Life according to: The Walking Dead actor, Eleanor Matsuura

The actress on The Walking Dead, her new Netflix drama and juggling life.

The final episodes of The Walking Dead will air soon. Describe your experience on the show.

It was my first big American gig and it changed my life. My whole family moved to Atlanta, where it’s filmed. I arrived in the same episode the main character, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, left, so there was a lot at stake and a lot of pressure. Thank goodness it went well. I can’t quite believe I’m part of this massive chapter in TV history ending.

Your character in the series is great with a bow and arrow. Are you?

People like to give me a bow and arrow! I had it when I was on Justice League and Wonder Woman, so I got quite proficient. And, of course, I bigged myself up when it came to The Walking Dead audition. Obviously when we’re on set there is no arrow, as that would be dangerous, but I’m really good at looking the part and that’s what acting is all about.

How was your experience of making BBC’s Shetland?

My best friend is Alison O’Donnell, so when you have the chance to film with your mate it feels like you’ve struck gold. We were both quite heavily pregnant, so it was a special experience. There was a lot of hiding behind tables and big folders!

In your new film, I Used To Be Famous, you play a mum of an autistic musician, Stevie. What was it like working with Leo Long, the neurodiverse actor who plays him?

There was a long audition process to find Stevie and Leo was the perfect fit. He was so confident and charming and there was no intimidation, despite it being his first role. He’s the real deal and I hope this is the beginning of really lovely things for him.

What was it like filming in London during the pandemic?

We shot it in September last year. They approached me with the script and I really liked it, but I was shooting The Walking Dead in Atlanta during a pandemic, so rules were tight. I had a small window where I had a few episodes off from The Walking Dead, so we managed it. It was quite fraught in respect of visa issues, timings and hoping I didn’t catch Covid, but we did it and I’m so proud of the film.

Another film you made there was Woody Harrelson’s Lost In London, which was shot live and beamed directly to cinemas. What was that experience like?

It still feels like a weird fever dream and I question if it really happened. Woody is such a particular artist and has a wild imagination. It was an exciting energy to be around. We would meet every day and rehearse it like a dance, and then we filmed it all in one shot, one take, at 2am and it went live into cinemas. It’s something you’ll never get again.

Woody sounds like a real character?

I don’t think it’s any secret he likes to party, so we were working hard and playing hard. He noticed I wasn’t drinking when we were at the pub, so I quietly whispered to him I was pregnant but it was early so I shouldn’t tell anyone. Before I’d finished my sentence he banged his glass and got up on the table and announced it.

You’re married to actor Trevor White – how do you juggle your schedules?

I’d love to say we consciously take it in turns for jobs, but we just take whatever comes up that feels good and so far it’s worked out. There’s a lot of luck.

What’s next?

We’ve been in Toronto since March and we’ll be here for a year while my husband plays Harry Potter on stage. The Walking Dead was intense, so it’s been nice to just be with my two kids. These early times are precious. I’m excited for everyone to see I Used To Be Famous and then in a few months’ time I’ll be ready to see what’s next.

I Used To Be Famous is in select cinemas from Friday and on Netflix from September 16.