Not every show sparks a debate after every episode—but Alice and Steve just might—and that's exactly what drew Yali Topol Margalith to the show. As Izzy, she steps into a story full of complicated relationships, messy emotions, and questions without easy answers.
With the show now streaming, we caught up with Yali to chat about what intrigued her most about the role, why audiences are drawn to morally gray stories, and the surprising way the show balances its most provocative moments with humor.
The premise of Alice and Steve is definitely provocative. What convinced you that this was a story worth telling?
I thought the script was just brilliant, and the way that Sophie [Goodhart] explores each character, each story, and each side of every argument is just brilliant. I mean, I've never read anything like it. I've never seen anything like it. I was so intrigued, and honestly, just auditioning for it was so much fun. I got to read four episodes before my tape, which was so helpful to understand the tone. I got a little message from our amazing director, Tom Kingsley, that sort of explained the tone as well. It just made the whole thing really fun.
Alice and Steve has been described as an “anti-romantic comedy.” What does that term mean to you?
I do find that a lot of the show is like a rom-com…[but] it's like it's some of it is like a rom-com, some of it is like a revenge story.
What drew you to Izzy specifically? And how would you describe Izzy to someone who hasn't seen the show yet?
I think Izzy's role in the show is to kind of be the adult. I found that really interesting and really different from anything I've done before. I would describe Izzy as a confident 26-year-old who is very interested in exploring who she is, what she is to the world, how she comes across, and what her purpose is. She's a psychology student, which means she's becoming really self-aware, which is a really weird thing to go through, and I think that's what makes you do things that you kind of get blinded by the exploration sometimes, and how it affects the people around you. I think we all have either been this person or we know people who have gone through this. I think she's definitely in a weird place.
Did playing her challenge any of your own assumptions about love, relationships, or family?
The amazing thing about the script is that Sophie Goodhart explores everything for you, and everything is so clear. I didn't feel like I needed to bring any of myself into it, or any of my opinions, or any of my experiences. It was all just there and clear, and I just wanted to honor the script, because it just felt perfect.
The show asks how far people will go for love—or revenge. Which theme resonated with you more while filming?
I think they go together. Nicola [Walker] has said this a couple of times, but she says she fights so hard because she loves so hard. Alice, not Nicola! I think the more they love each other, the harder they fight for the things that they love. I think Izzy really, really, really believes in her mum and believes that her mum will come through and will accept this and support her, and that's where her fight is.
The story is also sort of messy! Why do you think audiences are drawn to stories that embrace those gray areas?
I think because it's a story that explores a gray area. I don't know about you, but I've not seen many things like this that aren't shocking for the sake of being shocking. The topic sort of grips you because it's shocking, and not many people are able to talk about it or want to talk about it, but it doesn't actually happen to shock you. Sophie didn't write it to shock you as a viewer, and the way that we filmed it and the way we explore it isn't to shock people; it's just to make them laugh.
If audiences take away one thing from Alice and Steve, what do you hope it is?
I hope they have a really good time watching it. I hope it's thought-provoking for them. And also, I hope that they binge-watch it all in one sitting.
Is your recommendation to binge-watch it?
It is, because I think you should watch this series with other people, and I think you should then pause and discuss.