Balancing outrageous comedy with period drama, Veronica Long is experiencing one of the most versatile moments of her career. While audiences laugh at her scene-stealing turn as the bold and chaotic Heather in Netflix’s global rom-com hit The Wrong Paris, she also delivers emotional depth as the quietly resilient Manuela Bowdre in MGM+’s dramatic series Billy the Kid. Moving effortlessly between physical humor and subtle intensity, Veronica embraces the thrill of surprising viewers — proving that, for her, no genre is off-limits when it comes to storytelling.
You are simultaneously shining in two very different productions — a global Netflix hit and a dramatic series on MGM+. How has it been for you to see audiences connect with such distinct sides of your talent at the same time?
It’s been really fun! I think people that know me from The Wrong Paris are surprised when they see me in Billy the Kid and visa versa and I love that. I love surprising people. You know when you watch movies with Gary Oldham and you can’t recognize him and you leave the theater going “Wait, I though Gary Oldman was supposed to be in that…Wait, that was HIM?? I didn’t recognize him!” Not that I’m anywhere on the level of Gary, but I do love that thrill of surprise and unrecognizablilty. See how I called him Gary? That’s cause we’re tight. Just joking. Only in my wildest dreams am I friends with Gary Oldman. That was just me manifesting that friendship.
Your comedic performance in The Wrong Paris is bold, scene- stealing, and irresistibly funny. What part of playing Heather allowed you to explore a version of yourself that people hadn’t seen yet?
Firstly, thank you! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! We had so much fun making the movie so I’m happy to hear it brought you joy. Well I’m usually very demure and lady-like so playing Heather was a complete 180 for me. Just kidding- kind of. I’m not demure and the jury is still out on whether I’m lady-like. But as far as most of my on screen roles so far, they have been on the feminine side. So playing Heather allowed me to explore my more “masculine” side. I would get into character by crouching in a battle position, slapping my thighs aggressively, and grunting “Heather”. I think I actually do that stance at some point in the movie- right before the tire race.
In Billy the Kid, your character Manuela Bowdre carries a quiet strength and deep emotional presence. What did portraying her teach you about vulnerability and intensity in drama?
Firstly, thank you! She’s a woman from a modest farming background who is trust into a war with gunslinging gangsters and cowboys so I wanted to make her someone who was resilliant enough to exist in that world and time period, but also vulnerable enough to still be deeply affected by the tragedies of the war.
What was most at stake for her was losing her husband Charlie or her baby during the war. And the writing helped with a lot with knowing when to be vulnerable and when to put on a brave face. In those big scenes with all of Billy’s gang present, she doesn’t say much so I made the decision that in those scenes she was trying to stay strong for all of them- to hide her vulnerabilty- or at least try to. And then most of her vulnerability comes through when she’s in private conversations with her husband, Charlie (Horatio Hirst) or her new dear friend, Dulcinea (Nuria Vega). That’s when she feels safe enough to speak from the heart and express her worries.
As for intensity, I learned that there’s a lot of power in listening and digesting information. When your character has been told some new and distressing information, a lot of tension can be built up by just letting that information sink in instead of immediately saying the next line. When we see the character thinking and wrestling with what they’ve just been told, we can see the emotional weight that information has on them. Especially in this script, our incredible writer, Michael Hirst, writes scenes where a lot of new information is being given in a short amount of time. So remembering to allow youself as the character to proccess that new information and not just rushing to the next line was key to giving the scenes the emotional intensity they required.
Many fans discovered you first through comedy and now through drama — or the opposite. How has this contrast shaped the way you see yourself as an artist at this moment in your career?
Ooh good question. I wonder if I confuse people. Heck I confuse myself! I like the idea that nothing is off-limits. I grew up doing theater where it was so fun to throw on a wig and play a character that is very different from me. To be able to continue doing that in the film world is so cool and fulfilling and defintely alligns with the kind of artist I want to be. And I feel really lucky to get to explore such a wide variety of characters and genres.
Getting to fly back and forth to Calgary where we shot Billy the Kid and be on the set of an 1800’s western drama and play a poised corset-wearing Mexican farm woman to then being in a present day Netflix rom-com where I’m playing a raunchy, flirty, Hooters bouncer is so incredibly fun for me. I really feel like a kid playing dress up with a bunch of friends. My artist heart feels very full.
Hollywood is a highly competitive and fast-moving industry. What has it been like for you to find yourself right at the center of it during such a defining moment in your career?
I’m just really grateful. I’m super grateful for the shows and films I’ve been a part of. And recently I’ve just been trying to soak up the wins by celebrating or resting because that’s important too! But I’m learning that I’m not great at that part. There’s a part of my brain that always feels the need to look ahead and hustle. It’s really hard to get me to hit pause. Even when I tell myself I’m going to rest and enjoy my days off, I’ll find myself on some kind of side quest. I have so many tabs open all the time of things I want to do. But I think we’re all like that, no? Who out there knows how to really relax nowadays? And can you send them to me? I’ve gotten so off topic, but I will say that it was really cool to see The Wrong Paris hit the number 1 spot on the Netflix homepage. I’ll never forget- I was in my car with my brother and one of my best friends when we saw that news on our phones and we all freaked out and pumped the music to celebrate. That felt like one of those core memory moments.
Your work has generated strong reactions from both viewers and the media. What has been the most surprising, meaningful, or unforgettable feedback you’ve received so far?
Aw, thank you for this question. Like I said, I’m a little bit of a work-a-holic so it’s nice to reminisce. Well, I got so many nice/excited messages when The Wrong Paris came out. Lots of people excited to see me in a romantic comedy and in a crazy comedic role. Definitely was on a high from that for a while! But oh gosh, the most unforgettable feedback- well recently a woman joined our acting class and she said that it took a couple of sessions to realize I was one of the cast members from the Wrong Paris. She said that before she started the class she watched the Wrong Paris with her mom and I was their favorite character. So she freaked out when she realized I was in it. That really touched me.
As you look ahead after such an exciting moment — success on Netflix, praise for your dramatic work, and growing recognition — what dreams or challenges are guiding your next steps?
Dreams…I’m really up for anything! Neither of those roles were on my bingo card and they were both SO fun so I’m game for anything that comes my way! But yeah, the answer to this question changes on a weekly basis. One week I’ll see a great action comedy and want to focus my goals on getting a role in something fun like a comedy heist movie. The next week I’ll see a romantic drama and I’ll start fantasizing about what kind of role I’d like in that world. But I’m also open to whatever comes! As long as the role is fun and the company is good, throw me in!
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