Mickey Sumner — The Bare Magazine

Mickey Sumner has displayed her incredible talents portraying Bess Till for the past four seasons of Snowpiercer which will end its successful run with the final episode September 22nd on AMC. Next up she stars alongside Elizabeth Banks in the medical drama A Mistake in theatres September 20th. We had the pleasure of meeting up with Mickey in the intimate setting of her lovely NYC home capturing some candid moments wearing some pieces by a few of her designer friends Batsheva and DeMeric topped by her new long lush mane of hair. Scroll on down for our photo diary & Mickey’s words on her forever Snowpiercer family, what she’d like her next dream project to include, latest girl crush, fitness, style, interior design appreciation and those bare essentials we love to hear about.

The Bare Magazine: Please share what you loved most about being a part of Snowpiercer and your character Bess?

Mickey Sumner: Oooh so many things to love! Bess Till was my dream role at that time - I had always wanted an action role and she is badass, funny, tough, and vulnerable. I loved learning stunts with our stunt team and in this final season we took helicopters up to the glaciers in Whistler and filmed in the snow. When you get to play a role for four seasons you have the privilege of growing with your character, I think I became a better and more confident actor - I learned so much from my fellow castmates, our incredible crew, and all our directors. I loved filming our last two seasons the best - I felt i really knew who Bess Till was by then, I didn't question myself and maybe it was because we were all so close by then - but it was so fun and I just didn't question myself.

Bare: Can you briefly describe the bonds you formed with your costars and the impact being a part of their world had on you personally and professionally?

MS: I will never think of Snowpiercer as just a job. We shot the pilot when my son was 7 months old and now he is 7 years old - I think of everyone in that cast as my sisters and brothers, they will forever be part of my family. We’ve all been through so much together, including a global pandemic, which really bonded us all. Filming our final season was bittersweet - I miss them all, thank god we still have our group chat going, and are still very much in each other's lives.

Bare: The short hair you wore for Snowpiercer was gorgeous - but it seems you're enjoying the change of having long locks & it suits you well! Do you have a go-to hair cutter/stylist?

MS: I like changing my hair for each project, actually, it's more of a need, and it helps me find the character. I have long hair for a movie I'm shooting right now - and yes I'm loving the locks after 4 years of a severe undercut!

For Snowpiercer I changed my hair every season - it got shorter and shorter :), by the fourth season, the reference I gave our hair department was Joan of Arc.

In between jobs, I get my color done by Madison Rae Garrett at Spoke & Weal in SoHo and Ayumi Yamamoto cuts my hair.

Bare: When we shot you had just finished filming and one of the costumes for the opening scene is VERY body revealing. Tell us how you stay so fit and tone. Do you still run (you were victorious in your NYC marathon run!)?

MS: I started training for the Marathon during the SAG & WGA strike, so I had something to work towards and so I wouldn't get depressed about not working - doing the NYC marathon was incredible but to be honest I haven't gone on a run since! I'd love to one day do the London and Tokyo marathon - but have to psych myself up again for the training regimen.

I do weights and strength training once a week and I love Pilates and The Class. But I have to change up my workouts frequently, otherwise I get bored - I need to be challenged mentally and physically. I also love just doing YouTube mini workouts at home - I'm a bit addicted to Lilly Sabri's videos - it’s free, you don't need equipment and she has super short workouts - 8 minutes abs is my ideal workout!

Bare: What draws you to a project? What are some key elements that make you want to jump into a role?

MS: Good writing! And usually, if a role scares the shit out of me that will make me jump. I don't want to repeat roles, I want to keep challenging myself. My next dream role would be one that includes horse riding and a corset.

Bare: Describe some grounding forces that keep you mentally and emotionally in a healthy place? Even self-care treatments and products you love.

MS: Therapy !! I love therapy - couldn't manage without it.

I'm not very disciplined at meditating - but I love the INSIGHT app on my phone - and find it especially good for anxiety.

And gardening with my boyfriend!! I learned how to garden during the pandemic and I find it so so calming and so satisfying and joyful growing things!

Bare: Your sense of style is so unique and very much your own. Can you describe your personal aesthetic and taste? Please share your latest fashion favorites.

MS: I like having fun with clothes - I’m not big into following trends. I love clothes that are unique and make me feel good - I want clothes that are well-made and last a long time. And cozy is always a plus - I currently can't get out of my Roucha sweatpants and my Rowan t-shirts.

Bare: We shot in your home and got a great sense of you! Would saying you have a great love of art, photography, books, music, family and natural beauty products be pretty accurate?! (Please expand on any of these) .

MS: Very accurate. My home is really important to me - I love interior design. I want my apartment to feel cozy, calm and inspiring. I went to Parsons School of Design for Fine Art, so whilst I do own novels and plays, most of my books are art and photography books - My son has taken a great interest in them so I keep them all at ground level so he has easy access to them.

Bare: Can you give us a sneak peek into your experience working alongside Elizabeth Banks in A Mistake and filming in New Zealand?

MS: I have such a girl crush on EB - she is an absolute all-star and endlessly inspiring on and off set - I learned so much from her.

In the movie, I play a scrub nurse and for the opening scene we had to learn to perform a pretty intense surgery from start to finish - I got to train with an amazing surgeon and scrub nurse who gave me a three-day crash course in the OR - I learned about trocars, different stitches, how to hold instruments correctly and not pass out with all the blood - I loved it - the adrenaline rush was real!

Bare: Please list your top 5 Bare Essentials.

MS:

Gods eye oils - I gave my boyfriend the Alter scent - and I love it so much. The body oil is also incredible. https://godseyeoils.com/
Fancy Peasant olive oil for cooking https://fancypeasant.com/collections/oils
Josie Maran sugar and argan oil body scrub
Naked and Thriving Renew night serum
K18 Molecular hair repair mask