Elizaveta Neretin, who portrays Ukrainian double agent Oleksandra Balakin in Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount+ series ‘Lioness,’ shared that the show's creator gave her significant freedom to craft the character’s personal history. Neretin, whose own background is half Russian and half Ukrainian, found this creative autonomy crucial in portraying the complex emotional landscape of a character caught between allegiances amid the ongoing conflict.
Neretin’s involvement with Sheridan began after a previous role in the pilot of ‘Mayor of Kingstown.’ Sheridan, impressed by her performance, encouraged her to complete her acting studies at The Juilliard School, promising future collaboration. Following her graduation, Neretin reconnected with Sheridan, who then offered her the role of Oleksandra.
Crafting Oleksandra's Identity
The character of Oleksandra faces intense scrutiny, particularly in a scene where she reacts with deep offense to being called “Russian” as an insult. Neretin explained that embodying this pain required her to channel the feelings of her mother, her mother’s family, and her friends experiencing the realities of the war. While Sheridan provided general ideas for Oleksandra's motivations, Neretin developed the specifics of her backstory, including the loss of her father in combat and her brothers serving as soldiers. “He trusted me with that,” Neretin stated, referring to Sheridan’s confidence in her ability to interpret and portray Oleksandra’s truth.
Despite the fictional nature of the series, the war in Ukraine significantly influenced Neretin’s portrayal. Though she is Canadian and works in the United States, the conflict remains a personal reality due to her family’s presence in Ukraine. This connection informed her creation of Oleksandra’s narrative, making the process less challenging than it might otherwise have been.
Character's Role and Relationships
When Oleksandra’s own family is endangered following the exposure of Joe McNamara’s (Zoe Saldaña) identity, she is reluctantly recruited by the Lioness team. Neretin expressed that Oleksandra’s preferred outcome would have been for the team to simply take her intel and leave her alone, allowing the consequences of her information to unfold independently. The character’s assertion to Joe, “A soldier’s oath is their family’s oath,” reflects a deep-seated belief that underscores her difficult choices and the integration of her professional and personal lives.
Neretin also discussed the dynamic between Oleksandra and Joe. She noted that while there is a degree of mutual respect, Joe also harbors judgment towards Oleksandra, particularly regarding her methods of gathering information. Neretin suggested that this complex relationship stems from Joe’s initial ability to compartmentalize Oleksandra's work from her family, a separation that Oleksandra herself could not maintain. The actress teased that Oleksandra’s true allegiances will remain ambiguous until the end of the season.