Dichen Lachman has spent two seasons as Severance’s greatest mystery. As Gemma, the supposedly deceased wife of Mark (Adam Scott), she existed in fragments—fleeting memories, cryptic glimpses, and a growing sense that something wasn’t right. But in Season 2’s final episodes, everything changed. Viewers finally learned the truth about her connection to Lumon, the sinister experiments shaping her existence, and the emotional weight of her reunion with Mark.
In an exclusive interview with Parade, Lachman reveals that she uncovered Gemma’s story much like the audience did: Piece by piece. She shares how the character’s development was a collaborative effort, shaped through rehearsals and creative discussions.
From the intricate details of Gemma’s appearance to the raw intensity of filming some of the show’s most harrowing scenes, Lachman reflects on bringing this complex character to life, and what it means for Severance moving forward.
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Tell me when in the casting process you got to learn about Gemma, particularly the backstory we got of her in Season 2.
I basically knew what the audience knew about Gemma at the end of Season 1. So it was limited. And we didn’t know when we finished filming Season 1 that thy we would do a Season 2. All of this takes time. So I knew very little. Aand I found out about Season 2, Episode 7 a few months into filming Season 2 of of the show. Because she’s not really present in the scripts. So I was like, “When is she going to show up?” And Dan [Erickson] sort of talked me through the plan and about Episode 7. And I thought it was exciting to get to dive into that.
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Ms. Casey is so manufactured compared to Gemma — she’s almost an entirely different person. Who do you think Gemma is at her core?
I think her deep love for Mark and going through what she went through as well has probably changed her somewhat. Whenever you go through something difficult, you come through it, and you’re a little bit stronger. I think, at her core, she wants to be happy with Mark in her home with her plants. [Laughs] Being alive and making memories in that beautiful house. I mean, obviously, she’s an intellectual as well ,and she gets something out of that. But that doesn’t really keep you warm at night, you know?
In Episode 7, we get to see a multitude of Gemmas. Is there one that stands out to you as being especially memorable?
They all stand out for so many different reasons. The Christmas room and the way they built and decorated that, it was so meticulous. The dentist’s office was gnarly — that chair and all the tools. I mean, the amount of time they spent building the color palette for the dentist’s room was extraordinary. It’s so precise.
But for me, it was the airplane, because they built this set on hydraulics. And so we were actually shaken up all day. And we had to stay in there most of the time because of where the cameras were set up, you couldn’t just walk in and out. So you couldn’t just step out. So we spent a lot of time on this set that was on hydraulics. And I just remember having to take the anti-nausea medication because I get really seasick. I get seasick quite easily–or motion sickness, I guess, is what you call it here. So that was interesting, you know, trying not to be sick all day in the airplane.
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Between you and Adam Scott, they really put you through the wringer physically this season.
That’s part of the fun of it. When you get to do all these interesting things, it’s like that childish part of being an actor. All those things that you wouldn’t do in your everyday life that you get to do on set.
Talk to me about where Gemma ends up at the end of this season. She’s on the other side of the door, watching Mark run off with Helly.
Yeah, she ends up in this moment where, at least the way I approached it, she is realizing that he has gone through this process of being severed, and it’s heartbreaking. And obviously, there was a lot of technical things about that day, and transitioning into that emotional state, where she’s sort of like, “Oh my god, I’m out.” And then, “Oh my god. Why isn’t he coming with you?” There’s a lot of real little realizations happening, and also going from Miss Casey to Gemma.
The elevator scene is really incredible, the times we see you and Adam switch from being innies and outies. You have to be this totally different person in that moment and it’s quite impressive.
It’s so tricky. I mean, we’ve all experienced this now, the transitioning, the “zolly” shots. It’s a really wild thing to have to do. But when the writing’s so good. When you’re an actor and someone’s doing an amazing performance opposite you, you almost don’t have to act because you’re just responding to the whole situation. And I feel so lucky to work with such extraordinary people.
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