Maude Apatow Caught the Acting Bug From Musicals

The Euphoria costar opens up about her famous parents, her decision to leave college, and her next project with Pete Davidson.

VANITY FAIRYou just caught an early flight to L.A. to make a BTS concert at the Rose Bowl. How was it?
So worth it. They have the most insanely complicated choreography and everyone is losing their minds. It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.

You’re a proud Angeleno and essentially grew up on movie sets, thanks to early roles in your dad [Judd Apatow]’s films. What’s your earliest memory from being on set?
I was so young that I don’t really remember anything besides liking it. I’ve been so lucky to be on sets my whole life, but I actually got the acting bug from doing musicals in high school, like Cabaret and Into the Woods, so it always seemed like that’s where I was headed.

Will we see you onstage soon? What would your dream role be?
Maybe one day. That’s the goal. I know it’s far off, but it would be a dream to play Mama Rose in Gypsy. Seeing Patti LuPone do it changed my life. I can always count on watching a musical to remind me why I’m acting.

You were studying theater at Northwestern but left last year. What was the impetus for stepping away?
My mom made a joke that it was because it was too cold and all of these people tweeted, “You’re so privileged. That’s obnoxious.” They didn’t know the situation. I would not leave a place because I was cold. I took a break because I was having a really hard time there, and when I was planning on going back, I got cast in Euphoria. I wanted to make sure if I was leaving school to act that it was worth it, and Euphoria is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s intense and hard to watch, but I’m so lucky I got it, because shows like this don’t happen all the time.

The series is a very raw look at high school today. Your character, Lexi, isn’t exactly the leader of the pack. What was your high school experience like?
Lexi gets left out and feels really alone—I kind of went through that in high school. She’s grown apart from Zendaya’s character, but when you go to school with the same kids for so long, a relationship that would’ve fizzled is maintained—someone still has your back. I have friends like that.

What do you hope people take away from the show?
Hopefully it helps us understand the pressures of social media and college, because people are going insane right now. I think the solution is listening and starting a conversation with compassion.

What’s next for you?
I’m filming a new movie with Pete Davidson in his hometown of Staten Island. I play his younger sister who’s going away to college. I actually met Pete when I visited the Trainwreck set—I was so nervous to talk to him. I didn’t have a part, but I went to watch my dad direct. I want to direct someday, too.