Created by Sam Levinson, American teen drama “Euphoria” has quickly risen to become a favorite among many young audiences across the world. Its graphic depiction of drug addiction, toxic relationships, and societal prejudice marks the show’s originality as it seems to take a darker spin on the coming-of-age genre. The narrative follows a group of high schoolers and their various experiences with love, friendships, and trauma.
Starring internet-famous actress and fashion icon Zendaya in the lead role of Rue Bennett, the show also sees an influx of fresh young talents including Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn, Barbie Ferreira as Kat Hernandez, and Alexa Demie as Maddy Perez. The actresses have since been plunged into the limelight as viewers become more and more invested in each of their riveting character arcs. As we wait for the highly-anticipated second season, we now take a look at 15 behind the scenes facts even the biggest fans of “Euphoria” might not have known about.
15 The Cast Has A Group Chat Discussing How Leonardo DiCaprio Watches The Show
When the show was still relatively unknown, Leonardo DiCaprio revealed himself to be one of the first fans in a red carpet interview. The cast was so excited with this news that they created a group chat to rave about DiCaprio’s praise of the show. Barbie Ferreira even made customised T-shirts with the quoted compliment for the cast.
14 Barbie Ferreira Auditioned Seven Times Before Landing Her Role
Despite seeming like she was made for the role of Kat Hernandez, Barbie Ferreira actually had to audition seven times before she was given the part. The producers wanted to make sure that the show had a perfect cast of actors in terms of both their acting abilities and their perceived chemistry with others.
13 Sydney Sweeney Created A Real-Life Diary For Cassie
According to Buzzfeed, Sydney Sweeney decided to create a diary for her character before filming began. This was to help her get a feel of Cassie’s inner thought processes and allow her to navigate easily Cassie’s relationships to familial life, romance, and insecurities. Sweeney described the diary as being filled with lyrics, quotes, and black-and-white photos.
12 Hunter Schafer Got Her Audition Via Instagram
Hunter Schafer was a full-time model in New York City before landing the role of Jules Vaughn in “Euphoria.” The show is her first acting gig and in an interview with Build Series, she revealed that she got her audition via Instagram. She auditioned with the dramatic scene from the motel with Eric Dane.
11 Being Cast As Maddie Was A Spiritual Experience For Alexa Demie
Alexa Demie believes that her being cast in the show was no coincidence. She has mentioned that she strangely knew Jacob Elordi was going to play Nate as soon as she saw him at the first audition, she had a dream about being friends with Zendaya before being cast, and she saw the word ‘Euphoria’ at a sandwich shop.
10 Jacob Elordi Was Practically Homeless Before Getting Cast
In an interview with Wonderland magazine, Jacob Elordi confesses that he was ‘practically homeless’ during the time he auditioned for the show. He didn’t have any money or professional management. He even forgot his lines at the casting call, but luckily the producers saw through to his natural acting talent.
9 Each Character’s Makeup Design Has Meaning Behind It
According to makeup designer Doniella Davy, each glittery makeup look on the show actually has a deeper meaning behind it. Davy made sure that the looks change from episode to episode in order to reflect the transformations in the characters’ arcs. This demonstrates her ability in using the medium of makeup to portray character development.
8 The Big Fight Scene Between Rue And Her Mother Was Completely Improvised
The emotionally scathing fight scene between Rue and her mother was completely improvised by Zendaya and Nika King. According to IMDb, Sam Levinson told the actresses to ‘go at each other’s necks’ for the scene, but wasn’t prepared for how aggressive the result would be. Levinson ended up having to leave the set after shooting the third take.
7 The Show Is An American Remake Of An Israeli Series
A fact unknown to most fans, “Euphoria” is actually an American remake of an Israeli series of the same name. The Israeli teen drama was directed by Dafna Levin and created and written by Ron Leshem in 2012. The show is set in the 1990s and follows a group of teenagers experimenting with sex and drugs as well as fighting parental control.
6 The Rotating Hallway Scene Was Shot Using A Gravity-Defying Set
The gorgeous and trippy hallway scene which Rue stumbles upon after taking drugs in the bathroom was created using a gravity-defying set. Levinson and his crew worked hard to create the drug-fuelled illusion by strapping the background actors to the ground and making the room spin over and over.
5 The Narrative Took Inspiration From Sam Levinson’s Real-Life Experiences
In several interviews, Levinson revealed that he drew upon his own personal experiences for the show’s various hard-hitting storylines. The acclaimed show creator was addicted to drugs for several years before becoming sober, as well as experiencing bouts of anxiety and depression throughout the course of his professional life.
4 Angus Cloud Was Cast The Minute His Tape Was Seen
Casting director Jennifer Venditti has stated that she knew Angus Cloud was perfect for the role of Fezco from the minute she saw his audition tape. She recalled her reaction, saying he was a natural actor and ‘100 percent Fezco.’ Although “Euphoria” is his acting debut, Cloud excels in his performance, quickly rising up to become a fan favourite.
3 Jacob Elordi Found It Hard To Be Mean To Alexa Demie On Set
Although he plays an emotionally-repressed, hateful character on-screen, Jacob Elordi has admitted that it was difficult for him to be mean to Alexa Demie on set. The two got along well during filming and Elordi has mentioned that he wished they had more cheerful scenes together, such as going to the movies as a couple.
2 Zendaya Was On Sam Levinson’s Vision Board Before She Was Cast
Even before the actors on the show were cast, Levinson had a vision board made which included a number of actresses as well as a picture of Zendaya. This shows that “Euphoria” would not have been the same without Zendaya’s melancholic and emotionally-versatile performance.
1 Shooting At The Carnival Was A Nightmare For The Cast And Crew
Levinson and Zendaya have both mentioned that filming the scenes at the carnival was no easy feat. The sheer size of the carnival was around 125,000 square feet which made it difficult to move all the cameras and equipment around. The air was also extremely cold and dusty, causing Zendaya to have to resort to using an inhaler.