IN CONVERSATION WITH RACHEL STUBINGTON

interview by JANA LETONJA

Rachel Stubington is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting new faces on television, thanks to her standout role as Summer in Shrinking. As part of the show’s acclaimed ensemble, she brings a compelling mix of sharp comedic timing and emotional authenticity to a series celebrated for its honest, human storytelling. Shrinking has become one of Apple TV+’s most talked-about comedies, and with the season finale approaching and her character taking on an increasingly significant role, Rachel is proving herself as a talent to watch, effortlessly balancing humour, nuance, and emotional depth in a breakout performance.

Shrinking has resonated with audiences in such a big way. What drew you to the role of Summer?

Summer cares so much about the people around her, and that has always been my through line to her. She would hide a body for anyone on that show with no questions asked.

The first scene I remember doing as Summer was her offering housing in her “V or A,” and I remember thinking that that line was very reminiscent of Shakespearean prose, and I want to live in her brain for as long as Apple will let me.

How would you describe Summer in your own words?

Summer would make fake LinkedIn profiles to stalk her friends’ exes, but then get so into her fake persona’s career path that she builds them a corporate empire. Summer feels no hangxiety after blacking out, no matter how many times she called the bald bouncer “Vin Diesel.” Summer has written lots of One Direction fan fiction in her past.

As the season progresses, we see more layers to her. What was most important for you in shaping that evolution?

I always want to make sure her heart is represented well. She wears it on her sleeve. She loves Alice, and that has been so easy for me because I love Lukita. She is just the warmest, most talented person alive, so it’s not hard to want to be in her orbit. Their friendship is so important to me, and I’m grateful to the show for creating such a nuanced and genuine friendship between two high schoolers. I also love Summer’s edge. I’m so excited to read scripts as they come in, I literally command Summer’s name, find her joke about anal, and then sigh with relief. I hope she never loses her humour, while also hoping that she gets some therapy one day.

The show balances comedy with emotional depth. How do you approach that tone as an actor?

Truly, my favourite thing about this show is the laughs that come from the most gut-wrenching scenes. I think it’s such a powerful reminder that our sense of humour will follow us even in our darkest moments, making things a little bit easier. As for approaching Summer, she is always going to say the wrong thing, so I try to find her emotional bottom and then brace myself to talk about “learning how to put in a tampon while driving.”

Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from Summer in the finale?

I’ve been starved for attention, so I’m considering leaking the finale script on my Instagram story. Kidding, Bill, I swear. I’m sweating as I say this, without giving anything that could get me fired. You get to see her and Alice come to terms with growing up and navigating friendships that evolve and change, but are still good. I think all the characters really grapple with change, and the finale isn’t any different.

Beyond Shrinking, how has your journey into acting shaped you so far?

I got into acting because I saw a production of Annie as a kid and felt such a white-hot rage for the girl playing the title character, and I have now based my life around the ego that arose in me that day. People say that jealousy is a disease, but I’ve shaped my entire life around it, so do with that what you will. I’m really so happy when I’m acting and love getting to throw myself into new communities of people who have also dedicated their lives to this very scary, very uncertain thing. More importantly, being on a set gets to make you the worst person to watch movies with, and I wear that obnoxiousness with pride.

What kinds of roles or stories are you most drawn to at this stage in your career?

I love comedy. I want to say the most atrocious, embarrassing things and have people laugh at me for the rest of my life. Being part of an ensemble that is so tuned into working as a team and teeing each other up for success has spoiled me in so many ways, and I want to keep being part of those teams.

How do you navigate the transition from emerging talent to being part of a widely recognised show?

As I’ve stated, I love attention, so it’s great. People who come up to me and tell me they love Shrinking make me so happy. I think everyone in some way has an experience with grief, and I’ve heard some beautiful stories about people’s relationship to Jimmy and his arc.

How do you stay grounded while your career is gaining momentum?

Middle schoolers followed me through a Target, calling me Ed Sheeran, so the world has a way of keeping me humble.

Looking ahead, what would you love to challenge yourself with next?

I’m actually writing a book right now. I’ve always been envious of the pretentious people at Alfred’s who make it a point to let everyone know that they’re writing, and now I get to be one of them. It’s a comedy about chasing happiness, infused with a disgusting amount of pop culture references and, as of right now, spelling errors. I also had an idea for a book about this mouse that wants a cookie, but I’m going to focus on my first idea as of right now.

TEAM CREDITS

talent RACHEL STUBINGTON
photography KELVIN BULLUCK
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA