Maria Sten was clearly destined for the “Reacher” universe. When she first auditioned for the role of Frances Neagley, a former U.S. Army officer and the current wingwoman of Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson), Sten was passed over—only for the creatives to eventually realize their mistake. And though each season of Nick Santora’s action series sends its titular hero on a different adventure with new characters, Sten has become the show’s sole supporting mainstay.
Season 3 premieres Feb. 20 on Prime Video; after that, the fan favorite is set to lead her own spinoff series, “Neagley.” “It’s been nerve-wracking because I’m always like, ‘Do I have a job? Do I not have a job?’ ” Sten says of the constant actor turnover. “I should say: I’m very happy with the current outcome of events!”
Here, the actor talks about her unexpected road to “Neagley.”
What initially attracted you to “Reacher” and the role of Neagley?
I got the audition, I did my take, and—fun fact—I didn’t get the job. But then they realized that they had to take the character in a different direction, so they came back to me and said, “We want what you did.” Nick Santora is usually very clear on his characters; but early on, there wasn’t necessarily a lot of time to sort all that out. So I just filled in the blanks, had conversations with Santora, and went with my gut.
I just love what he came up with in creating this badass character. For me, the term “female badass” is overused these days; we like to say that about any tough female character. But, in the truest sense of the word, I think Neagley is a real badass. At the same time, she has this endearing quality about her. I think she’s unique in a way that I don’t feel we have seen in many “badass” female characters.
What does the opportunity to star in a Neagley-focused show mean to you?
Neagley is there to support, and that’s how I’ve approached the work; but she’s also got her own life. We start shooting tomorrow, and I can’t wait to get into this material. We are living in a world that is oversaturated with spinoffs, sequels, and prequels. And, of course, the show still honors the spirit of “Reacher,” but it is very much Neagley and its own thing. I’m just really excited that she can stand on her own, outside of being Reacher’s support.
What experience in your career has taught you the most?
I took these acting classes, and I viewed them as life-coach sessions, which they were not! [Laughs] They were audition technique sessions with [acting coach] Eden Bernardy, who really changed my life in terms of my outlook and approach to the material, and how we must always show up as artists—but also how to be a more empathetic human being in the world. Because what we really do as actors is work with empathy. That was a very important time in my life, and working with her was when I felt a shift. And I started approaching conversations and showing up to work in a different way.
What’s your worst audition horror story?
I was auditioning for [the role of] this cool cop lady who is interrogating someone, and in the scene, she knocks over a chair. The audition was in this small room, and they’ve got the lights sitting there, and then I get up and push the chair over; and the chair knocks over the light, which falls down over me. They had to stop the audition. That probably is high up there in terms of embarrassment!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t listen to noise, and listen to fewer—but more intelligent—people. We’re listening to so many things and thinking, Well, this person did it this way, and this person did it that way. That’s completely irrelevant to your journey. You can’t predict how your journey is going to happen—you can only be in the trenches, doing the work. I am not a person who can sit around and wait for the phone to ring, so I decided to start doing my own thing, like directing my own shorts. And that is how my career took off. It’s not who you know or what color your shirt is; it’s just doing the work.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
