Netflix’s “Finding Her Edge” premiered today, and Alexandra Beaton, who plays Elyse Russo, spoke about her excitement for the series on The Wayne Ayers Podcast.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous,” Beaton said on “The Wayne Ayers Podcast,” noting the scale of a Netflix release. “I’m really excited. I’m really proud of the show. I’m really proud of my castmates, of the crew who worked on it, and I’m really excited that Netflix is behind it and putting it out.”
Beaton plays Elyse Russo, a sharp-edged, hypercompetitive sister in the Russo family dynamic. Asked whether fans will embrace Elyse or turn on her, Beaton said she is hoping for both reactions.
“I like playing characters that people love to hate,” she said. “They’re so fun to play.”
On the show’s central sister tension, Beaton said Elyse is tough on Adriana because Adriana represents what Elyse fears becoming.
“Adriana represents kind of a weakness to Elyse, especially at the beginning of the series,” Beaton said, explaining that Adriana is working behind the scenes instead of skating. “For Elyse, that’s just not who she wants to be.”
Beaton speaks about Elyse’s resentment towards her little sister, Adriana.
“She’s such a hypercompetitive person, and Adriana is the person that she was pitted against her whole life, unfortunately, and she just hasn’t been able to see past that,” she said.
When host Wayne Ayers brought up the show’s love triangle, Beaton called it a strong one and said both Freddie and Brayden reveal different sides of Adriana.
“Freddie is so reliable and stable, and they obviously have a history,” she said. “But Brayden is kind of like a new fresh air, almost, and brings out a more rebellious side to Adriana.”
Beaton predicted viewers will have a strong reaction to a moment involving Elyse and Freddie, describing their kiss as a low point.
“I don’t think anybody is going to be behind it or think it was the right decision,” she said, adding that the characters realize immediately it was a mistake. “I hope it’s a moment. I think it’ll be another moment that fans love to hate.”
Asked whether Elyse respected Weston and whether she took him for granted, Beaton was blunt.
“Yeah, of course I do,” she said of Elyse taking him for granted. “She took him for granted in every way.”
Beaton also highlighted one of the season’s emotional turns, when Will Russo sells his gold medals to help cover travel for the Russo family.
“That’s such a heartbreaking scene,” she said, framing it as evidence of how far Will will go for his daughters and their rink community. The moment, she added, is also a reminder that audiences should “appreciate athletes after they’re done competing for us a little bit more.”
When Beaton was asked whether she could have any actor or actress join the second season.
“I’d love to keep it in the Canadian family,” she said, adding that she would prefer the show bring in new performers through auditions. Still, when pressed on dream cameos, she named Katherine O’Hara and suggested a crossover appearance by Hudson Williams from “Heated Rivalry.”
Beaton spoke about Elyse’s potential Season 2 arc.
“I would love to see her try and manage this new version, this kind of better version of herself, with the kind of athlete and competitor you have to be to go for gold in the Olympics,” she said.
Alexandra Beaton weighed the potential season 2 drama, revealing that switching partners is common in ice dancing and not unusual based on what she learned from the show’s doubles and skating references. And regarding a hypothetical romance between Will and Camille, Beaton said Elyse has complicated feelings about her father dating. Still, she also noted deep affection for Camille, who was close to the sisters’ mother.
Beaton thanked viewers ahead of the premiere.
“Thank you so much for watching,” she said. “Thank you for coming on this journey with these three sisters, these skating sisters. We really, really appreciate it, and we don’t take for granted letting us into your home and spending your time with us.”
