Canadian actress and musician Ezra Franky is currently garnering plenty of attention thanks to her central role in the smash hit Netflix series ‘Untamed’.

Franky’s character is at the heart of the show and she stars opposite Eric Bana, who plays a National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Special Agent who is trying to solve a murder case. Since its release the show has dominated the streaming charts and already been renewed for a second season.

I caught up with Ezra to talk about her role in the show, discuss the core themes, and find out more about her music….

‘Untamed’ revolves around your character. There’s an incident in the first episode, and that starts the mystery for the season. Tell us what you can without spoiling too much for those that haven’t seen it yet…

There’s not a lot that you get to before the mystery begins. My character is very woods based. She’s spent years and years in the woods and really nobody knows her better than the forest and vice versa. She is the most well-versed in the trees, out of all of the characters, and has spent her entire childhood growing up in that space, which I think is a really unique perspective. There’s a lot of characters that are new to the space; we spend a lot of time with Lily’s character Naya who’s very new to the trees so it’s nice to see a contrast with somebody who’s spent years pioneering.

Your storyline happens in parallel with everyone else’s, which means you spend a lot of your scenes isolated from the rest of the cast. What was that like for you and how challenging was it?

It was definitely challenging. It was odd. It was very meditative at times. I spent a lot of time alone in makeup preparing for the scenes, but also once it got down to being on set, a lot of the time it was just myself, or it was myself and Eric, or it was just me and the crew. Ultimately it was pretty reflective of Lucy’s experience because she is such a loner. She spends her whole life being her own community so to have no other cast around me for the majority of the time probably fueled back into Lucy’s character because it was reflective of her real circumstance.

You’re required to communicate non-verbally for most of your scenes, which must be a challenge as actors usually use their voices. How did you manage to craft that non-verbal communication?

The moments before you shoot are so important and just having the discipline to take those moments to yourself before stepping into the scene, because there is no banter with another cast member to get you into character. It is you. In this circumstance, it was me and it was the woods.

The reception to the show has been universally fantastic and it’s already been renewed for a second season. How do you feel about being part of such a huge show?

It’s really cool. I am so in awe at the entire process, and I feel like it’s a big learning curve. It’s been, I think, less stressful than I maybe thought it was gonna be, or more exciting. It’s been very welcoming and it’s been received so well. I tend not to read a lot of the reviews because feel like it takes me out of the present moment and gets me too into, that media side of things, which I’m not super well-versed on. It’s been wonderful.

You mentioned earlier about working with Eric Bana, who of course is a huge Hollywood star. Did you get to spend much time with him and what did you learn?

I did get to spend some time with him. My biggest takeaway from watching his process was just the way that he interacted with his space, with his coworkers, with the crew, with everybody… it was so warm. There was such a sense of this is all a project that we are all trying to make. We all want the same outcome. We all want it to be good. We all are invested in this. It’s something that I was witnessing and that clearly comes out of years and years of working in the industry and cultivating those relationships and really nurturing them in the moment. He’s doing it so well and that is something I will take into, hopefully, the rest of my career.

Now you’ve been a part of something that’s been this big has it given you an appetite and a hunger to do more things like this and to really grow in this space?

Oh, absolutely. A hundred percent. Every single time that we’re on set, it’s fuel back into why we do this. There is a lot of rejection in this industry, in this career, in acting in general. So much of it is putting yourself out there and then being okay, not receiving back or not even hearing anything. It just comes with it. Every time we do get to be on set, it’s (a reminder that) this is why I do it. After this release, you get another hit of that like, ‘oh, this is why I’m pursuing it in the first place’. So 100%.

Aside from acting, you’re also a musician. You released your ‘acoustish’ project this year. What are your plans for music and where does that aspect of your talent come from?

My music is very ongoing. Constantly. I am always writing or I’m always with friends, collaborating or producing. I would love to pursue another project after this album. I’m honestly always just searching for inspiration and being okay with whatever inspiration comes. I’m always making stuff.

Are there any artists that you would say you’ve gravitated to that have really influenced your music and your sound?

Yeah, absolutely. My sound, it really varies. My first couple of releases sound very different than my most recent ones, but I’m always so drawn by lyricism, and the poetry that people put into their music is always my number one fuel. I love storytelling. I love the expression that comes from music. My ultimate goal is to voice or put into words, feelings that other people can resonate with, maybe they haven’t been able to pinpoint before. Songwriting wise, I really love Matt Maltese. He’s a really great songwriter. Big Thief, the band with Adrianne Lenker, who is a really good songwriter. All of the pop girls in the media right now are doing so well because they’re incredible songwriters, and incredible performers, obviously.

Music has really been dominated by manufactured artists for so long and now AI is starting to creep in, but I feel that audiences are gravitating back to songwriting and storytelling. Do you think that’s the case?

Absolutely. Yeah. I think the introduction of streaming services made the necessity for the radio pop music to be pushed through so that it’s played on mainstream radio. Now people get to choose and listen to whatever they want, and they have the option to go seek out what they want. I think that there’s a lot more focus on what people have to say because everybody wants to feel heard. Everybody wants to connect with the songwriter. At least I do. I feel like a lot of people feel that way.

Ezra FrankyCredit: Daniel Mosquin

Music has traditionally been gate-kept by the record labels and radio stations. Streaming has created more possibilities and allows artists to make whatever music they want, free from being pigeon-holed. Is that freeing for you?

At this stage of my career, 100%. I think that’s the importance of making music that just feels authentic to you right now because it’s the most sustainable way to make music. Sometimes when you get pigeonholed into a specific genre or through a label that wants to fill some gap that they have in their discography or something, that isn’t always the music that resonates, and you’ll get burnt out a lot quicker than if you are just speaking from the heart and from who you are and from the soul. I think audiences receive that far better and also it’s more long term and for me, more fulfilling. I can’t speak for other people.

You married your acting and music worlds together when you made the short film ‘Kanagawa’ for your song of the same name. This project also showcases your talent behind the camera. Was it a lot of pressure to take on all of those roles?

It was a lot of pressure (laughs). It was really fun though. It’s one of my favorite projects I’ve ever made. It was part of my bachelor’s degree in film and, I made it with one of my best friends. We were so invested in the project. We co-directed and we co-wrote it. Collaborating like that with somebody else is so fun and challenging. I acted and I edited and did the music. Having something that is entirely you and then presenting that to people is very vulnerable. I think you don’t achieve that sense of having made something if you don’t put yourself out there. It was a really fun project. Lots of pressure though.

At this point I have to ask, is there anything you can’t do?

There’s a gap in my knowledge, in the dancing realm (laughs) but we’re getting there.

I feel like that’s something you’ll be able to get to grips with and we’ll talk down the line about a dance video you’ve made for your new single…

Yes. I will hold onto that (laughs) .

Beyond ‘Untamed’ and the music you’re putting out, what do the next few months hold for you?

At the moment I am back in the industry, back reading scripts and auditioning and doing the day in, day out of acting. I just finished my undergrad in the spring so I have the whole world set out for me. It is my oyster at the moment. I think just being in the summer sun at the moment and looking for the next big project. Looking for whatever else comes towards me and continuing to stay creative, I think is my goal.

‘Untamed’ has surely opened doors for you?

Yeah, hopefully.

What’s the one thing you want people to take away from ‘Untamed’ once they’ve watched it?

I think, the one thing I think people should take away is the family dynamic that exists within ‘Untamed’ and just how important it is to do everything for your family. That is the biggest message I think that the writers are aiming for and that we were all hoping to portray, whether your family is your community or a partner or a child or the forest. I think just finding that sense of belonging.

‘Untamed’ is available on Netflix now and Ezra’s music is available to stream on digital services.