LISA CHANDLER

When did you realize you wanted to pursue acting?

When I was younger I never really thought acting was a ‘career’. I always thought that it was a hobby, or just something you did on the side to keep busy or have fun.  I performed a play when I was about 10 or 11 years old through the city that I lived in and got paid for it. How much, I can’t remember but it was then that I had a check in my hand that I realized I could do this forever. Also, the fact that I could buy my own candy was mind blowing! I fully pursued it seriously when I was around 21.

I moved out to Toronto to play women’s hockey, became instantly broke while trying to audition in the city and make a ‘hockey career’ at the same time. I had to make a decision, hockey or acting. So, I hung up the laces and pursued acting as a full blown passion project hoping I could land a role or two. 

You portray Susan McSween in the second season of the renewed drama series Billy the Kid. Can you tell us how you prepare your character?

I’ll be completely honest and say, I purchased a book called ‘In The Shadow Of Billy The Kid’ written by Kathleen Chamberlain solely about Susan McSween. The book was compiled of an amazing amount of scripture from letters written by Susan McSween herself, interviews and bits of history from the Lincoln County war.  I really dove deep into her book and wanted to fully understand who Susan was from her backstory to even post losing her husband in the war. I learned that she played the piano quite frequently;  I hadn’t played the piano since I was about 10 or 12 years old.

I took classes back when I was a kid, a bit more along the lines of simple minded playing Grade 1 chopstick-style songs if you know what I mean.  Susan McSween on the other-hand, plays full on Beethoven and Mozart. Just a tad different in skill to say the least. I took a few private classes (shout out to Sandy Chen, you’re my saving grace!) to ease my nerves and thank god I did. Also, it helped that the piano key wires weren’t attached on the day of filming.

Linking to the previous question, we really like to ask artists what they feel when they are chosen after a casting process to be part of a project. Can you tell us what the moment was like when you received the news that you would be part of the cast of the second season of the series Billy the Kid?

I first auditioned for the role of Susan just like any other role during the COVID days of not being in the casting room. I threw it down on tape in my living room, sent it off to my agent and moved on. Almost a few months went by when I received notice that I booked the role. I then dove deep into who she was. I was told that Susan and her husband Alexander McSween, played by Luke Camilleri, wouldn’t be featured until the end of Season 1. I then knew that in Season 2, she was going to be a part of something big. I personally was ecstatic about it. I love working on period pieces and I love a good western. 

If you were an advertisement, which would your slogan be?

Oh great question! It depends on what kind of product I am. But if I were selling myself, probably something along the lines of “Here, hold my gun while I adjust my bra”. 

You have an amazing acting career with roles in productions such as Altered Carbon, Fire Country, Nancy Drew,  The Detour, Lucifer, and the film adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog. Did you expect all this success on your early days? What would you tell to young Lisa?

The funny thing is, I don’t look at all those projects and think “wow, I’m crazy successful.” I am, however, insanely grateful for the opportunity to audition and book these projects  but at the same time, I’m trying to work hard to book the ‘one more rung up the ladder’ project and challenge myself. I love a good challenge. The times where I feel successful are when I’m at a grocery store filling a cart full of food  or I’m able to buy a gift for someone and I have the funds to do so from a job that gives me so much bliss. That’s when I feel successful.

What I would tell ‘Young Lisa’ would be that the entertainment industry is a business. DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY! Also, I would tell her to invest in herself because no one else is going to do that for her.

How would you define yourself as an artist? 

I’m always changing and trying to be open as much as possible. For me, I love being physical in performances as well as being still/calm, no action. I love being able to be on a wire, smash into something, roll out of it and have a whole dialogue scene. Then, on the flip side, I love to be in a scene where I’m sitting at a kitchen table, being still, listening, having an amazing connection with my scene partner and just being present wearing zero stunt pads. The fact that I get opportunities to do both is so satisfying. I wouldn’t say I can ‘define’ myself right now as I’m still figuring out who I am as an artist. 

In addition to your on-screen acting performances, you also tackle your own stunts on shows such as Supergirl, The Flash, Batwoman , The Fall Of The House Of Usher… How did you know you wanted to do your own stunts?  Is there adrenaline during the process?

I first entered the film industry performing on the acting side for a few years, then I stumbled upon stunts and dove head first into that side of the biz for just over 10 years and counting, slowly immersing stunt acting roles (a role where you are casted strictly to do dialogue along with performing a stunt) in here and there. I love being able to blend the two (stunts and acting) as it’s honestly, so much fun. I’m proud to say that I have actually made use of every sport I did as a kid in terms of using it in my career. Thanks mom, thanks dad! Is there an adrenaline rush? Absolutely! It’s a massive high when you have a coordinator shout “3,2,1 ACTION!” with sometimes over 30 cast and crew watching you perform. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything! 

We are amazed by your entire acting journey. What is next? Any project or secret that you can share with us?

Thank you so much for the support! As for what’s next, I have a few irons in the fire but I’m honestly looking forward to RESTING as we wrap season 2.