Blonde Ambition: Hayes Warner Represents an '80s Teen Fantasy in The Shards

      This summer has been filled with high school dramas, but none are as stylish, sensual, and thrilling as Ryan Murphy's latest creation, The Shards. This steamy thriller, inspired by Bret Easton Ellis's best-selling novel of the same name, has all the ingredients for a perfect summer binge: a captivating cast of new faces, a gripping murder mystery, and an excess of fashion and beauty. Set against the vibrant backdrop of early '80s Los Angeles, The Shards revolves around a fashionable social group at a prestigious prep school. The narrator of the story is Bret Ellis (Igby Rigney), a sharp senior and aspiring writer who is on the trail of a dangerous serial killer preying on wealthy teenagers. His glamorous companions include his girlfriend Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner), who hails from Hollywood royalty; the queen bee of the class, Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber); and her boyfriend, quarterback Thom Wright (Graham Campbell). While navigating their seemingly glamorous lives filled with parties, drugs, and sex, the arrival of a brooding new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere), disrupts their world.

      Debbie stands out with her striking platinum-blonde hair, sharp wit, and enviable wardrobe, making her a character we’re particularly drawn to. Her storyline is complex and worth exploring. Hayes Warner, the actress portraying her, shares this sentiment, having found Debbie to be her favorite character when she first read Ellis's novel. "She's spicy," says the 27-year-old over Zoom. While building her pop music career—releasing hit singles like "Predator" and performing at Lollapalooza—Hayes discovered her passion for acting when the audition for Debbie presented itself. She hadn’t felt such enthusiasm for an acting role in a long time.

      With a hit summer series to her name and original music featured on the soundtrack, Hayes is firmly on her path to becoming a versatile talent in Hollywood.

      Did you always want to be a performer? I grew up acting, singing, doing musical theater, and dancing. I went to Northwestern for musical theater, where I took acting seriously. My passion for songwriting led me on this journey, and I've embraced it. It is my first love. Over the last few years, I’ve toured, signed a publishing deal, and performed at events like Lollapalooza. While I was still auditioning for roles, my main focus was music because it felt most authentic to me. That’s how I felt when I saw the audition for The Shards.

      I grew up on Ryan Murphy's work, and I had already read The Shards. I loved Bret Easton Ellis's writing. When I read about Debbie in the book, I was immediately drawn to her; she seems to have more depth than what Bret perceives. I was excited to see how Ryan would elaborate on her backstory, especially in a scene with Debbie's mother, played by Evan Rachel Wood, in episode 2. Ryan's approach allows for a deeper understanding of Debbie that the book doesn’t provide while staying true to its essence.

      I tend to push my feelings down and maintain a façade that everything is okay, which some might find sad. I prefer to keep things in a mental cabinet—observing behavior without escalating into arguments. I think Debbie does this too, and I enjoyed portraying her.

      What was it like to meet and work with Ryan Murphy? It was a dream come true for me to work with one of my creative idols. My family is not in the entertainment industry. Initially, they viewed it as a hobby until I showed them I could make a career out of it. At the premiere, my mom met Ryan, and he was incredibly kind about my efforts. I fought hard for this role, and my mom saw how much it changed my life when I moved to L.A. on a whim. It was surreal to see that Hollywood dream unfold in front of my family.

      I am extremely grateful to Ryan for the opportunity and for his trust in me and my abilities. He was deeply involved in The Shards, directing several episodes and often dining with us after filming. We’ve become quite close, which is a remarkable experience that has allowed us to witness his meticulous attention to detail on set.

      Is there a Ryan Murphy project that has greatly influenced you? For a theater kid like me, Glee was transformative. It was the first TV show I was genuinely obsessed with, and I watched it every Tuesday with my parents.

      What was it like to immerse yourself in the 1981 world that Murphy and Ellis created? The level of detail in these productions is astounding. While filming the first episode, it felt surreal to drive classic Mercedes on the Pacific Coast Highway. Even in scenes like car chases, the environment was accurately styled to reflect the '80s. As an actor, it’s a true gift when the setting is so immersive, taking you