Madeline Brewer considers You's final episode to be her proudest involvement.

      Madeline Brewer is a devoted fan of You. She's watched every season since it originally aired on Lifetime and is well-versed in all the show's intricacies. If a You trivia game existed, she'd undoubtedly excel. Therefore, it’s not too shocking to learn that the actress has subtly been aiming to join the Netflix series since its inception. After a six-year wait, the showrunners finally had the perfect role for her in the highly-anticipated fifth and final season: Bronte.

      Brewer portrays Bronte, an aptly named aspiring playwright and book lover, set against the backdrop of where You all began: Mooney's bookstore in New York City. This intriguing young woman attracts the attention of the murderous protagonist Joe (Penn Badgley) after an awkward late-night encounter while she was "borrowing" books from Mooney's. With her own secrets, Bronte is completely captivating to Joe, but can he truly trust her? What role will she play in Joe's ultimate downfall? These are the central mysteries of this season.

      In addition to her significant role in You, Brewer is bidding farewell to her long-standing character Janine as The Handmaid's Tale concludes this month. She may be entering her "final season" phase, but as the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens, and Brewer has grand plans for her next steps.

      When you received a call about a role in season five of You, what was your initial reaction?

      I've been expressing my desire to be part of this show to my agent ever since it was on Lifetime because my agent represents Penn [Badgley]. I've been a huge fan since season one, suggesting every year, "If there's an opportunity, I'd love to be involved." This year, thankfully, there was a perfect role for me.

      You truly manifested this from the get-go.

      Absolutely, my agent has a bit of a magical touch. She’s quite remarkable.

      As a long-time fan, what do you love about the show?

      It's subversive. The topics they approach from the start… In my view, season one is a flawless season of television. It’s tremendously entertaining, binge-worthy, and captivating. Once the season ends, you find yourself questioning, "Who was that guy? Why did he act the way he did?" They cast the Gossip Girl actor, and people will fall in love with him, prompting you to ponder why. Am I infatuated with just a pretty face? Is it really that simple? What am I willing to overlook simply because someone is attractive, charming, or charismatic? What does that reveal about me? About society? It also highlights the implications of him being a good-looking white man in New York. What is the standard for dating? I believe it illustrates the excuses we make for attractive white individuals and the things we let them get away with that wouldn't be tolerated in other demographics. The show does an exceptional job of reflecting this unhealthy reality back to society. Penn has portrayed this role beautifully; it's commendable and responsible of him to understand that his character isn't a heartthrob—he is a dangerous individual. He's a literal murderer. I find it incredibly clever, and I admire that.

      Let's discuss your character, Bronte. What excites you about her?

      During my first meeting with showrunners Michael [Foley] and Justin [W. Lo], they provided some insight into her character and the tone they envisioned for the season. They were establishing the foundation, and honestly, I would have taken on any role—I'd have been happy just to walk in the background. But I was fortunate that they created this intriguing, dangerous, eccentric, and courageous woman. That was my initial impression—what a bold and unusual person. The more I learned about her, the crazier she seemed, but that’s also the enjoyable aspect.

      What references did you use to connect with this character?

      A significant part of her storyline centers around the fiction fantasy-romance genre. This role fits me perfectly because she's a book lover, just like I am, even though our preferences differ. I'm not particularly into fiction, fantasy, or romance. However, I dived into a major series because it's such an integral part of her life. For her, reading those sexy fairy tales represents an essential form of escapism, which served as my entry point—immersing myself in what she labels "sexy fairy smut."

      Do you have a favorite author or book within that genre?

      In general, I adore Anaïs Nin, whom Bronte knows well. The genre often features a lot of teasing; Anaïs gets right into it with her evocative prose, while in fantasy literature, they prolong the tension for pages, and I just can't deal with that. I'm impatient—let's get to the point.

      Season five revisits the origins of the show—New York City and Mooney's bookstore. How was it for you to step back into that world after