Actress Britt Lower gravitates toward the offbeat. Onscreen, she’s played the split-soul Helly in Severance — a role that earned her an Emmy nomination — as well as tech expert Tanya Sitkowsky in the CBS show Unforgettable and Liz Greenberg in the surreal comedy Man Seeking Woman. She’s also written and directed the dreamlike short film Circus Person, for which she built sets, improvised with a troupe, and even guided audiences as a ringmaster. Her fascination with the circus began as a teenager traveling with her mother’s face-painting caravan, and it came full circle when she spent a month performing with Circus Flora and the Flying Wallendas during a Severance hiatus. Her latest endeavor? Being a model for Theory’s fall 2025 campaign: a collection featuring sculptural knits and roomy trousers.

Shot by Joshua Woods and styled by Jasmine Hassett, the campaign captures Lower against the rhythm of New York — a city she credits with shaping her as an artist. Since its founding in 1997, Theory has rooted its collections in that same energy, crafting pieces in its Meatpacking District design studio. “New York has truly shaped me as an artist,” Lower says. “Understanding that Theory draws inspiration from the city — its architecture and the art of everyday life — means a lot to me.”

You’ve said New York has shaped you as an artist. Is there a specific moment — an audition, a street corner, a late night — that you look back on and think, That made me?

I was living in Brooklyn and working for a face-painting company at the Bronx Zoo. The commute was about an hour and a half, and sometimes I’d bike it instead — backpack full of face paints, crossing bridges, weaving through boroughs. It was this full-body New York workout. At the end of the ride, sweaty and exhausted, I’d think, I really live here. Those rides made the city feel like mine.

How has this campaign pushed you to reflect on that journey?

There’s a quiet confidence to the clothing, and it’s clothing you can move in — which is essential to living in New York. I loved that the collection draws on the architecture and poetry of the city. It actually reminded me of Severance in some ways — the minimal, elegant lines that Sarah Edwards created for our costumes. There’s a similar synergy here: Theory’s pieces are both wearable and cinematic, grounded in New York but carrying this slightly surreal, David Lynch–esque quality. That’s what piqued my interest — it felt like a natural connection.

From left: Photo: Joshua WoodsPhoto: Joshua Woods

From top: Photo: Joshua WoodsPhoto: Joshua Woods

What’s still on your New York list? I’m always surprised when people say they’ve never done something classic, like walking the Brooklyn Bridge or going to the top of the Empire State Building.

I’d love to take a staycation and devote a whole day to each of the city’s art museums. I’ve been to all of them in passing, but to really immerse myself — with no schedule, no rushing — that would feel amazing.

Acting is just one slice of your creative life. You’ve painted, worked in circus, directed, produced, and made visual art. Which practice has surprised you most in shaping who you are day to day?

About eight years ago, I picked up the ukulele. It’s such a simple instrument to learn, which made it instantly accessible. I started singing just for myself while I played, and it’s hard to explain — but there’s something about that combination that just makes you feel good. What surprised me is that it’s purely for me. Most of my other art is something I share with the world, but the ukulele is a private joy that nourishes me.

I did play it live once in the circus, but mostly it stays in that private space. Recently, I also took up drum lessons for a film I shot, with this wonderful teacher named Dorothy over Zoom. I loved it. Being a beginner feels like standing in an open field — you fail, you learn, you fail again. There’s something really energizing about that cycle.

During those back-to-back interviews in the thick of press season, what keeps you grounded?

I always take an 11-minute nap after lunch. It’s really more of a horizontal meditation, but if I can lie down for those 11 minutes and let the blood flow back to my brain in a calm way, I’m reset. My favorite part of any yoga class is Savasana, so I thought, Why not skip straight to Savasana and make that my daily ritual?

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