The Walking Dead: Exclusive Interview with Romain Levi & Lukerya Ilyashenko, Unveiling the Secrets of Daryl Dixon

Summary

The choice to place The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon in France has proven to be successful by effectively conveying the ambiance of an unfamiliar and potentially remarkable universe, just as the original season did back in 2010.

The addition of new characters in post-apocalyptic France, including Codron and Anna Valery, enhances the show by bringing depth and intrigue.

Lukerya Ilyashenko, who portrays Anna Valery, and Romain Levi, who embodies Codron, share their enthusiasm and feelings of pride regarding the show's favorable reception. They also delve into their experiences working on the set of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon took the bold step of sending a beloved character overseas, and it has proven to be a successful move. The show is now set in France, which is reflected in the frequent use of the French language and occasional subtitles, highlighting Norman Reedus' protagonist as a fish out of water. Among the various The Walking Dead spinoffs, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has come the closest to recapturing the sense of the unknown and the possibilities that enchanted audiences when the original season premiered back in 2010.

Exploring post-apocalyptic France for the first time means encountering a host of new characters. Among them are Codron, a resilient and focused fighter portrayed by Romain Levi, and Anna Valery, played by Russian actor Lukerya Ilyashenko. Prior to the premiere of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Romain Levi shared insights about his character and experience with Screen Rant, while Lukerya Ilyashenko joined in to discuss her character's introduction in episode 3.

Lukerya Ilyashenko & Romain Levi On The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

Lukerya Ilyashenko and Romain Levi discussed their preferred sets, their respective roles, and the challenge of singing in an unfamiliar language. It is important to mention that this interview took place during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Although these actors are not members of SAG-AFTRA, the show being discussed would not have been possible without the dedicated work of the writers and actors from both unions. Please note that this interview has been slightly edited for length and clarity.

Screen Rant: Romain, when we last spoke, it was prior to the release of any content. Now that the initial episodes have been made available, have you had discussions with friends or read any reviews? How are you currently feeling?

Romain Levi expressed his immense happiness regarding the initial reviews, sensing that people were pleased with the show and thoroughly enjoyed the first episodes. He expressed a strong sense of pride. Lukerya Ilyashenko recounted her experience of watching the first episode and feeling anxious as the second episode approached, knowing that her involvement would commence in the third episode. However, upon reading comments on Instagram and YouTube, she discovered that the audience was delighted and felt that they had done an excellent job.

Lukerya, could you please share with us some information about your character?

Lukerya Ilyashenko: This is my very first English interview, so I must admit I'm feeling a bit anxious. My character is quite a fighter. She is a singer who has relied on her attractiveness, her charisma, and her self-centeredness to endure the challenging period of 12 years that followed the emergence of walkers in Paris. Throughout most of this post-apocalyptic era, Anna has been living with Quinn, a man who is just as self-centered and shallow as she is. Not because he loves her more than his long-lost love, Isabelle, but because she knows he offers the best chance of survival.

But when Isabelle returns, Anna finally realizes the truth she had ignored for years. I truly believe that Anna genuinely loves Quinn. Their connection goes beyond just being in a relationship - they are life partners and business partners, and her love for him is undeniable. This is why she remains patient with him, even when he openly displays rudeness or humiliates her.

Romain, in our previous conversation, you mentioned that your character feels like he's at war. Do you think there are any limits to what he would do to find Daryl? Have you discovered the extent of his personality in that regard?

Romain Levi: He has boundaries. Despite being portrayed as the antagonist, I don't view Codron in the same light. His actions stem from a desire for vengeance over his brother's untimely demise. His love for his brother is undeniable, and the aftermath has deeply affected him, driving him to seek retribution. However, he will not resort to any means necessary to achieve his goal. He is conscious of what is morally right and wrong.

Lukerya, I thoroughly enjoyed your singing in the episode. I don't recall there being many musical performances in The Walking Dead. What was it like to showcase your talent on the show?

Lukerya Ilyashenko: Oh God. Okay. First of all, I do not speak French. I’m sorry, Romain.

Romain Levi: Two words!

Lukerya Ilyashenko could comfortably greet in French by saying bonjour, bonsoir, très bien, ça va, ça va bien... However, when AMC provided me with the lyrics for the songs, I was unaware that there would be three songs featured in the show. Initially, I believed there was only one song by Françoise Hardy, titled "Le Temps De L'amour."

In the first block of the season, the production team sent me these three French songs, and to my surprise, the director and the entire creative team wanted me to sing all three. I was taken aback and struggled to understand the lyrics. To overcome this challenge, I resorted to watching YouTube videos of the songs, playing them at a slower speed three times, and gradually learning them. The pressure of learning these songs consumed me to the point that when I arrived in Paris on January 4th this year, with my first day of shooting on the 16th, I didn't venture out to explore Montmarte or the renowned Père Lachaise cemetery. Instead, I confined myself to my hotel room for twelve hours daily, solely focused on memorizing the lyrics. Additionally, I employed the technique of using specific gestures to aid in memorizing the words and comprehending their meaning.

What was your experience like working with the walkers? Was it exciting to see them in person or challenging to visualize what was happening?

Romain Levi: It was absolutely extraordinary. The makeup department did an exceptional job. The level of detail on the skin, the eyes, and the actors behind the masks was astounding. I was completely captivated by them and could spend countless hours observing their incredible work.

Lukerya, I spoke with the production designer who mentioned that the Demimonde set was his favorite. How was your experience working there for such an extended period?

Lukerya Ilyashenko: It was truly a dream come true. As a longtime fan of The Walking Dead, being on set feels like a miraculous experience. The decorations in Demimonde were truly stunning and captivating. Despite the cold temperature due to my open dress, it didn't matter because the realization of being a part of something as enormous as The Walking Dead universe is incredibly inspiring. It gives you a feeling of immense motivation, as if you can accomplish anything. Even learning the songs and enduring hours in very high heels is worth it to me. I am ready to do whatever it takes.

Romain, throughout the season, your character accompanies Daryl and visits the same locations as him. Was there a particular place that stood out for you during the shoot?

Romain Levi: The Demimonde was definitely my favorite. Its breathtaking set design completely shocked me. It's hard to capture its true beauty on screen, but the attention to detail and the fact that it has two floors is truly remarkable. Being on set with characters like Lukerya and the others in this world created a unique energy. I absolutely loved the Demimonde. Additionally, I have great memories of shooting at the roof camp several times. However, at the moment, the Demimonde takes the top spot as my favorite location.

About The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

: Lukerya Ilyashenko praised Coco, also known as Hugo Bardin, and expressed admiration for the incredible talents of other artists and performers. She particularly mentioned a brilliant piano player whom she started following on Instagram after the show. Lukerya described him as a great composer and recommended checking him out. (Note: The piano player's name is Charly Voodoo)

In The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,

Daryl finds himself stranded in France, bewildered by his unfamiliar surroundings and the enigma of his arrival. Throughout the series, we witness Daryl's arduous expedition through a war-ravaged yet resilient France, driven by his relentless pursuit to return home. However, the relationships he cultivates along this harrowing expedition complicate his predetermined course of action.

Check back for our other The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon interviews:

Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Romain Levi, Eriq Ebouaney & Anne Charrier

Director Daniel Percival & Director of Photography Tomasso Fiorilli

Production Designer Clovis Weil

Hugo Bardin

New episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon release Sundays on AMC.