In our Q&A collection POPSUGAR Crush, we get to know a few of our favourite celebs’ extra intimate particulars — from their superb first date to their most romantic gesture. This month, we’re crushing on “The Midnight Membership” and “Alexa & Katie” star Iman Benson.
Iman Benson has a private connection to her function in “The Midnight Membership,” which premiered on Netflix in October and rose to No. 3 on the streamer’s Prime 10 record, from the beginning. Her character, Ilonka, discovers she has terminal thyroid most cancers throughout the first 10 minutes of the collection, and her expertise coming to phrases together with her analysis and mortality lays the muse for the present’s significant, but haunting occasions.
“I believe most individuals have their very own expertise with most cancers, whether or not a beloved one had it or anyone they know had it,” Benson tells POPSUGAR. “My mom had most cancers, and I needed to honor her . . . By that lens, I’ve realized in regards to the difficulties that most cancers sufferers should undergo, or not less than a few of them.”
“I believe most individuals have their very own expertise with most cancers, whether or not a beloved one had it or anyone they know had it.”
Benson has starred in initiatives that take care of the practically common expertise of being touched by most cancers in a roundabout way earlier than, like her function in Netflix’s teen comedy “Alexa & Katie.” Nevertheless, “The Midnight Membership,” primarily based on the 1996 teen horror guide by Mike Flanagan, is in contrast to any earlier mission Benson has acted in (and never simply because this one takes place within the Nineteen Nineties).
“I’m an enormous fan of Mike [Flanagan]’s work,” Benson says. “I believe he does horror superbly, and I sort of needed to step into that world and problem myself and do one thing utterly totally different . . . [There are so] many cool layers to this mission. You are speaking about working with terminally unwell children, you are speaking about horror, and in addition, there’s this complete fandom from the unique guide that got here out.”
One of many present’s many layers entails the Brightclife Hospice heart, which Ilonka enters as a affected person underneath the pretense that she needs to dwell out her last days in peace there. However, actually, she’s satisfied she’ll discover the remedy to her illness within the halls of the middle due to a mysterious decades-old case of a former affected person who disappeared from the middle and returned inexplicably cured of their illness. “Ilonka’s a really clever, strong-minded lady – optimistic and hopeful and type,” Benson says of Ilonka. “I see lots of myself in [her] . . . I believe the kind of person who she is and the way she chooses to take care of her obstacles actually drew me to her.”
In her seek for solutions and a remedy, Ilonka discovers The Midnight Membership, a bunch of fellow terminal sufferers who inform one another scary tales each evening and promise to ship the remainder of the group an indication from past the grave in the event that they’re the primary to die. The group begins experiencing numerous supernatural happenings alongside the best way, however “The Midnight Membership” is greater than only a horror present. “I believe the primary [lesson is] . . . everyone offers with sickness in another way and offers with that technique of acceptance in another way . . . realizing that they are all legitimate and there is no improper option to undergo that course of.”
For Ilonka, that course of entails uncovering the mysteries that hang-out Brightcliffe and the potential for love together with her fellow affected person, Kevin. Benson provides, “I hope the primary factor followers take away from [the show] is simply how energetic our characters actually are, and the way massive our imaginations are, and simply how a lot enjoyable we have now dwelling in our different worlds. And it is not nearly us being unwell. It is about us being common children as effectively with still-regular issues,” she says.
Try the remainder of Benson’s interview forward, after which watch “The Midnight Membership,” which is now streaming on Netflix.
Favourite type of self-care?
Most likely journaling. Having the ability to get my ideas out on paper and compartmentalize every little thing up there.
What’s your signature scent or fragrance?
It is a perfume known as Maison Francis Kurkdjian. It is the Baccarat Rouge 540.
Favourite flirtatious emoji?
I just like the eyes [👀]. Simply the eyes. There’s a lot to be stated with simply the eyes.
Superb first date?
Most likely dinner after which . . . a pleasant view, after which, hopefully, a very good dialog.
Go-to first date outfit?
Cute heels, denims, a dressy high, and a cute bag.
Most memorable fan encounter?
I went to Disneyland . . . and I might say a bunch of fifty women got here as much as me they usually had watched “Alexa & Katie,” a present I did a pair years in the past, and all of us simply talked for some time and hugged. It was so cute. It was pre-COVID, nevertheless it was so cute.
Go-to film evening film?
“Loopy Silly Love”
Greatest love recommendation?
Just remember to’re pouring into your self first as a result of you may’t pour from a glass that is empty.
Greatest journey you have ever been on?
I not too long ago simply got here again from Europe. I did a bunch of various international locations. I might say in all probability Switzerland.
Favourite factor to prepare dinner?
Tacos.
First celeb crush?
Johnny Depp.
Favourite present you have ever acquired?
I haven’t got it on, however my dad acquired me for my twenty first birthday a extremely fairly necklace. It is a key. He acquired it for me whereas it was filming “The Midnight Membership” as effectively, so it was like a two-in-one current.
