Last month, one of Aline O’Neill’s latest projects Hysteria! premiered on Peacock, in which she plays the regular role of Tonya – the best friend of Judith (Jessica Treska), for the horror-thriller series. In this year’s film Happy Halloween, Aline played Payton Morris, with Brittney Greer as the director, writer and producer, and last year, she played Kayla Wright in the pilot of Judgement. Aline had her first recurring role playing Emma Campano in TV series Will Trent, and she played Penny in short film The Dwell Hotel, which saw Aline win Best Leading Actress at the 2023 Stranger Days Independent Film Festival and Best Lead Actress in a Short Film at the Cobb International Film Festival. Also having theatre experience, Aline has had lead roles playing Roxie in Chicago, Sophie in MAMMA MIA!, and she has been in the cast of CATS. Answering our questions, Aline talks about her regular role of Tonya in Hysteria!, working on Happy Halloween and winning awards for playing Penny in short film The Dwell Hotel.
How has it been seeing Hysteria! premiere on Peacock last month and seeing the fan response to the series so far?
Oh, it’s been so surreal! We’ve been on pins and needles for what feels like forever waiting for audiences to see the show, and now it’s all out there! I’m just over the moon that the people watching are loving it as much as we loved making it. This story is so incredible, and Matthew Scott Kane, our creator and showrunner, deserves all the praise in the world. I’m thrilled people are finally getting to see his genius on full display.
I literally binged the whole thing with my family the day it came out, and we had the best time. It’s been such a joy to see the response and know that our work is resonating with viewers. I feel so grateful to be a part of it!
You play the regular role of Tonya, how would you describe the character and what is she like to play?
Tonya is very much your typical homecoming queen, head cheerleader type. She is best friends with Judith, played by my good buddy Jessica Treska. Without giving too much away, Tonya starts feeling pretty conflicted about some of her friends’ new interests. Things get pretty intense for her as the season progresses, to say the least! What’s so fun about playing Tonya is that she’s one of the only characters who seems in touch with reality and one of the few voices of reason in a small town gone absolutely mad.
Can you tell us about Hysteria! and who do you think the show will appeal to?
Hysteria! is a thriller show set in the late 80s during the Satanic Panic with all eight episodes available on Peacock right now! I think this show has something for everyone. We have iconic actors and horror legends from all genres and generations, so there’s a favourite character for everyone.
Don’t worry if you’re not into super scary stuff – I’m a total wimp when it comes to horror, and I was able to brave through it! The show is funny, compelling, and honestly pretty timely. It can be thought-provoking and will definitely spark conversation if that’s what you’re looking for, but it’s also a series where you can sit back, relax, and just enjoy watching chaos unfold.
What is it like working alongside the rest of the cast and how do you find the experience on set of the horror-thriller series?
It was so awesome. This cast is truly extraordinary! We’ve all become so close, which makes the experience on set so much better. One moment, you’ll be in a scene fighting, crying, and getting blood spit on you, and the next, we’re joking around in between takes and sipping Capri-Suns while still covered in fake blood, sweat, and tears!
It’s hilarious how we’ll go from these intense, emotional scenes to goofing around moments later. This group always keeps things entertaining, and I have so much love for them all. The friendships and camaraderie we’ve formed make every day on set feel like it’s the best day ever.
Is there anything you’ve enjoyed most about being part of Hysteria! and do you have any favourite highlights from filming?
I really enjoyed the range of emotions and situations I got to explore with Tonya. Matt gave me such great material to work with, and it was so exciting to dig into.
As for a favourite highlight, there’s this one scene – slight spoiler alert! – where Chiara’s (Aurelia) character Jordy had to spit blood on me. Our director Alonso (Alvarez-Barreda) told us we only had one shot to get it right because resetting my hair and makeup would take too much time. Chiara was outside practicing by spitting water on walls, which was hilarious.
Watching it back, we were dying laughing because there was SO MUCH blood. My reaction in that scene was totally genuine – I was SHOCKED. Chiara and I are great friends, so there was thankfully a lot of trust and love there, seeing we had to get in each other’s faces.
That night was unforgettable – after we wrapped, there was so much adrenaline and everyone was cracking up. It felt so rewarding and is a moment I’ll always cherish. It really sums up what I love about this show – the mix of intensity, teamwork, and pure fun.
You are also in the cast of this year’s horror film Happy Halloween, what was this like to work on?
Absolutely! Working on Happy Halloween was such a blast! That movie was made with a whole lot of love. David Watson, the cinematographer, has been in my corner since the beginning of my career, and he’s one of my favourite people in the world. Overall, it was a great time to shoot with some awesome people!
How was it getting into character as Payton Morris and being directed by Brittney Greer, who also wrote and produced the film?
Getting into the character as Payton Morris was pretty natural for me. She’s like a more outgoing version of myself that cares about school dances and popularity. That said, she’s not surface level whatsoever – there’s a lot of depth to her. Payton’s really passionate about the people and things she loves, and she will fight to the death for them. She’s smarter than you’d assume and works extremely hard.
Speaking of, working with Brittney Greer was amazing. She’s one of the kindest people I know – so supportive, funny, and passionate about her work. Happy Halloween was years in the making for her, and it was such a gift to be part of the team bringing this dream of hers to life. She always leads with excitement and encouragement, which made the whole experience really enjoyable.
What was it like being involved with the pilot of Judgement as Kayla Wright last year?
Being involved in the pilot of Judgement meant so much to me. From the moment I got the audition, I felt a deep connection to Kayla’s character and her experiences. It was one of those roles that I just HAD to get. Everything about it was brilliant, and I’m absolutely dying to work with Joey (Falco) again. I grew so much confidence during this project and the experience was invaluable to me. I’m really proud of the work we did, and I truly hope to work with that team again someday soon.
For your role of Penny in short film The Dwell Hotel, you won Best Leading Actress at the 2023 Stranger Days Independent Film Festival and Best Lead Actress in a Short Film at the Cobb International Film Festival, how does it feel being recognised for awards and what was The Dwell Hotel like to film?
Thank you! It’s always an honour to be recognised for your work, though it’s never expected and definitely not why I do what I do. That said, I’m really glad people saw and appreciated all of the effort we put into The Dwell Hotel. It’s one of my favourite projects I’ve done.
Filming was such a unique experience. We all hunkered down for a weekend in this amazing hotel – which is actually called The Dwell Hotel in Chattanooga, TN! All the production design and aesthetic you see is literally just how the hotel looks. It kind of felt like being at summer camp (but at this one you stay up all night making a movie and everyone becomes delirious)!
Penny was a challenging role at times but such a pleasure to portray. I definitely stepped outside of my comfort zone for this, which is always exciting as an actor. Christian Eaves and the whole team were fantastic, and I’m really proud of what we created together.
Can you tell us about your character Emma Campano in Will Trent and do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role?
Of course! This is such a fond memory. It was my first time landing a role on a project of that scale, and I was shocked and overjoyed when I got the text from my agent. What I remember most is telling my mom and sister, who were with me at the time, and how they cried and celebrated with me. I’m so blessed to have such supportive people in my life.
Originally, Emma’s role in the story was supposed to be bigger – maybe half a season’s worth of storytelling. But when the studio picked the series up and it shifted to a procedural format, a lot of that got cut. Interesting enough, I never filmed any of the scenes I auditioned with.
But you know what? It was still kind of a blessing in disguise. I had read the book by Karin Slaughter (which I’m still reading the series and obsessed with, by the way), and all those initial scenes gave me so much background on Emma’s character and experiences. So when it came down to my scenes – being kidnapped, the ransom note, getting rescued – I had this rich history to draw from. It really helped me bring depth to those intense moments.
What are some of your favourite memories from playing Emma and how was it having her as your first recurring role in a series?
Working on Will Trent was such a cool experience. One of my favourite memories was filming the rescue scene with Jennifer Morrison and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played my parents. We were all soaked from the rain, and poor Mark had to carry me up that muddy hill over and over. I remember thinking to myself how that was easily one of the most epic-feeling moments of my life!
I also loved getting to know Ramón (Rodríguez) on set. He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We talked a lot about my hometown and his favourite local spots he’d discovered while filming.
Working with Paul McGuigan was great too. It was extra special getting to reunite with him later when he directed me again in Judgement. And, of course, I can’t say enough about how funny, charming, and amazing Howard Deutch was as a director.
Overall, the experience was fantastic and so exciting as it was my first time being part of a big production. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and all the wonderful people I got to work with.
We understand you have also worked in theatre, can you say about some of the shows you’ve performed in?
Yes! I’ve had the chance to perform in some awesome shows over the years. I’ve done Roxie in Chicago and the musical CATS twice. One of my favourite roles was Sophie in MAMMA MIA! – that show is just pure joy. I was also the female lead in Bram Stoker’s Dracula during Halloween, which was a blast.
How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do?
Acting has been a part of my life since I can remember. It all started when my parents signed me up for a performing arts summer camp. I was hooked from the start! I kept at it through middle school, joining a training troupe and even competing at Disney.
There was this pivotal moment in middle school when my choir/drama teacher told me I had to choose between the lead in the musical and playing soccer. I chose the musical and decided that I was going to do this for the rest of my life.
So yeah, I’d say this is what I’ve wanted to do from the start. I’ve never really had any doubts or thoughts about pursuing anything else. Acting has always been my calling.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
Oh, I love this question! My all-time favourite film to watch is Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley. It’s just perfect. And I recently rewatched Normal People – FLAWLESS.
Right now, I’m watching Hunter x Hunter with my sister – it’s her first time. And I’m finally watching Gilmore Girls for the first time ever, and I’m absolutely loving it!
How do you like to spend your time away from your acting career?
When I’m not acting, you’ll probably find me unwinding with video games (currently playing Baldur’s Gate) or tackling my ever-growing watchlist of movies and TV shows (proud AMC A-Lister here!). I’m big on quality time too – I love being surrounded by my friends, family, and pets. They keep me grounded ❤️. I’m always on the hunt for new coffee shops, and I make sure to squeeze in time to move my body, or else I’d lose my mind!
What are you hoping 2025 brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can share?
I’m really looking forward to 2025! I hope it brings loads of happiness, time with the people I love, and more opportunities to do what I’m passionate about. I always get excited about the new year and the feeling of a fresh start. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and how I’ve grown this past year, and I can’t wait to see what new challenges and opportunities lie ahead.
As for specific projects, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can share yet. But I’m feeling really positive about what’s on the horizon.
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