Finding Myself in After All

When I first read the script for After All, I was deeply moved by how honest and human it was. The story follows three generations of Southern women navigating family, trauma, love, and loss, and I could see my own Texan family in them. Their dialogue, humor, and the quiet strength behind each of them all felt familiar and true.

What struck me most was how the script found humor even in the most painful circumstances. That’s real life. No matter how heavy things get, there’s always that small, unexpected laugh that sneaks in, sometimes out of relief, sometimes out of disbelief. That blend of heartbreak and laughter felt like the truth to me. It reminded me how beautifully messy real life is, and that’s why I fell in love with the story.

Becoming Verna

From the very beginning, I knew Verna wasn’t a character I could approach with any sense of vanity. I had to let go of all of that and allow myself to be stripped down to the raw truth of who she was. Verna is a woman who has lived a full life. She has seen joy and heartbreak, endured loss and abuse, and somehow kept moving forward. She carries all of that history in her face, her body, and her voice. There is a deep beauty in that kind of honesty.

Kerstin, our director, and I spent time talking about who Verna used to be, what her backstory was, what she had experienced, and what her more recent years had been like. We explored how time would show up in her physical details, the way she dressed, and how she did her hair. Those conversations helped build Verna from the inside out.

Then came the wigs, the makeup, and the process of bringing her full look together. During the hair and makeup tests, I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, There she is. She wasn’t a character I was pretending to be. She was someone I already knew, a combination of relatives I grew up visiting in Texas.

Verna reminded me so much of the women in my family, the ones who worked hard and loved fiercely. They were funny and tough and endlessly resilient. Those women shaped me, and I felt them with me every single day on set. It was like they flowed through me as I brought Verna to life, their voices, their gestures, their spirit. In many ways, playing her felt like honoring them.

Family

One of the things I loved most about the film is how much it explores the idea of family, the complicated, beautiful, unbreakable ties that connect us. Family is the heartbeat of After All. There’s something about family that just runs deeper than anything else. You may argue, you may grow apart, you may carry old hurts, but underneath it all, there’s this invisible thread that keeps you connected.

Family is part of your foundation, part of your DNA. They shape who you are in ways you don’t even realize. Even when you’re far away, even when you think you’ve outgrown them, they’re there. You always know, somewhere in the back of your mind, that they’re there.

Verna is a woman who has weathered storms but still finds her strength in the people who share her history. Her family gives her purpose, even when it’s painful. That’s something I think we all understand on a deep level: that family can be both our greatest challenge and our greatest comfort. It’s that duality that makes it so real.

The Challenges and Joys of the Shoot

Filming After All was not easy, but it was incredibly rewarding. It was hot, very hot. We shot in Austin in August, moving fast, chasing the light, and trying to capture everything before each day slipped away. But that urgency created this amazing energy. Everyone was focused, connected, and determined to make something special.

Working with Erika Christensen and Kiara Muhammad was an absolute gift. They are both incredibly talented, generous, and fearless. Erika brings such emotional depth and focus to her work, and Kiara has this vibrant, grounded energy that elevates every scene she’s in. We became a small, tight-knit unit, constantly supporting one another through the long days and the emotional weight of the story.

Kerstin created an environment that was nurturing and safe, but also deeply creative. She had a clear vision, but she also invited collaboration and trusted us to bring our instincts into the space. We were all there for the same reason: to make something meaningful. It was about storytelling, about truth. Even when we were drenched in sweat or running on fumes, there was a shared sense of purpose that kept us going.

Hearing How It’s Touched People

Now that After All is out in the world, it has been profoundly moving to hear how audiences have connected with it. People have told me that it feels real, that it reflects their families, their relationships, and the complicated ways we love and forgive each other. Some have shared deeply personal stories about caring for loved ones who have lived with dementia or the long-term effects of a stroke, and they’ve told me how much Verna resonated with them.

What I love most about After All is that at its core, it’s about the messy, imperfect, enduring love that carries us through life. It’s also about forgiveness, and how difficult and transformative that process can be. Forgiveness is hard and uncomfortable and often painful, but it’s also freeing. That’s what drew me to this story.

If people walk away from this film feeling a little more compassionate, a little more open to forgiving someone or themselves, then we’ve done something worthwhile. That’s all I could ever hope for.

Ask Me Anything with Penelope Ann Miller — Happening This Weekend!

If you enjoyed reading about Penelope’s experience bringing After All to life and want to learn more about her incredible career in film, television, and theatre, don’t miss this weekend’s FREE Ask Me Anything event with Penelope Ann Miller, happening exclusively in the Stage 32 Acting Lounge!

The post is already live, and you can begin leaving your questions for Penelope right now. She’ll be answering questions throughout Saturday, popping in and out of the post to make sure she doesn’t miss anyone.

This is a rare opportunity to connect directly with a celebrated actress whose work has spanned decades — from Carlito’s Way and Kindergarten Cop to The Artist and After All. Penelope will be sharing insights about acting, character development, navigating the industry, and staying creatively fulfilled throughout your career.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of the conversation, ask your questions, and learn from one of the most versatile talents in the business.

Click here to join the FREE Ask Me Anything event now!

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