Kathryn Newton might be best known for her role as the headstrong and rebellious teenager Abigail in Big Little Lies, but in reality, the actress couldn't be more easy-going.

Her boundless energy and insuppressible passion for her work is completely infectious, and a welcome reminder that - in light of Time's Up and MeToo - there's a new generation of Hollywood starlets emerging, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, who will benefit from the brave campaigning of the women who came before them.



Newton is so relaxed and amiable that it's easy to forget the 21-year-old is a Hollywood star rapidly on the rise - until she casually recounts a funny anecdote that includes both Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. And, naturally, she's full of tales about "super supportive" Reese Witherspoon, who plays her on-screen mother in BLL; "She's just the best".

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After notable performances in numerous critically-acclaimed and award-winning films and TV shows over the past year, it's an exciting time for Newton. The actress also acknowledges that she's arrived at a pivotal time for women in the the entertainment industry, which has seen her secure roles in three high-profile female-driven projects.

She stole the show with an exuberant performance as Amy in BBC One's Little Women (soon to be aired in the US), and appeared in two of this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees - giving an endearing turn as the geeky Darlene in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird and playing Frances McDormand's daughter in the Bafta-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Reflecting on the Time's Up initiative and MeToo movement, Newton credits Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman - who both served as executive producers on Big Little Lies - for paving the way for parity and safer environments for young women, in an industry which has been sullied by sleaze and allegations of sexual assault.



Harry George Hall

"I've never had a bad experience and I've grown up on sets [since ABC's soap opera All My Children aged 4], but I've seen the change," the actress told Harper's Bazaar UK.



"I've worked with so many female directors this last year, and so many female producers. I feel lucky that I've had women above me like Reese and Nicole, who are paving the way for a girl like me... That that [won’t] happen to me - they're protecting the next generation. Men and women."

"I'm really lucky that I haven't had a bad experience"

Witherspoon founded her own production company Pacific Standard, which has since merged with her company Hello Sunshine, in a successful bid to share female-driven stories in TV and film, and get more women working behind the camera.

"Everyone I've worked with has only ever been about the work," Newton continued. "So that's how I am. And I'm really lucky that I haven't had a bad experience to make me feel otherwise."

Newton confirmed she will be returning as Abigail in the anticipated second season of Big Little Lies, disclosing how her relationship with Witherspoon's Madeline will evolve.



Harry George Hall

If you thought Abigail's plan to sell her virginity online - albeit for a good cause - in season one was shocking and controversial, it sounds like it's about to get even darker for the Monterey mother and daughter.

"Reese and I, Madeline and Abigail, have dealt with mother-daughter issues that I know I have dealt with, but now we have some that are on another level," she revealed. "Some you don't ever want to go through."

Newton also shared the thrilling moment she was told a second season was happening, which was during the midst of the show's award success at the Emmy Awards last year.

Kidman was awarded Outstanding Lead Actress, Alexander Skarsgard Outstanding Supporting Actor, Laura Dern Outstanding Supporting Actress, Jean-Marc Vallee Outstanding Director, and the show Outstanding Mini-Series.

"I didn't believe it all... People would come up to me and say, 'there's going to be a second season', and I was like, 'No way'," Newton recalls.



"Reese called me and said, 'We have to make this work - we just got Meryl Streep'"

"And then at the Emmys when we were jumping up and down holding Reese's giant Emmy, Reese tells me, 'you better have your scheduled cleared'.



"I remember having no emails from anybody, no scripts, but at that moment it was really happening."

Newton disclosed that Liane Moriarty, who wrote the novel and co-wrote 12 episodes of season one, told her that she's "written so much for Abigail, you're going to be so excited".

Harry George Hall

And just when you thought it impossible for the star-studded cast to get any more stratospheric, Witherspoon went and announced Meryl Streep's casting.

Newton said that her schedule for Big Little Lies almost jeopardised her taking on a role in Ryan Reynold's live-action movie Detective Pikachu - which she is currently filming in London - but "saviour" Witherspoon made it possible for her to star in both.

"I think filming [for BLL] may be starting soon, and we had conflicts with schedule and Reese called me and said, 'We have to make this work - we just got Meryl Streep'. I was like, 'What?!'



"She called Mary Parent [US film producer]... So Reese is my saviour. She wanted me to do both. She is a powerful woman but she got it done."

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Newton then laughed as she admitted it was actually the children cast members who were "the hardest to schedule" because of their hectic work schedules.

"They'e all working non-stop," she disclosed. "My little sister Chloe [played by Darby Camp]... Ziggy [played by Iain Armitage]. So they were the hardest ones to get their schedules cleared."

Kathryn hinted that she may have scenes with Streep's character - strongly rumoured to be playing Alexander Skarsgard's bereaved mother - although the script is constantly being changed and edited.

"There is talk of scenes with Meryl...." she teased. "Everybody wants a scene with Meryl... I just want a selfie!"

Harry George Hall

Other projects for Newton this year include comedy movie Blockers, featuring Leslie Mann and John Cena (set for UK release on 30 March), and Ben is Back, in which she co-stars with Julia Roberts and Three Billboards' Lucas Hedges.

As if all that weren't enough, Newton mentions that she has been collaborating with Little Women co-star Maya Hawke - daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke - on a project she's hoping will eventually become a film.

"We're two girls in this industry having fun and we want to create our own work," she said.

"Right now I'm working a lot and I'm riding the wave of that, but it's nice to have something on the side…"

As if there were any doubts about Newton's plan for Hollywood domination.

Harry George Hall

Kathryn was photographed by Harry George Hall at the COMO Metropolitan London hotel. Make-up and hair by Jesse Walker using Hourglass and Davines. 'Big Little Lies' will return to HBO and Sky Atlantic next year.