“Motherland: Fort Salem” Exclusive: Diana Pavlovská Breaks Down Willa’s “Absolutely Heartbreaking” Death & Working With On-Screen Daughter Taylor Hickson
We didn’t think it would ever happen; it never even crossed our minds. But on the latest episode of Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem, fans were dealt a devastating, gut-wrenching blow, with what just may be the series’ biggest shocker ever. We are, of course, talking about the death of Raelle’s mother Willa Collar. If you’re still crying like we are, after just watching the episode, keep those tissues nearby.
In the second season’s seventh episode “Irrevocable,” Willa Collar makes the life-changing sacrifice of her own life in order to save Raelle’s. “It’s the mother lifting the car to save the baby; it’s the grizzly bear doing whatever she can to make sure that her baby is safe,” Diana Pavlovská (Willa) tells PopWire in an exclusive interview.
“Raelle is absolutely the most important person in Willa’s world. There was no decision. It was an absolute reaction to the moment of saving her baby and making sure that Raelle has the opportunity to live the life that she deserves.”
Diana reveals that what transpired was a long time in the making and she knew upfront about what was going to happen to her character. She admits that it was “really hard” keeping all of that in. “When I found out, I was sad, obviously,” she says. “It also makes complete sense. It is so consistent with how fierce Willa is. She’s fierce and she will fight to the end. It absolutely makes sense that that’s ultimately what she would need to do when the stakes are as high as they got.”
The actress shares that keeping that secret was definitely hard, but after production on the Freeform series halted due to the pandemic, that little nugget of information had gone forgotten. “I just compartmentalized it and put it away,” Pavlovská says. “But as we were all speculating on what was going to come and how this was going to go, I just really had to keep my mouth shut — and I did,” she says with a laugh.
Even though she knew what was coming and — as the episode got closer — when it was coming, she says that it was “absolutely heartbreaking” going through that script for the first time. “I was crying as I was reading the episode when we did our Zoom table read. We cried,” she says.
“The Zoom room was very [*gasps out loud*] as people were realizing what was about to happen. It’s satisfying that Willa gets to have that poetry and be able to give that to Raelle, and really see through to the end of her mission, which is making sure that Raelle is protected at all costs.”
Leading up to the moment where they got to film the heartbreaking scene, Diana says it was “epic” and “so special.” “[Willa and Raelle] have been talking about each other for so long, and we never get to see each other,” she says. “To finally have that moment where we can actually connect after talking about each other for a season and a half, it was incredibly special.
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“When we were actually shooting it, it was tough. The crew, us, the cast, we had a really hard time getting through it. I have to say that shooting that with Taylor [Hickson], she would bring 100% to each take no matter whose coverage it was. In the same way that the scene was so difficult to shoot because of the context, it was so easy to shoot with her because it was just so nice to be able to finally, finally meet and have that moment together.
“It was such a relief and it was really epic,” she continues. “We both felt it, that’s for sure. I think it rippled through the set that day. The crew was incredible. They created an amazing space for us to be able to go to the depths of the emotions that one would feel.”
Earlier in the season on Motherland: Fort Salem, the Unit competed for a chance to commune with the dead during Samhain. And as Willa’s best friend Quinn says, the requested dead cannot refuse to appear. Now that Willa is officially “on the other side,” could it be possible for series creator Eliot Laurence to bring her back during the next Samhain?
“From your lips to Eliot’s ears!” she tells us with a big laugh. “The show is magical [so anything can happen]. I’m like, ‘If they can talk to the dead, wouldn’t that be nice [to bring Willa back]? Because she’s dead.’
“Being able to have that moment between Willa and Raelle [in episode 7], to be able to at least say something, that’s something that people don’t get,” she adds, “especially when they lose people that they love. They just don’t get that final moment. So at least having that was really special. So if that’s where it ends, I’m happy.”
Whether or not she returns to the Freeform series in some capacity in the future, that is unknown. But the actress says she is completely grateful for her time on the show and grateful for all of the fans as well. “Thank you,” Diana Pavlovská says to the fans. “Thank you for your passion and your love and your support for the characters and for the tough journey that Willa has had.
“We have one of the best, most amazing fandoms out there. I would say to those fans, Willa’s journey has been fun and enigmatic, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. And go hug somebody that you love, because, hey, that’s what it’s all about. Make sure you say [to that person, ‘I love you’] now. Make sure you say it now.”
Motherland: Fort Salem airs Tuesdays at 10pm on Freeform.