When I create a character, I like to put myself into all parts of them so that my performance can be more organic.

Eva Ariel Binder

Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Ben Cope | Stylist: Amanda Lim | Hair: Frank Galasso | Makeup: Kendal Fedail

Acting is in her blood, so it is no surprise that Eva Ariel Binder booked commercials and a coveted role in Grey’s Anatomy as a little kid. Now, she plays Shay in the heart-wrenching series Dear Edward on Apple TV+ based on the novel by Ann Napolitano. Binder talked to NYOTA about working with Colin O’Brien, releasing heavy moments after filming and writing feature films.

What initially sparked your interest in acting?

Acting wasn’t one of those things where I went up to my parents and said, “Hey, I wanna do Acting” I actually grew up with it. When I was in preschool, my mom used to teach the younger kids and me little musical theater numbers that we eventually ended up doing in a cabaret show, and a family friend of ours had brought their manager, and she fell in love with me. For years she  kept asking who is that little girl I love her, and finally, my mom put me into commercials! I started to book quite a lot of national commercials, so my parents and I decided to take it to the next level. We then reached out to Laura, the manager I had met when I was little, and she signed me right away. Soon thereafter, I was filming a Toyota commercial and, on the same day, received a call to audition for Grey’s Anatomy. Funny story after I wrapped the commercial, we jumped in the car, I learned my lines driving from set to the casting office, and then as you know, I ended up booking Sofia Sloan Torres. That is what really sparked my interest in acting for the rest of my life. But on top of all of that, my mom used to be on Broadway, and my dad owns a post-production company! So I’ve been immersed in the industry my whole life, and I love it! 

Our readers can currently see you in Dear Edward. Are there similarities between you and your character Shay?

When I create a character, I like to put myself into all parts of them so that my performance can be more organic. Shay is a very loyal, honest person, and she is a young woman with goals and that is pretty much how I am as a person, but Shay is also a lot different from me in many ways. She is very outspoken and blunt. She goes to public school and doesn’t have a great relationship with her father. In life, all of these things do not relate to me, so to create all the layers that Shay has that I don’t, I journaled. I journaled about her life, her life at public school, her derby, and her relationship with her parents. This definitely helped me create the subtext that Shay has throughout the show. 

Did you read the book to help prepare you for the role?

Yes, I did read the book, and yes, the book did help me in some ways to prepare for the role!  In both the book and show, Shay is the underdog with a lot of emotions, but the book explains a little more about her past with her family and her baggage. I used that information to help me create Shay and her background, but the series is very different from the book, so I very loosely used the book to form Shay. 

A great thing about Shay is that she treats Edward like a kid versus a plane crash survivor. Did you and your co-star Colin O’Brien talk through how Shay and Edward’s friendship would develop prior to filming?’

Colin and I actually never discussed our scenes together! The second we met, something just clicked. Instead of having to create the chemistry that Shay and Edward have, it kinda just came naturally. Throughout filming, we went to movies, parks, we had dinner together, we played video games (which was awesome), we talked all the time, and that too also helped to create that friendship we see on the screen. Whenever Colin and I are doing scenes, nothing ever feels forced or weird. It’s like a game of tennis, and we are just bouncing the ball back and forth. Colin is definitely one of my favorite people to act with.  

One second, Edward isn’t in Shay’s life, and the next, he is sleeping on her bedroom floor each night. For those early scenes, how did you step into Shay’s shoes and figure out how she would react to that moment?

Well, let’s face it, that’s a really weird situation to be in, right? Having a boy that you just met come into your room and ask to sleep on your floor and then ask you to say goodnight, stupid! Yeah, that was a really weird situation to be in. It was actually one of my audition scenes. I just had to really live in that moment of awkwardness and not be afraid of the silence because, really, let’s face it, that’s where the magic happens, right? The uncomfortableness, the tension, the entry about this boy, and the fact that Shay didn’t really have any friends and longed for some kind of companionship. So in preparing, I just had to know all these things and let them live inside me and see what happens. 

Shay has many different layers to her, and that is shown when her dad comes back, and she gives up a lot of things she loves. Do you think there will be a point where Shay does not idolize her father as much?

Ok, spoiler alert I can’t really answer that one for you! If I were to make a prediction for many seasons down the road, I would think at some point, Shay would realize her dad is not all that and then would have to work through processing that kind of information about a parent. But that’s just something I would guess I have no idea!! For me, as Shay, yes, I could see it, but as far as the writers go, who knows what they are planning! 

Dear Edward is heart-wrenching and heartwarming at the same time. How do you balance staying in character while filming and also leaving that dark headspace when you’re done?

I like to have a real experience when I am in scenes, and not just “acting,” so when I go through a heavy moment, I do need to release it. The way I let go of all the dark energy from the storyline is I meditate, and I am a crazy crystal fanatic as well, so I use healing crystals. I also just go out and have fun, whether that be going to a Broadway show or just going out to lunch, or playing in the park across the street. 

Do you have any acting inspirations that you hope to work with one day?

Yes yes and YES! Oh my goodness I would love to work with Gal Gadot! She is a bad A..! Three of my favorites are Nicole Kidman, Gal Gadot, and Angelina Jolie. One day I hope to be a huge role model for younger girls like they are to me!  

Are there other jobs in the film and television industry you would like to explore outside of acting?

Yes! I am actually planning to act and direct in a few feature films I have already written when I am older. 

Absolutely I am already planning for that! I have written two features and a short that I will be writing, directing, acting, and producing in when I am older. I already have different actors that I would like to have acted in the roles at some point! I already have some of the actors I would like to cast, but hopefully, they don’t outgrow the role before I’m ready to film it.  

What advice do you have for aspiring actors?

Don’t give up. In this industry, it is very easy to give up. There is a lot more rejection than success. You must believe in yourself and love what you do!