Emma Booth plays Molly McGee in the mystery, and with a hint of supernatural, thriller known as The Gloaming. Premiering March 21st at 9/8c on Starz, it tells the story of a brutal murder and the connections to the past that it unearths in modern day Tasmania. And what starts out as an murder investigation spirals into occult practices and shady business dealings. Molly, her daughter, and her partner are pulled into the tragic past discovered in The Gloaming. And they learn that it takes a harrowing journey to figure out what is real, what is fate, and what are the remnants of the past around to haunt those still living.
1. How does this project differ from other things you’ve worked on like Once Upon a Time or Glitch?
Every project is entirely different. It’s one of those things where…you look at your fellow cast members and the location you’re shooting in, and the narrative you’re telling, the journey you’re going on, and the temperature of where you are. This is definitely one that I have never experienced. It was so far from anything…especially being in Tasmania which is freezing a lot of the time. We had a bit of ok weather and then it just turned. But also, Tasmania is like no other place I’ve ever seen before. It’s so beautiful and kind of vast, rugged, and prehistoric. So it was really awesome getting to experience that for five months as well. So that was fresh.
2. Was it really that cold?
It was freezing. Some days were just so cold. It looks like I’m bundled up but I was always like, “I need more clothes on. It’s freezing.” Yeah, it was cold. Tasmania gets freezing because you’ve got the Antarctica right there as well. So the wind blows up from there and it’s freezing. But it’s worth it and it looks cool.
3. Molly isn’t your typical mom, well according to TV standards. How important is it to play someone like her?
I think it was really important to play her mostly because I’ve never played a character like her. She’s a woman with a daughter that she loves more than anything. But she’s also obsessed with her job. And she’s a risk taker, impulsive, and all of that. And so for her, she has to figure out the crime, even if that means it kind of pushes her away from her daughter; which is sad because it ends up happening because Molly can’t help herself. So it was really interesting character for me to play. A lot of sadness and she’s kind of closed off sometimes. But she the person who feels it most in the room.
4. How was the scene at the dam? How was filming that? Because I was getting heart palpitations watching it. I can’t imagine being on that dam.
I know. It was so high up. It was a little bit freaky, if I’m being honest, shooting that up there while being in such an emotional state as well. And we had the weather and we had so much going on. But yeah, it was kind of freaky and so beautiful. It was epic. So that kind of evens it all out.
5. What have you learned about yourself during this project?
I have learned that I really can play any character. Which is interesting because I’ve always wanted to play a detective but the whole police procedural thing was really nerve wrecking. I was like, “How do I pull this off?” I was very nervous about playing this character. So that, that was good.
I’ve learned that I love, love, love Tasmania. And there are so many places in Australia that I had not visited enough. It opened my eyes to that.
6. What do you hope people take away from The Gloaming?
How beautiful Australia and Tasmania are. And that one day they might want to visit it. That’s what I hope people take away from it. Especially because I really don’t think Tasmania is showcased enough. And I hope it gets them thinking about spirits, ghosts, and what that means to them. But most of all, I hope people go on a really entertaining journey and can forget their life for the 8 hours that it’s on.
The Gloaming premieres March 21st at 9/8c on Starz.
