Interview: Paulina Alexis On How ‘Reservation Dogs’ Finally Put Native Humor On Screen

The must watch series that everyone should be watching is now streaming on Hulu. Unfortunately, after three inventive, funny, and contemplative season Reservation Dogs has reached its end. The FX series follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma, Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Elora (Devery Jacobs), Cheese (Lane Factor) and Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) as they deal with the life on the reservation as they try to find their way off.

The series takes a close look at suicide, friendship, poverty, family, spirituality and the challenges of growing up. Paulina Alexis, who plays Willie Jack, t sat down with Awards Radar to discuss her work on the series. Over the course of the series, Willie Jack not only navigates life on the rez, but also grows spiritually as well as takes on new responsibilities never expected as the series begins.

Our conversation explores the parallels in her and her character’s lives, Willie Jack’s growth on screen, her kinship with her fellow cast, the Native humor which is finally explored on screen with this series (surely thanks to the indigenous writing staff), closing out the series and much more.

Steven Prusakowski: Of course, I love the series. When I first heard of it I was not sure if it would connect with me. One episode in – the characters, just so much of it… it’s beautiful, it’s funny, it’s creative, it’s quirky, it’s everything.

I’ve recommended it to so many people, and they’ve had just great reactions after saying this wasn’t even on my radar. Just wanted to put that out there. To say what a wonderful series it has been.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, it’s honestly one of my favorite shows. I’ve said this in many interviews before, like, even if I wasn’t in it, I’d probably still love the show just as much. If not, probably even more as a fan, you don’t see this and it’s so relatable.

We don’t even have to be Indigenous to get the joke. Anybody can relate to it. And that’s what makes it special. You’ll be crying one second, and then you’ll be laughing two seconds after that. I think that’s one of my favorite parts of the show.

Steven Prusakowski: Mm-hmm. And I love that it’s about Indigenous people, but it’s not. It’s really just about people who just happened to be Indigenous. But then we get to explore different parts of the world and culture that I don’t get access to on a daily basis, and learn more. you walk away feeling even though I’ve never met you in person, I feel like I see the world a little differently.

I love that with television in general, especially, in the last few years, where you’re really getting to take into places and meet people who for decades didn’t exist on television. And if we were, it was some terrible version that was written by somebody who had no clue what they were about.

Reservation Dogs does it so well, because you have this kind of young quartet who are the lead and the heart of the series. But it also extends to so many different people – old, young, all different walks of life in this one community.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, exactly. If I was to explain it, you just explained it perfectly, laid it down. Yes, that’s the goal.

Steven Prusakowski: Let me get so let me start asking some questions and stop talking so much. When you were first offered this role, how was Willie Jack described to you?

Pauline Alexis: Um, to me, he was a boy at the time. And when I was reading the bio for Willie Jack, it just reminded me of like, one of my brothers or my cousins in the rez. Just like describing a regular, rez kid that I see every day. So it wasn’t really that hard for me to get into character.

I thought it was so fun, when I was reading all the sides, and all the lines, and I read them and some of the parts that didn’t roll off the tongue properly, I just put into my own words and how I would usually hear these sentences on a daily basis. I guess that worked and usually when it comes to preparing for a script, all I have to do is think about all my cousins and a lot of my family. Because you see these people a lot every day. But it’s not been shown. But we’re so funny. And our humor is like, so up there, but it’s like, it’s almost kind of feels like that we gatekeep it. I don’t know why. But yeah.

Steven Prusakowski: So the representation that you get to put on screen was really from a much smaller, personal view of it. Your family and your friends that kind of drove your performance.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, exactly. A lot of people see it too.

Steven Prusakowski: Is there a reason that you wanted to play this part? Or to just be part of this series?

Pauline Alexis: Yeah. Because I felt like, first of all, I want to say thank you to Sterling Harjo (Co-creator and Executive Producer along with Taika Waititi) for this amazing opportunity. I just felt like I could do it so well. They want a rez cap, I’ll show them a rez cap. I grew up that life. I grew up in and out of the rez my whole life.

And yeah, it’s always been a big goal of mine to see, like our humor. I remember growing up and just like laughing with all my family and everybody and being like, wow, we’re so funny. Like, I don’t get this anywhere else besides the rez.

It’s just like, certain people who like, you get it. I don’t know how to explain it, but…

Steven Prusakowski: No, I think you’re doing great.

Pauline Alexis: That same feeling I got when I was on set too.

Steven Prusakowski: I mean, I think that obviously, the comedy is a very important part of it. And it’s not something, it’s one of the things that I didn’t expect. I really was expecting it to be much more serious.

Yet there’s comedy sprinkled throughout every episode. And some are very, very heavy on the humor.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah. We’re very like serious, but un-serious people, if that makes any sense. It’s like, you know. We can crack a joke at any time.

Steven Prusakowski: It’s kind of like someone who can laugh at a funeral. You’re there giving your respects, but yet you can still find that entrance way to add a little bit of humor and levity to a situation. Is that accurate?

Pauline Alexis: Yeah. Like laughing at a funeral. It’s so real that even like last year, after we were filming season two, there’s a scene where I had to do with Willie Jack. It was the scene of Daniel’s funeral.

It was something that I go through in real life as well. After season two, I just remembered I had to go back home because my cousin that I grew up really close with, she took her own life. And she was three years younger than me. The way everyone remembers her, she’s always laughing, telling jokes, and she’s always smiling. And that’s just how she was. And I remember I used to love making her laugh because she was so easy to make laugh.

And that’s just how everybody remembers her. And I remember at the funeral, just thinking like, wow, I basically just filmed this scene in the show. At the same time, I felt kind of sad because why I filmed that scene too was to help spread awareness. Then I come home and that’s my reality as well. And yeah, my cousin, she was always so happy and so smiley. So even at her funeral, was making her mom laugh, my aunties laugh, my cousins laugh.

It just felt like she was there and I didn’t want anybody to be too sad and I know that’s how she would feel too. And yeah, I think it’s really special because it goes along with saying who we are and how we are.

Steven Prusakowski: Well, I’m sorry about your loss. But I mean, the way you handle it sounds beautiful and a real way to celebrate her and carry on her spirit rather than dip into the negative, but to put out that positivity out there is really great.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, my point is just like family and being there, still be able to laugh and crack jokes in times like that with your family. I’m glad we even got that on the show as well.

Steven Prusakowski: So when you took on this role, did you anticipate where Willie Jack would take you, the journey that you were going to go on? Because three seasons in, her arc really extends much beyond what I initially anticipated.

Pauline Alexis: Mm hmm. I don’t know. I want to say yes and no. Because of all of the people out of the group, you wouldn’t expect Willie Jack to become a medicine woman halfway through the show. It’s something that would also happen in real life that you wouldn’t be so surprised. So yeah, I kind of did expect it to go anywhere really.

RESERVATION DOGS —“Dig”—Season 3, Episode 10 (Airs Wednesday, September 27th) Pictured: Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack. CR: Shane Brown/FX.

Steven Prusakowski: And the relationship with her and her aunt is a big part of her growth. Can you tell me about some of those scenes? Because when you talk about your cousin’s funeral, that really makes me think, the way they’re shot, and you see all these people around Willie Jack behind her that she doesn’t see but within spirit are there.

It makes me think of your situation and your family being around you spiritually, seeing what you’re doing and kind of approving of your approach to that sad moment. Can you tell me about those scenes between you, Wilhelmina and her aunt? Because it’s such a big part of her growth as a character.

Pauline Alexis: Oh, yeah. Willie Jack, when there was times of need, like she didn’t know what to do, she didn’t do in the offerings episode. Her friendship was falling apart.

And just like, she was the only one that was almost like noticing what was going on. And one of the only people she can go to for help was her Auntie Hokti, who was also like a medicine woman. She has all these discs, but she’s in jail.

And she also has her own problems. She doesn’t really want to see anyone. Willie Jack, she kind of sees past that, even though she’s so young. She gets it, she understands. And I think a lot of that, has to do so much with the character development. Because Willie Jack, she has such a big heart.

She’s very like, real and like, like feisty. But she has a big heart and she cares a lot about the people that she loves. I see that a lot in my family as well. I would probably do the same thing in real life. And yeah, also working with Lily, like she was so perfect for it. Because she grew up on Blackfeet.

She just finished filming Killers of the Flower Moon at that time too. And I was like the first time I met her, but it felt like I’ve known her for years. Even after working with her for the first time.

And yeah, it also felt so natural.

Steven Prusakowski: Yeah, I love watching those. Those are some of my favorites of the scenes.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, it was nice when she’s so good. I also remember while I was filming, I was messing up my lines too a lot. She really helped me.

Steven Prusakowski: That’s great. It must be really wonderful for you to shoot these scenes and then to see her career – she was everywhere last year. Yeah, and just see her really, you know, blow up and get the recognition.

Pauline Alexis: Yeah. I mean, I love that movie. You watched that movie?

Steven Prusakowski: Yes, of course. I think I tweeted it out. I said, if you enjoy Lilly’s work in that film, you have to watch Reservation Dogs. Because I think even though she’s only a few times the impact she makes is just as strong. The chemistry between you two and the way it’s written and the way it’s shot and everything about it is really, really incredible. It’s actually, I’m thinking maybe a little better. That’s me personally. So when I’m watching this with such amazing friendships on screen, they feel really authentic.

What was it like working with the three other actors? Are you friends for life? Did your friendships off screen make your work on screen easier?

RESERVATION DOGS —“Dig”—Season 3, Episode 10 (Airs Wednesday, September 27th) Pictured: (l-r) Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan, Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear, Lane Factor as Cheese. CR: Shane Brown/FX.

Pauline Alexis: Uh, yeah, We all got really close really fast. I’ve known Devery pretty long.

I’ve known of her since I was like a kid, since I was like 10, 13. She did a movie with my brother when I was like a kid. And I was like a really big fan of hers. And then I started working with her. So I thought that was pretty cool.

And so I’ve known D’Pharaoh, I met him through the previous movie, Beans. He played my brother and we were already close.

And Lane, that was his first ever audition ever. And he got it. He got the role. And he was so young. I don’t know how to explain it. We all just became a big family like so fast. We all came so close. I think that immediately, it just felt like Lane was like my little brother right off the bat.

And I felt like I had to protect him a couple times too. Even when we would like to go, I remember going to the Emmys and we’re like, everybody was getting ready to leave. And Lane was up walking around, saying hi to everyone, networking.

And we couldn’t see him, couldn’t find him. And I was with my mom, his mom, D’Pharaoh. We couldn’t find Lane. He was the director of Iron Man.

Steven Prusakowski: Jon Favreau?

Pauline Alexis:

Yes. Him. We were all like, yeah, ‘Where’s Lane?’ It was just right after the filming of season one. And I was already like, ‘Where’s my brother?’

Steven Prusakowski: That off screen connection you have really shows up. It translates so well on screen.

Pauline Alexis: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it was so natural. It was like, yeah, it felt like we didn’t have to act half the time. Well, at least that for me. So it’s pretty fun.

Steven Prusakowski: How have you changed since you first started playing Willie Jack? Essentially, how has a role changed you as a person?

Pauline Alexis: Mm-hmm. I think I started filming when I was like 19. I was still a teenager at the time.

Yeah, I really grown with his character. I think I was coming to an end of my rebellious days when we started filming. So it was really not that hard to get into character.

I think the timing worked out pretty great. But when it comes to my real life, not much has changed except the fact that I can’t really do normal things as much as I used to anymore. I get recognized when I go to Walmart now, I gotta be careful.

When I go to Native events, I always get recognized at Native events. Yeah, that’s the only thing. I don’t like to say that I changed. I don’t want my career to ever change who I am as a person. I’ll always do my best and not let it. That’s the only thing is that I can’t believe I go to Walmart.

Steven Prusakowski: Is there one scene that really connected with you? It could be yours or any characters, but is there one scene in the series that really lands for you?

Pauline Alexis: Hmm. Definitely all the crying scenes. The first one where we had to film in the pilot. I think that all brought us closer as castmates, but also that scene is so real. And it’s something like every Native person goes through deep down. All my tears on the show screen were real. All I have to do is think about the community and everybody.

Steven Prusakowski: Is there a quality of Willie Jack that you respect most? She’s kind of guarded and tough to read. When you’re playing her, is there something that really connects?

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, she’s really loyal. She’s really loyal and she’ll always say what other people are too scared to say.

Steven Prusakowski: I like it. We need that. We need more of that, honestly. We have too many closed lips when we need them to be open and we need, and loyalty too is another quality that I think has gone out the window with a lot of people lately.

Pauline Alexis: That’s one thing I really take from her too. She’s loyal. Yeah, she’s got a big mouth. She’s not afraid to use it when it’s needed.

Steven Prusakowski: I like that. And I heard you coach kids hockey. I’m a coach too. I coach my daughters in basketball. You know, why do you do it? What is it about it that makes you do it. You don’t have to coach. So what drives that?

Pauline Alexis: I also like give out riding lessons too. It’s mostly like for a lot of the youth back home in my reserve because growing up as a kid, we like to try everything. Like I didn’t have a lot of role models to look up to, especially female role models.

Mostly just had a lot of strong male and women figures in my life. A lot, most of them are men. And I’ve never had a coach and I’m on the reserve. I’m like the, one of the only ones my age that play hockey and that’s a female. And there’s a lot of kids in the reserve who like to love hockey and play hockey. A lot of girls, my nieces, my little cousins all play, but they don’t have a strong female figure to look up to. And I never did either, but I could do that for the kids.

Steven Prusakowski: Yeah, now they do.

Pauline Alexis: So whenever I’m not filming, that’s what I’m focused on. I like trying to help kids get better in sports and just be like a good role model at home.

Steven Prusakowski: That’s a great way to get back.

Pauline Alexis: I do my best, like to do my part and try to help out and give back. Because that’s what makes me feel good too.

Steven Prusakowski: It should, it should. Because I think what coaching does goes way beyond what’s on in the hockey rink and it extends well beyond into life. You’re not just helping them play sports, you’re helping them be better people – being a role model so that they can look up to and aspire to, to follow after. So thank you.

Pauline Alexis: I just want to be able to tell them like what I was never told growing up and be there for them. Yeah, another dream of mine before I started acting, when I thought I wouldn’t make it in acting growing up, I wanted to become a professional hockey player. That was one of my dreams as well.

I wanted to be the first Native female to play in Olympic hockey on Team Canada.

Steven Prusakowski: That’d be amazing. You’re still young enough to pursue it. Is that still on the back of your mind?

Pauline Alexis: Yeah, that’s true. I think I’ll always be playing hockey till I’m an old grandma, till my bones crack.

Steven Prusakowski: Just do it. Never give up. So let me close with an easy one.

Three words to describe Willie Jack.

Pauline Alexis: Loyal, rugged, and loving.

Steven Prusakowski: I like it. I like it a lot. Well, thank you for your time today.

And congrats on three great, amazing seasons. And I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next. Maybe it’ll be the Olympics.

Pauline Alexis: Yes, maybe. Also, I’m expecting right now.

Steven Prusakowski:

Oh, are you? Oh, congratulations!.

Pauline Alexis: Thank you. So we’re going to hold off on this Olympics. Thank you so much.

Steven Prusakowski: Thank you. Have a great day.

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Interview: Paulina Alexis On How ‘Reservation Dogs’ Finally Put Native Humor On Screen

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