really is a good actress. Kudos to her for keeping the secret and making it a real shock to the fans.
Aaww, I’m sad to see Lori go. That means its reality that the ‘family’ will eventually die and or become zombies.
….she said they are all going to go!
Headline spoiled this episode for me. Thanks.
T-Dog was another character that wasn’t in the comics if I remember right so I almost expected that fate. Lori died in the prison in a shootout right in front of Carl, however in the comic they didn’t have her preggers. The only thing that dissapointed me was how Lori was likeable in the comic and so unlikeable on screen the last couple seasons. Now that people actually started liking (or tolerating) her, they take her out. I really wish the emotions from this death didn’t come purely from my heartbreak for Carl watching his mother sacrifice herself. I remember being truly bummed she was gone from the comics, but I just feel sorrow for Rick and Carl. I wish there would have been a little more legwork with this character before her exit.
in actuality when Lori died in the comics she had already had to baby. The baby was in her arms and they both died together.
right Richard – our responses crossed. Great minds – terribly tragic scene!
she was pregnant in the comic – she had basically just had the baby and was running with her in her arms when the shootout happened. That whole thing I found even more tragic than the show!
My husband and I both broke down and cried and said if something like this happened to us we would break down like Rick did. We are both saddened with the loss of Lori. We’ll have to follow Sarah to her new adventures but both of us Fans of The Walking Dead will miss Lori! Poor Rick realizing he’ll never talk nor see his wife alive again was more than my husband and I could take. Wow, you surprised us with this show Sunday Evening, that was a Got’cha!! Love the show!!
Lori was an amazing character and having been able to relate to her having a son of my own, I can totally understand her calling for him every 5 mins. The final scenes totally broke me down thinking of myself, my son and my husband! Great job to the entire cast, they are definitely the best!
Avid follower of the walking dead tv show and graphic novel and doing so gives me constant satisfaction in guessing the outcomes. The show does a great job at recreating the situations depicted in the ongoing graphic novel and is constantly changing minor details. In the books, Lori and the baby die by gunfire so the scene in last night’s episode I was prepared for and it still was shocking ay the same time. The death of Shane was expected as well. I advise fans of the show to follow the grapic novel as well and to stop whining about spoilers.
She is so BEAUTIFUL!
I will miss her on The Walking Dead
Her last comment is perfect “I’ll leave it all on the floor when I go”. Boy, did she ever!