"The Expecting" Star AnnaSophia Robb Chats About Her New Series On Quibi

"The Expecting" (formerly titled "Emma") follows the dark journey of a young woman (AnnaSophia Robb) down on her luck and pregnant under mysterious circumstances. She must deal with the increasingly disturbing effects of her pregnancy and the potential conspiracy surrounding it. Mary Harron ("Alias Grace") directs and co-executive produces the Quibi series.

Video Transcript

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BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Hey, everybody, welcome back to "Build at Home." I'm your host Brittany Jones-Cooper, and this is my home in New York City. I'm here social distancing like everybody else. Today, I'm going to be talking with AnnaSophia Robb. She has so many amazing things going on. But first, I want to remind you guys about the campaign No Kid Hungry. Because of school cancellations, 336 million school meals have been missed. There's a lot of kids in need, a lot of communities in need. So if you're looking for a way to help, if you want to donate, visit NoKidHungry.org.

Now AnnaSophia, I want to welcome you to the screen. First, I'll want to check in. Where are you? How's it been going?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: I'm in LA. It's been-- I normally live in New York, but I just happened to be here when everything started to-- everyone started to quarantine. So this is where I am. But it's been weird, so far. I think-- I feel really blessed, though. I mean, I think-- like, I don't have children. So I'm not looking out for little ones or try to homeschool. And, you know, I haven't-- well, I guess I was supposed to do a job, but it's on hold. I just-- I feel very thankful for where I'm at, and it's pretty crazy. These are different times.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah. Is there anyone there with you?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yes. My boyfriend, and one of my best friends is also our roommate. So we've actually gotten along really well. I feel great about that.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: What have you guys have been doing to kind of-- what have you been doing to stay entertained?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: All-- I mean, all kinds of things. I try-- I've been doing a lot of, like, Instagram. I know it sounds silly, but, like, Instagram live workout videos. I try to do-- like, I try to do one exercise a day just to like-- I feel like it makes me feel a lot better. I think Ryan Heffington of the Sweat Spot, he-- literally he has a studio. I can see it from my house, and it's obviously empty. Everybody just dances together. And it's like so beautiful to see. You can see the number of people. There the other day, it was like 6,000 people. And everybody's like shaking their butts all across the world at Insta.

It makes me-- it's just like one of those-- it's just a weird corona-bearing some sort of energy together, and-- but it brings joy to my day. So I try to do that.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: That is so good. The dancing thing is something I've been doing a lot, too.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah, I think everybody has.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Right. And you feel a little crazy, but then you're like, well, what's the alternative? Like, I have to move.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. You're like, OK. Well, I guess I'm just going to, like, learn a new Beyonce video or, like, I've been watching Ciara. There's no way I'm going to come out of corona.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Oh my God, it's like you're in my head. I was watching homecoming for, like, the 20th time, trying to--

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: You're like, how does this work?

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Still doesn't look right, but I'm here alone, so, like, why not?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah, truly. Truly, why not?

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: And really quick, too, what's your mood, though? Are you feeling anxious at all, or just kind of positive? What's your sort of vibe?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: I think it changes from day to day. I think-- I mean, I feel when I talk to family or friends or what I'm reading, I feel like everyone's sort of going through a lot of different emotions. One of my friends sent me an article about-- I think it was "The New York Times." No, it was in the "Harvard Review" about grief. Like, this is a time of grief. And I thought that was really interesting, because I didn't really attribute it to that. But yet, I think there are highs and lows. I was driving through LA by myself yesterday night, and it made me, like, so sad, just so sad. Because you can see all the-- the only people who were out were-- a lot of them were homeless. And it was just like, man, they-- I think this time has just exacerbated the inequality in our country, which we all knew about.

But I think now is a really stark time, and I think that people who we can hear have voices, and the people who are silenced are really silenced. People who are in abusive homes or children are just like it-- if you start thinking about it, it's just really heavy. But I think there are-- people are really trying to be proactive and trying to help, but it's also like I don't know what to do. I have no idea what to do.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: That's the feeling, and you just-- I think you just have to find one thing, like here at Verizon, you know, it's the No Kid Hungry campaign. That's what we're sort of pushing people towards. And I'm like, you just have to find one thing. Because there are, like you said, there's so many issues that we're holding up a mirror to right now that it can get overwhelming.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: It-- yeah. And I know American Red Cross is also looking for people to donate blood, because it had to close a lot of their centers. So there's so many different organizations. When I said I don't know what to do, it's like-- there was a quote in my high school that said-- and my friend and I always used to make fun of it. And it was like, you have to know what to do when you don't know what to do. What the hell does that mean?

But, at the same time as I've gotten older, it's like a lot of times in life, you don't know what to do. And then it's like, well, what choice do you make from there? You look and see what other people are doing and where they're helping. And there's Food Corps, and there's Global Citizen and there's No Kid Hungry and there are hospitals that you can log on and you can donate. And I know Big Bud Press is clothing that I love. And they're using all their fabric, and they're making masks for hospital workers. And it's just like, great. That's so cool. I'm going to support them.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah, that's so great. I love that. My mom has actually been sewing masks, you know? There's a lot of people at home that have, you know, she's a huge crafter, and it's like, yeah, do what you can do. Whatever you can do, help, you know?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Truly. Yeah. So there's like-- you don't have to necessarily give money. I think, like, checking in on people or, like, the Prison Fellowship is fantastic. And you can write notes to inmates and call your government to ask for more, like, phone time because they're no longer allowed to have visitors. And I mean, they're already in isolation. And that-- and also, it would be so terrifying because the health conditions aren't great there. So support people who are in really dire situations.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Wow, I had not even thought about that scenario inside of prisons, them being more isolated than typically.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. Rikers, like, I think they have a case. I mean, it's everywhere. And I know suicide rates have gone way up. So I think reaching out to people who, you know, have mental-- you know, who this isolation period will be especially difficult for them. How about, like, the Suicide Prevention Hotline seeing how you can help in that way. I don't know. I just-- that would be, yeah.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I do. I do like this conversation, though, because very quickly, you realize there are a lot of ways you can help. There are a lot of things you can do. You know, if you actually feel empowered to be engaged now. I think more so than a lot of other times in history.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Truly. I mean, we're at this sort of critical point. And it feels like a critical point where we can take a couple of steps back as a society, evaluate what really matters to us, really see the flaws, and then use our time to really enter those places that need help, even if it's just virtually. I mean, we all live on our phones anyway, so even if it's just making a phone call. I try to FaceTime my grandparents, too, because I can't go visit them. So they luckily know how to work FaceTime. And I think that's even just a small thing that you can just be present for somebody.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I love that. Where are they at?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: My grandfather's in Virginia, and my grandmother is in Boulder.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Nice. I love that. They must be really proud of you. I continue to just be impressed by your body of work. I've been watching Little Fires Everywhere, like so many people. The timing of that is really kind of perfect.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: I know. I was like, this is kind of horrible, but I bet they're-- like viewership is up a lot. Also, because it's a great show. I mean, that was-- it was such a, like, dream come true to be a part-- just a small part-- of that project. Because, I mean, talk about, like, encouragement and empowerment. Those watching Reese and Kerry and all the women-- Liz, like, everybody working together. It was just a profound experience. I shadowed Reese on a couple of different episodes, and just to learn from her, because I play her. If you haven't seen the show or you haven't seen episode five, this is what's coming.

I-- they do a flashback episode. So Tiffany Boone and myself play younger versions of Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. And so, I was able to watch her work, and then not only watch her performance and, you know, as an actor, being like, OK, whatever her mannerisms, her voice, the energy of this character, the decisions. But then also from, like a produsorial standpoint, creative, just watching all of these women work so closely together and building something that really talks about challenging things-- race and class and motherhood and the ugly parts of yourself.

And having those conversations behind the camera. You know, watching a scene and you're like, OK, well what do we really want this to be the-- you know, the-- I was there when Mia was talking about talking about Elena's privilege, and just being able to listen to all of the producers talk about how they want this to go. And the writers-- the writers were so intimately involved. It was just so special, so unique.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah, really, that unique for you. You've been on a lot of different sets, but this one, it had a different charge, a different energy.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. I think it had a different-- there was a lot of care. There's something-- I love men, I do. There's something, though, when women are in power, I think, and in charge. And in this group is unique of, like, raising up other women the best. Like, I've never felt so sort of like, yes, that was great. OK, let's try this. Let's do this. You're like-- and just feeling like I was meant to be there.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah. That's so cool.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: I feel like a lot of people felt that way, too.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah, and as you mentioned, so, your episodes haven't aired yet. I think you're-- the one that airs tonight, I think you're in.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Already aired Episode 5. I'm in the first part, maybe like a flashback, and it's saucy, and you see that. And then next week's Episode 6 is a split between Tiffany Boone and myself.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: And can I just say that that next week ep, you guys do such an amazing job. It's cool to hear that you shadowed Reese, because you are playing the younger version of her, and you nailed it. There's just so many little small things that I can tell that you studied. So was that sort of really fun to get to bring those parts of her into this character?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: It-- yeah, it was. It was also the most nerve-racking experience, because Reece is, such a, like, hero of mine. She's been working since she was young. She's done so many amazing projects. She's-- as a woman, she's-- I think really brought women to the forefront of the conversation in entertainment. I just love and admire her. And then, she's just a fantastic actress. So it's like, ah, I cannot believe this is happening.

And I think Tiffany and I did a podcast for, like, they have a conversation about the show. And we're just saying how just like terrified we both were, because we were portraying people we really admire. And then, like, just wanting to do it justice. You know, wanting to make them proud and do a good job ourselves, and then also be true to the character at different levels. So I'm glad you felt that way.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I did. And I think too, because it's such an emotional era in her life as far as mothering goes, and her, you know, kind of struggling with that and balancing her career. She's in this very vulnerable place, and she's different than the character we see in present day who, like, has all our shit together. So you really sort of showed us this intimate side of her, and then also, you were able to just bring so many parts of her to it. I was like, well done.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Thank you. Yeah, it's a crazy episode. I've never been, like, pregnant before. Like, I have kids, and suddenly there-- one day, we had nine babies on set. Because they're only allowed to work for a certain period of time. I literally-- I have never been so discombobulated on a set before, ever. I just-- I remember at the end of the day, I was just like-- oh, gosh. I don't know-- I don't know what I'm doing. There are babies crying, they're holding, they're, like, ready to run. You don't want them to-- Yeah, but it was a learning experience, and one I very much treasure.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Oh yeah, and I mean, there's a scene where you have all four kids, and she's juggling everything. And again, it makes you think about all those parents who are at home right now with their babies all day, and it's like, you're a hero.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Hero. And I have-- I know a bunch of people who are pregnant right now, and they're about to be due. Like, I know three people. And you just think, bless you. Like, God bless you, that whoa. I can't-- I'm like, I'm so happy I'm not a parent right now. Sorry. But what a great time to spend with your kids, truly.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I'm laughing so hard, because I feel the exact same. But, like, yeah, you're like, I don't want it. No offense, but like, I just have gotten to focus on myself for the last couple of weeks, and it's been kind of nice.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah, I know. yeah, my cousin, she's spending time, though, with her kids. And she's like, yeah, we're still in our PJs. I'm working. It's like, your kids are great. that's so-- for a working parent, to spend so much time, I don't know. I've heard so many different stories.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I know, Speaking of parenting, you have another character who's pregnant-- Emma.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah, I don't know. I think Little Fires really open the floodgates, because my last three projects I've been a mom, which is sweet.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Oh, really.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. Yeah. But Emma-- Well, it's now called "The Expecting." It'll be on Quibi. And I think they're releasing it around Halloween, but I'm not-- I mean, who knows? This--

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah, who knows? But it's interesting, because this show is going to be on Quibi, and there's been a lot of talk about Quibi. It's where each episode is under 10 minutes, right?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. It's 10 minutes or less.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Yeah. So what was your experience like working on a show like that, or have you filmed all of it yet?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: So, it was-- it felt like an Indie movie. It wasn't-- I mean, the frame is different. So we just had to frame for vertical and horizontal, so it was just a big frame, basically. But everything else felt kind of similar to a movie. It was just very fast-paced, and there were a lot more scenes, I realized. Because if you have 10 minutes to tell a chunk of the storyline, there are a lot more, like edits in terms of this is how. And it might be because it's a sort of horror-thriller genre where it's a little bit quicker. But the setup time you have, you know, if you're looking out a window is the same amount as, you know, it's like a two-minute conversation between two actors.

But the schedule, it's just-- you're trying to work with a tight schedule, tight turnaround. But all of that said, I'm really excited to see it. And I think-- I'm interested to see how the pace and the sort of energy works. Because there is a ton of cliffhangers. I mean, at the end of every single episode it's a cliffhanger. And so you're sort of at the junction. But it's the length of a, like, a full movie.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I love that. And so, it's a thriller. Can you give us, like, a general sort of breakdown of the plot?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. I kind of compare it to "Rosemary's Baby" meets "Stranger Things." Yeah, it's why I ended up shaving my head. My head, my head, my hair-- for it, so now it's growing back in the time or quarantine. But it's about mental health. It's about the uncanny. It's kind of a body horror for [AUDIO OUT].

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Interesting. That sounds terrifying.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah, when I read the script, I was like, this is really cool. I don't feel like there are any movies about, like the-- I mean, pregnancy is so beautiful, but like the horrors of pregnancy and what-- if you are sort of exacerbating that in your mind, what happens. And, like, your emotions, and food cravings, and leaking blood. And all, you know, and actually giving birth. All of those things.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: All very serious.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: And the doctor. Yeah.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: And so wait. You said you shaved your head?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Was that in-- like, is that something that happened in the show, or is it something you did before?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. I shaved it before our first day of filming because I-- there are too many different stages of hair, and then I have hair loss. And then I'm bald. Like, I have shaved head. And yeah, so I got to shave it. And it was a wild-- I honestly, looking back, I'm like, I can't belie I did that. But I kind of recommend it. It's really cathartic. I didn't have any emotional reaction, to be honest. Like, I thought I was, but it came off. It felt kind of like a-- you know, if you're driving a car and you could just spin off. It's like, oh, I'm in charge. If I wanted to, I could just, like, cut the wheel, but you don't because you're driving, and there are other people around.

It's the same as like, if I have a pair of scissors, I could literally chop off all of my hair right now, but I don't. But I did this time. What a weird feeling.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: I mean, we assign so much to our hair. I have heard that it's just very freeing, because then it's like, well, there's nothing to hide behind anymore. It's like it's just this is me.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. It's-- really, like, it made me dress a little bit tougher when it was really short. I'm happier with this length, but it's interesting to see people's reaction. Like even walking down the street. I had a lot of, like, older women, like most older women have shorter haircuts give compliments. Like, oh, I cut my hair when I was short, like there's-- I got a lot of comments from women of, like, empowerment. Or, like, oh, I wanted to do that with my hair.

And then not as many, I don't know. People make assumptions when you're little and blonde, I think, and I haven't got those as much. So very nice.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Interesting experience, and I love that you did it for a role, and I can't wait to see this show. It sounds terrifying, but also, I'm just really excited for Quibi and just to experience what that's like, you know?

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah. I think it'll be-- I think it'll be fun. I mean, it comes-- it launches this week. Holy cow. Yeah.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: April 6, right? Yeah.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Yeah, April 6 it launches. And they have so much content. So many people are doing really interesting things. And what I like about Quibi is that they want-- there's-- I think there's a lot of creative freedom. They want to have a diverse body of work. Mary Harron did American Psycho. She was our director, and she's, like, so cool. She's just-- she shaved her head with me [AUDIO OUT].

Yeah, which is just-- you know, to have that sort of fraternity was really special.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: That is so cool. Well, I can't wait to see the show. In the meantime, we've got "Little Fires Everywhere," which, there's a new episode out today. And then next Wednesday, make sure you guys check out that one, because you really do an amazing job. And then, we'll keep a lookout for the show on Quibi. In the meantime, stay inside, stay safe, happy workouts.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Happy workouts.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: We'll see you next time.

ANNASOPHIA ROBB: Bye.

BRITTANY JONES-COOPER: Bye.