Alexa Demie is addressing the rumors that she plans on retiring from acting.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Sunday (May 31), the 35-year-old Euphoria star was asked about the rumor that she plans to walk away from Hollywood after a moment from a 2020 podcast episode was reshared out of context online.
“Should we just ride with it?" she jokingly told the magazine, before tracing back the misunderstanding to earlier frustrations in her career and feelings of uncertainty about her place in the industry.
In the profile, Demie recalled to journalist Seija Rankin that, long before Euphoria, she came across a character breakdown for a leading role that omitted all Hispanic backgrounds from the list of acceptable ethnicities.
“I was reading it, and it really hit me — and I kept having that experience," she said. “I was sick of going into those rooms, and this was during that time when you're young and every few months you're just like, ‘I’m quitting, I’m quitting.’ But knowing me, I never would have quit. I’m more of the energy of like, ‘No, I’m going to show you I can do it.’”
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson told THR, "I think there's a misconception about Alexa, and I've always rejected the framework of, 'Oh, Alexa should have what Sydney or someone else has, because that's a very high school mentality to bring to the craft."
He added, "I think Alexa is doing everything that she wants, and if she doesn't have something, it's because she doesn't want it. I see her as completely fulfilled."
Demie also pushed back on outside interpretations of her visibility and ambition, particularly mentioning that her friends would send her online content that discussed her supposed lack of fame.
“It’s like, did you ever think that I don’t want it?” she says. “People really take the authority out of your hands. What happened to my ability to choose? I like my life like this, and I wouldn’t change it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, she added, “There are goals, and things that I want, but I’m choosing to keep that private.”
The final episode of Euphoria’s third season—its presumed series finale—airs on Sunday (May 31) on HBO.
