#’Dickinson’s Hailee Steinfeld Teases an EmiSue ‘Rough Patch’ & Fame Anxiety in Season 2

Apple TV+ heads back to Amherst as Season 2 of Dickinson arrives January 8 with three all-new episodes for the #Dickinsquad (a term coined by creator Alena Smith) to devour.

Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) is as troubled as ever as she attempts to determine whether fame is right for her. Adding to the drama is some tension between her and best friend/love Sue (EllaHunt) as Steinfeld teases a rough patch for the pair known by fans as EmiSue. The introduction of editor Finn Jones’ Sam Bowles also shakes up Emily’s world.

Below, Steinfeld opens up about her character’s Season 2 challenges, EmiSue, the Dickinson family dynamic, Sam Bowles, her upcoming role as Kate Bishop in Disney+’s Marvel series Hawkeye, and more.

The show picks up at a point in time where things are changing rapidly. Is Emily keeping pace or struggling to keep up?

Hailee Steinfeld: I think she’s somewhere in between. I think she is one to definitely keep up, but I think she’s falling behind in the sense that while trying to keep up, she’s losing part of herself. One thing that I was really looking forward to digging into in Season 2 was that idea of the changing pace of technology and celebrity culture, which we’re still experiencing for ourselves to this day. So I was excited to see how we were going to interpret this 18th century style.

Fans are extremely invested in Emily and Sue’s relationship, they even refer to them as EmiSue. Where do things stand between them in Season 2?

Well, I know they want to see how it’s going, it is going. Sue is in a very different place, so I’ll start there. She’s in a very different place than she was in Season 1. Somehow she’s found herself in this world of parties and dresses and all of these materialistic things that are just packing down what she’s really feeling on the inside.

In addition to that, she’s pushing Emily away and from Emily’s perspective, it’s unclear to her whether Sue is doing that with a pure intention of her wanting to go off into the world and publish her poems, or if she’s just trying to get rid of her. So they’re going through a bit of a rough patch if you will, but ultimately always come back to each other and the understanding that they have for each other.

Speaking of that distance between them, Season 2 also sees the entrance of Sam Bowles (Finn Jones) who is introduced to Emily by Sue. How will his presence in Amherst shake up Emily’s life?

Ooh, in more ways than one. Emily is very intrigued by this mysterious man that is Sam Bowles, he comes to town and he is this representation of fame. He’s Emily’s ticket, and he’s introduced as the man who could put you in the spotlight. So she’s instantly intrigued, but fearful and also unaware if this person’s intentions are purely professional or not. She likes the idea of him and the idea of what he has to offer, but he definitely sends her into what ends up being a full season of anxiety and confusion and self-doubt.

As Emily struggles with the concept of fame, how will she seek answers to her dilemma?

Well, a seance is involved. She’s trying to figure out how and who she can connect with to find answers. The answer to the main question is, should I seek fame? And she’s asking the spirits above, the spirits within, she is going to people in her past and the people around her, she really is searching for the answer and she’s haunted by it.

Emily’s family stood as an obstacle when it came to publishing her poems in Season 1. How has the family dynamic changed in Season 2?

It’s definitely different, thank God. Emily has now won the right to become a writer and can call herself a poet in front of her family. And her father is more approving this time around. The only thing really holding her back at this point is this idea of fame. Luckily the family dynamic has shifted, and one thing I love and we know to be true is that Lavinia was really always Emily’s biggest fan. She is responsible ultimately for the world ever having had the access to her poems.

That’s another relationship I love playing out on screen with Ana. It’s really sweet. And Austin played by Adrian is also supportive and loving towards Emily, and the two of them only want what’s best for each other. The sibling dynamics play out a lot more in season two, which I’m very excited about.

Dickinson holds up a mirror to our own world. Can you tease how influencer behavior and other aspects will manifest in Season 2?

There’s a bit of humor where we see Lavinia calling out Sue for becoming an influencer and it’s the coolest thing to her. But I think this season really touches on what fame means. I know I personally have realized and learned to appreciate what really matters in my life. I think it’s very easy for people, myself included, to get caught up in this world of social media we turn to for validation, attention, love, and support when we really should be turning to ourselves and the people that matter to us.

But I will say that I do think these social media platforms are also amazing and there are so many wonderful people who create beautiful, artistic, and creative content that I love. It’s a great tool that I’ve been able to use to connect with people. So I think that if people can remain positive, friendly, and kind in those spaces, it’s a good place for everybody to be.

It was recently announced you’ll play Kate Bishop in Disney+ and Marvel’s Hawkeye. You probably can’t say much about the project, but is there any part of Emily that you’ll be bringing to that role?

Ooh, well much like with Emily Dickinson, I have access to so much in the world of Kate Bishop that I am so grateful for. It’s always so fun when you have that, and in this case, it’s the comics. There are so many people that love her so much, and I’m very excited that I have been given the opportunity to be the one to bring her to life. I’m looking forward to what we create with her, I’m honored to be playing her.

Dickinson, Season 2, Premieres Friday, January 8, Apple TV+