[Interview] Megan Montaner for 30 COINS Season 2

In 30 COINS Season 2, most residents of Pedraza, a remote town in Spain plagued by inexplicable, demonic events, have lost their minds and are confined to a psychiatric hospital. Elena (Megan Montaner) lies comatose in a Madrid hospital bed; Paco, shattered by remorse, tries to take care of her. As the horror intensifies around them, our group of heroes must face a mysterious new enemy (Paul Giamatti) – someone so perverse that even the devil fears him.

Ahead of the premiere of 30 COINS Season 2, Nightmarish Conjurings’ Sarah Musnicky e-chatted with actress Megan Montaner about her part in the show. During their conversation, they discussed where we find Elena in 30 COINS Season 2, how her character Elena’s relationships have changed since we saw her last, and what she hopes viewers take away from this new season.

30 COINS Season 1 was a show of extremes. Season 2 is no different. We see this in Elena’s journey. From starting off the season comatose only to then be on the run for almost the entire season, how did the constant physical extremes of this season impact your approach to Elena’s emotional journey?

Megan Montaner: The truth is that it is a very demanding series both physically and mentally. The action sequences require a minimum of being in shape to avoid injury and on the other hand to face such extreme scenes as for example the delivery of the 3rd chapter requires a lot of concentration and energy dosage.

Elena’s journey, both in the first season and in this second one, is a constant struggle against all kinds of variations of evil, only this time she already knows it.

For Elena and Paco, there’s a lot of tension once she wakes up for obvious reasons. But they stick together almost the entire time. What was the process like in re-establishing and almost re-drawing the parameters of their relationship with Miguel going into this season? It’s almost a night and day difference.

Megan Montaner: The situation that happens once Elena wakes up from the coma does not allow their relationship to be the same as in the first season. Now Elena distrusts Paco and will have to look for answers to understand everything that is happening and return to being the team they were. But it is clear that they are united by many experiences.

Elena and Vergara had a very close relationship in Season 1. In Season 2, they are separated and there’s almost a breakdown of trust in part because of everything Elena experienced while in the coma. Can you talk through your approach to playing with those complicated emotions? Elena still trusts him but there’s that doubt and it lingers as she tries to figure out her role in the master plan.

Megan Montaner: After all the things that have happened to Elena since the first season, it is normal that she does not trust anyone and carries a backpack of fears. Even so, she knows that Vergara from somewhere in hell is trying to help her, and she will let him guide her.

There are so many action sequences that involve a lot of terrifying one-on-one encounters with practical effects. Whether monsters or dangerous robotic creations or people, Elena doesn’t get a break. What was your favorite action sequence to shoot and why? I’m partial to the Toledo automaton post-book retrieval.

Megan Montaner: I think the underworld sequences. It was amazing to see all that display that Alex had imagined in his head in front of you. How real all those monsters looked, the aesthetics, the artwork he did, costumes, makeup, hair, effects… it was really quite an experience.

What are you most excited for fans to experience in Elena’s journey this season?

Megan Montaner: That everything is much more extreme and addictive.

You can catch 30 COINS Season 2 over at MAX, with new episodes premiering on Mondays.

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Sarah Musnicky

Editor-in-Chief/Co-Owner at Nightmarish Conjurings

Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Owner of Nightmarish Conjurings. Most may know her due to her desire to literally hug anything that could kill her, but also making sure that everyone is squared away and sanity is intact.

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