‘Severance’ Star Tramell Tillman Teases What Fans Can Expect in Season 2 & More

PureWow: You play Milchick so well. What do you enjoy most about playing this character and why?

Tramell Tillman: Milchieck has a lot of depth. He has a lot of mystery to him. And what's so interesting is that he's definitely not a one-dimensional kind of guy, and because of his depth, you can do so much with him. I appreciate the structure that he has. And so it becomes like an actor's playground to live in the world of Milchick.

PW: Did you take inspiration from real people when you started to portray Milchick?

TT: Well, I spent over 20 plus years in nonprofit management. I have experience in the corporate world. So, Milchick is an amalgamation of colleagues, of former bosses, of caricatures of people that I've worked with. And even experiences that I've had in corporate America, how I would've responded to a situation in my own psyche, so, a little bit of my own subconscious as well, I'll say.

PW: I read a fan theory about that famous dance sequence in season one. They suggested that Milchick moving in circles around the employees relates to the power dynamics. Could you share more about the intentionality behind that choreography?

TT: That's a fascinating interpretation. We did have a choreographer that was on set with us, Tara Hart Rodriguez, and her job was basically just to build a shape. And so she told me, 'You do whatever you want to do, but let's just build what it looks like. How do you get to one person, to the other, to another?' And so I love the fact that the perception is that it is a power play, because that's also who Milchick is. He is always in a position of playing with his power and manipulating people in a way that he can. I think there is also an element of joy that he brings to it. That's a part of it, because this is a release for him. He needs the frivolity as well. But we never want to get outside of the fact that this is a man who is well versed in establishing power and maintaining it.

PW: As you and the cast are filming the series, do you typically have an idea of how the season ends ahead of time?

TT: Well, it varies. We were in different positions filming season one and season two. Season one, we were filming the pandemic. We had all the scripts beforehand. So while we were on break, we were able to access, read the scripts and learn as much as we can about the character. With season two, it was a bit different. We had two strikes, so we were crafting as we went along, and things had to change, and we had to pivot because we want support our writers. And then eventually we as actors went on strike. So there was a lot of kind of back and forth and changes that needed to be made in order to build the best possible storytelling for season two, because we wanted to make it as good and strong as possible.

PW: What did you enjoy most about the filming process for season two?

TT: What I really appreciate about the process is that Dan [Erickson] and Ben [Stiller] were both extremely collaborative in the storytelling and in the crafting of the characters. They are wonderful at answering questions, talking through moments, really trying to suss out who these characters are, how they see them and how we as actors see them.

PW: What can fans expect to see in Severance season two—especially now that Milchick is in deep water?

TT: I'm confident in saying we kick off right where we left off in season one and viewers will see is how and what Milchick does when he's in this type of position. Does he rise to the occasion or does he crumble?

PW: In addition to Severance, you're working on the next Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise. What can you tell us about the project?

PW: It was a delight to work with that team. Christopher McCrory is an incredible director. He is a actor's director. He's also an educating director. He knows so much about camera and film and storytelling, and he is not shy about sharing his knowledge about camera work, which I really appreciate. It was an epic experience. You know, when you watch the movie, you'll see that this is top notch. It just does not disappoint. It's just as epic in person as it is on screen.

PW: You'll also be working on the off-Broadway show, Wine in the Wilderness. Could you tell me a bit about that?

TT: Yes, so this production is directed by the incredible LaChanze. This is her directorial debut. So I am thrilled, honored and excited that she has selected me to be a part of this production for her directorial debut at Classic Stage Company. I'll be playing opposite of Olivia Washington. And this tells the story of a painter who is passionate about capturing Black womanhood on canvas, and he has finally found a model that can bring his masterpeace into place, and he learns a dynamic lesson on on art, on love, community, Blackness and womanhood throughout this.

PW: What drew you to this play?

TT: There was something really alive about the piece. There's an immediacy to it. And even though Alice Childress wrote this several decades ago, it still feels very present now, and I enjoy being a part of pieces that have something to say, something that we as a community can learn from and grow as well and start having conversations about.

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