Memory is a monster—but reminiscing with Delainey Hayles (she/her) about playing the vampiress Claudia in Interview with the Vampire was a huge treat. We chatted about her long-held love for acting, her favorite places to shoot, and how it felt to bring such a complex character to life.

Psst! If you haven’t watched the TV show based on Anne Rice’s novel, it’s the perfect gothic drama (and the best show on television per editorial director Reina). It’ll be especially great to watch as the weather turns and spooky season really gets going. Season 1 is on Netflix and Season 2 is on AMC+. Trust us, you won’t be able to resist continuing after you let the tale of Season 1 seduce you.

Tell us a bit about you! How did you get into acting?
When I was little my sister and I would reenact Disney channel episodes like That’s So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. We would go full out with the acting. Then Photo Booth became a thing, and we’d spend our evenings after school making and filming episodes. If those ever got out, I’d die. But from then on, I’ve been interested in acting.

What was the process like auditioning for and eventually booking the role of Claudia?
There was quite a quick turnaround for Claudia. I had a chemistry read where I was lucky enough to meet Jacob, Rolin, and Levin. I could feel the care for the show, which elevated me. Getting to play with Jacob and finding Claudia was something I really enjoyed—it was a safe audition room. You know how when you finish your audition and leave, you’re never really sure of anything? I wasn’t. I mean, I’m never really sure of anything anyway, but I knew inside I wanted more or just the chance to play again.

I got the call that I had got Claudia around 7 in the morning. The first person I called was my mum, and then a couple of hours later, she called me back to tell me she was panic-buying socks for me.

As Claudia traverses Europe, she quite effectively speaks quite a few different languages. Are you fluent in any languages other than English? Was working in these other languages difficult?
I wish I spoke another language. In school, we were taught German and Spanish. My brain took a liking to German, so the German in our episodes made sense to me as I was kind of familiar with it. I loved all the languages I learned. I got to speak German, French, Romanian, and some Russian. I had an amazing teacher who helped me get into them all.

Interview with the Vampire has a stellar cast. Who was your favorite scene partner?
I wish I could give you a definitive answer but I really can’t! I loved acting with everyone, truly.

You got to do some fun stunts—even as soon as the first episode. How was that?
Episode 1 has the most stunts for Claudia—it was a lot of fun. I do have previous training with harnesses, so being in the air wasn’t too alien to me. Plus, I think I just like being taller than people for a change.

This season was shot in a few different locations. Where was your favorite place to shoot?
We shot at a castle an hour and a bit outside of Prague in a very small secluded village. The castle was wet, cold, and ominous—and I loved it. A very vampy aura. It was perfect. It was hard to not be immersed in the scene when you’re really there. Even walking to get coffee, I felt vampy.

But one of my favorite Louis and Claudia scenes was shot in Paris at the end of Episode 1. So, Paris has a special place in my heart.

Spoiler alert! The rest of Delainey’s interview is full of spoilers for Season 2.

Your portrayal of Claudia as she ages and matures in Europe is masterful. How did you approach playing a character that has been portrayed by two other actors—what did you take from their portrayals and how did you make her your own?
The book was the foundation so I kept referring back to it. Everything was fresh in my mind, so that helped a lot. I was receiving scripts and then placing them alongside the book. I think the writers on our show are phenomenal and I’m so happy I’m one of the people that gets to speak their words. I’m a big fan of the first season so I knew where we were picking up from. Watching the film and Season 1 I think what stuck out to me the most is loneliness—how that’s one of a vampire’s biggest fears, and how that is heightened for Claudia because of her circumstance.

What was the most rewarding scene you shot in IWTV S2? Which was the most fun?
This is hard. It might be my first day of filming because that’s when everything became real. Getting my lenses for the first time and my fangs I was so happy. It was a night shoot so I spent the day too excited to do anything. 

A really fun scene we shot was Murder Mansion as well because we were all just free to run around and cause chaos.

Claudia’s relationships are incredibly important to her character. Her growth from daughter to sister with Louis, the toxic maker/fledgling dynamic with Lestat, and the loving bond she shares with Madeleine. Can you talk a bit about the relationship with Madeleine and what it means both to Claudia and you as the actor portraying her?
Well, for the first time in her life, she’s been put first. I’ve always rooted for Claudia and I think she’s misunderstood by some. When it comes to Madeleine and Claudia, they are both living and surviving these extremely complicated circumstances. Both are being ostracized by their communities. They can both see that they’ve each been through something and that’s what draws them to each other.

During the trial, Madeleine chooses death with Claudia rather than living and joining the coven. Even when being threatened with death, Madeleine chooses Claudia, someone who is sure of her for the first time in her life. Sure is a weak word… certain of her. That’s what she’s been searching for, to be important to someone and for that to be true. It’s a bittersweet ending but that’s the tragedy of Claudia sadly, which is why I love her.

The trial—and Claudia’s death—was a harrowing thing to watch. What was the experience of shooting such a haunting episode like—especially one that had such intense and incredible SFX makeup?
Those days felt heavier. I felt a bit of a shift in the atmosphere. It was a challenge that I absolutely enjoyed. I wanted to see Claudia’s story told and I’m very thankful that I got to be involved in the process of that. 

How we shot Madeleine and Claudia’s deaths is we would shoot it then add some prosthetics, shoot, prosthetics again, then shoot then prosthetics again. Each time we returned to shoot, we had a new added layer of prosthetics on. It was an intense couple of days, but rewarding. I got to peel off all the prosthetics at the end which was quite satisfying. 

I felt emotional about it. I got lots of support, and I really do look up to all the guys I think they’re all flipping brilliant.

There has been a lot of talk from fans about Claudia haunting the narrative in the coming season (much like Dreamstat did in S2). Is that something you’d like to be a part of?
Yes.

Anything else you’d like to share?
What’s a vampire’s favorite fruit? A neck-tarine…