Aline O’Neill brings Tonya to life in Hysteria!, Peacock’s new suspense series that delves into the fears of the 1980s “Satanic Panic.” The story begins with the disappearance of a high school football quarterback, plunging the characters into a mystery filled with dark twists.
In addition to O’Neill, the cast features stars like Emmy® winner Julie Bowen and Anna Camp, as well as special appearances by Bruce Campbell and Garret Dillahunt. Aline’s portrayal of Tonya plays a pivotal role in the series’ unfolding events, marking a milestone in the actress’s career, already celebrated for her role as Emma Campano in ABC’s Will Trent.
How would you describe Tonya’s personality and role in Hysteria! and what most attracted you to this character?
Tonya is the quintessential popular girl – head cheerleader, homecoming queen type. She’s best friends with Judith, played by Jessica Treska, and their relationship is a big part of Tonya’s story. As the series progresses, Tonya’s role evolves into a kind of anchor for the audience. In a show where things get pretty wild pretty quickly, she becomes one of the few voices of reason.
What really drew me to Tonya was how she faces the unique situations she gets dragged into. She’s not perfect – she certainly doesn’t always handle things eloquently, but what I love is that she never backs down or compromises her beliefs. Even under immense peer pressure, Tonya stands her ground. I really enjoyed playing a character who has the strength to question the actions of those around her, even when it puts her at odds with friends. I think Tonya’s authentic reactions to the craziness around her, and how these decisions shape the story, is what attracted me to her and makes her such a compelling character to both play and watch.
The series is set during the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s. What was it like exploring this culturally intense period, and how did it influence your approach to playing Tonya?
Exploring the Satanic Panic era for Hysteria! was eye-opening. It’s a fascinating period of our history with themes that feel incredibly relevant today, showing how easily fear and misinformation can spread.
The research into this period helped me grasp the intense pressure and confusion Tonya would have felt as hysteria gripped her town. I focused on Tonya’s internal struggle between the desire to fit in and her instinct to question the growing madness. This historical context allowed me to infuse her character with a mix of skepticism and vulnerability, reflecting the complex emotions of a teenager watching everything and everyone she knows transform before her eyes.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in portraying a character within a suspense and mystery plot like this?
To be honest, the suspenseful, emotionally demanding material was actually my favorite to do! It’s definitely hard work, but I think that’s why I love it? If anything, the biggest challenge is how it can be physically and mentally exhausting to stay in that heightened state of suspense or fear. But that’s where coffee and adrenaline come in handy!
How did you prepare for the role of Tonya compared to your previous work as Emma Campano in Will Trent? Was there any noticeable difference in the process?
There are actually some amusing parallels between Emma and Tonya’s stories! Both characters find themselves in eerily similar situations, which has now become a bit of a running joke in my family. I’d say the main difference in preparation was that there was more material to work with for Tonya in Hysteria!. This allowed me to dive deeper into her character and explore her more fully. However, the core process of getting into character was quite similar for both roles. They’re both high school girls that end up in intense scenarios, so I was able to draw from my own experiences and emotions. These types of roles are very close to home for me, which made the preparation feel a lot more intuitive.
Hysteria! features an incredible cast, including Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Bruce Campbell, and Garret Dillahunt. What was the working dynamic like among the cast during filming?
The working dynamic on Hysteria! was awesome. Everyone in the cast is not only incredibly talented but also genuinely wonderful people. We all shared such a deep passion for the project, which created this amazing collaborative atmosphere. What really stood out was how quickly we became like a family. There was always laughter and support on set, even during the more intense scenes. The veteran actors set such a positive tone, and it was inspiring to work alongside them.
This established dynamic pushed us all to do our best work and created a lot of trust among the cast. I think this chemistry comes through in the show too. We genuinely enjoyed working together, and I believe that translates to the screen, making the relationships between our characters feel more authentic. It’s really such a special project, and I feel so lucky to have been part of it with this exceptional group of people.
The series addresses supernatural and mystical themes that are part of the suspense. How do you see Tonya’s relationship with these elements, and has it changed your perspective on the genre?
To be honest, I don’t think Tonya wants anything to do with that supernatural nonsense. But as we’ve learned, she somehow finds herself in sticky situations, so I won’t be surprised if she encounters it if we get another season. At this point in the story, it seems to me she has kept her head and not fallen off the deep end yet. Or is that what they want you to think? That actually leads me perfectly into my next answer…this show has definitely altered my perspective. I’m fascinated by the idea of viewers not being able to trust what they see. I think it makes for really interesting storytelling and can feel super immersive as an audience member. I mean it speaks volumes that my castmates and I are still debating whether or not any of the supernatural or mystical things were actually happening and we were in the show!
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