Alexa Demie is setting the record straight after rumors surfaced claiming she was planning to retire from acting.
In an interview with Alexa Demie published on Sunday (May 31), the 35-year-old Euphoria star addressed speculation that began after comments from a 2020 podcast interview were recently reshared online without their original context.
“Should we just ride with it?” she joked when asked about the retirement claims, before explaining that the remarks stemmed from frustrations she experienced earlier in her career and uncertainty about her place in the entertainment industry.
Speaking with journalist Seija Rankin, Demie reflected on a time before landing her breakout role on Euphoria. She recalled reading a casting breakdown for a lead role that specifically excluded Hispanic backgrounds from the list of accepted ethnicities.
“I was reading it, and it really hit me — and I kept having that experience,” she said. “I was sick of going into those rooms, and this was during that time when you’re young and every few months you’re just like, ‘I’m quitting, I’m quitting.’ But knowing me, I never would have quit. I’m more of the energy of like, ‘No, I’m going to show you I can do it.’”
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson also weighed in on the discussion, dismissing comparisons between Demie’s career path and those of her co-stars.
“I think there’s a misconception about Alexa, and I’ve always rejected the framework of, ‘Oh, Alexa should have what Sydney or someone else has, because that’s a very high school mentality to bring to the craft,” Levinson said.
He continued, “I think Alexa is doing everything that she wants, and if she doesn’t have something, it’s because she doesn’t want it. I see her as completely fulfilled.”
Demie also challenged assumptions about her level of fame and ambition, revealing that friends often send her posts discussing why she isn’t more visible in Hollywood.
“It’s like, did you ever think that I don’t want it?” she said. “People really take the authority out of your hands. What happened to my ability to choose? I like my life like this, and I wouldn’t change it.”
While she acknowledged having personal goals and aspirations, Demie made it clear that she prefers to keep those plans private.
“There are goals, and things that I want, but I’m choosing to keep that private,” she added.
Meanwhile, the third season of Euphoria is nearing its conclusion, with what is believed to be the show’s final episode airing on Sunday (May 31) on HBO.
