Aubri Ibrag on Period Dramas, Inner Strength, and The Buccaneers
Through the exploration of gender roles and power dynamics, The Buccaneers has both redefined and revitalized the importance of the period drama. Portrayed by the shining Aubri Ibrag, Lizzy Elmsworth finds herself within the crosshairs of Lord Seadown’s abuse of power within the hit show’s first season, prompting her inspiring and modern response to the perennial injustice that is exploitation.
As the eldest Elmsworth sister, it was Lizzy’s insightful revelations that worked her so charmingly into the hearts of viewers all over the world – and even changed Ibrag’s perspective on many things. Our publisher, Kristin Prim, spoke with Aubri earlier this year to discuss the politics of debutante balls, Black Swan, and all things Buccaneers.
KP: The Buccaneers was just renewed for a second season – congratulations! What do you think it is about period dramas that people are hooking so into today? What is it about them for you personally that drew you in?
AI: Thank you! I think period dramas allow people to daydream and experience the glamour of the Regency era along with the scandal and the not-so-glamourous aspects that come with it all, which I personally find really entertaining because it’s not something that we see every day. It’s fascinating to see what people lived like in the past. The Buccaneers feels modern and explores that world in a way that feels relatable and universal to people, even now, which is what I found so unique and irresistible about our show. I’m so excited to see what will unfold in the next chapter.
KP: The Buccaneers often explores abusive relationships, particularly those with people in power. Perhaps one of the strengths of period pieces is to show just how relevant the abuse of power is, not only then, but unfortunately still today as well. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and it seems so often that we have still not learned from our history. How important was that to you upon choosing the role of Lizzy, a character who was often embroiled in such manipulation? Is there anything that you learned or explored through her role that you would like to share?
AI: Abuse of power is such a universal theme that is unfortunately still relatable. In the 19th century, men with titles had the upper hand over the women who were taught endlessly the importance of marrying into a title in order to have a good life and be respected in society. Lizzy quickly learns that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be as she finds herself being taken advantage of, humiliated, and bullied by a so called “eligible” bachelor with a shiny title. I felt very sorry for Lizzy and learned, through her, how shame and the fear of being “ruined” can silence victims and stop them from calling out manipulative, abusive behavior. She couldn’t say anything about what Seadown did to her because if it got out, she would be ruined, along with her sister. It made me so happy to see her let go of some of her shame after realizing that she was not the one to blame for what happened to her. The sentence that Lizzy says in episode 5, that the shame “is not mine to keep,” has changed my perspective on a lot of things.
KP: When I was younger, I was signed with a publicist who wanted me to “come out” at a debutante ball, something that couldn’t be further from who I am, especially as a gay woman. Needless to say, we ended up parting ways not soon thereafter. I thought so much about this during the debutante scene in Buccaneers, which I fully appreciated for not romanticizing the whole aspect of being a debutante. Essentially, it’s a group of women who existed and yearned solely for the approval of men. I often found the show playing so often with that theme – to me, in many ways, The Buccaneers can be viewed as a period piece that appreciates the beauty of that era while also not ignoring the more toxic bedrock of it all. Was this something that you keyed into while reviewing the script? Do you hope it can explore this further?
AI: Before being on The Buccaneers, I never really questioned the whole “Debutante Ball” idea and thought of it only as something glamorous, fascinating, and lovely, because that is how it’s normally portrayed. As I started researching it and learning what it all is really about, I had a very different view. Of course there is beauty in pretty gowns and finding love, but a ball dedicated to men making their “pick” out of a large crowd of women who are dying to be chosen – that is hardly romance. It gives men complete power to define the “worth” of a woman in that society, which I think is pretty outrageous considering that these girls have so much more to offer than good posture and looking pretty in a gown. I think it’s so important to see the reality of it all.
KP: I’ve never been an actress and I find it so fascinating to speak with actors for Noir because everyone chooses their roles so differently. What made you so interested in playing Lizzy? Is there anything in her character that you inherently related to? That you learned from?
AI: I’m a big period drama fan, so it was a no brainer for me that I wanted to be a part of The Buccaneers. I get excited about playing characters who I feel empathetic towards.
Lizzy is so selfless, compassionate, and brimming with unconditional love. I love who she is as a person and feel a lot of sympathy for what she has to go through. She keeps her suffering, thoughts, and troubles to herself to not ruffle any feathers, which breaks my heart. I can relate to how sometimes it can be hard to speak your mind in fear of being judged or rejected. So seeing Lizzy be brave in owning her independence and standing her ground more towards the end of the season made me very proud. Lizzy is so lovable – it’s amazing to get to explore and live with her on The Buccaneers.
“The sentence that Lizzy says in episode 5, that the shame ‘is not mine to keep,’ has changed my perspective on a lot of things.”
KP: You were a competitive runner before turning to acting. Before I got involved in any other industry, I, too, was a very competitive athlete, and I often find that so much of the skills I honed back then lend themselves to my confidence and belief in my work now. Do you find the same? And do you still run? I was never a good long distance runner, but I was an excellent sprinter, for whatever that’s worth. [Laughs].
AI: That’s amazing! I love running and still run a lot for fun. It helps me clear my mind and feel strong in what my body can do. I used to train pretty much every single day for about five years, which I think has taught me discipline and great exercise habits. I love running, but I found the competition part of it all too nerve racking to enjoy it. I hated races because they made me so nervous that I started dreading it. I used to do 400m races, which are brutal. When I stopped racing and started running for my own enjoyment, I rediscovered my love for it because it took the pressure off.
KP: You’ve spoken out about people’s criticism online. What advice would you lend to women who struggle with criticism, especially regarding their appearance? Is there anything that has made you confident in being able to present yourself exactly the way you want to?
AI: I think at the end of the day there will always be someone who has something negative to say about what you wear, how you do your hair, etc… and you can’t make everyone happy. especially when it comes to social media. It only makes sense to just focus on doing what makes you happy and feel confident about yourself. Though sometimes that is easier said than done! I feel like I went through a lot of different phases growing up when it came to fashion. The most questionable one of my phases was when I was obsessed with Queen so I started dressing like Freddie Mercury. Yup. I laugh about it now, but at the time I felt very cool. [Laughs].
KP: You’ve said that if you weren’t an actress, you’d want to be a detective, and it’s so funny, because it’s still my dream job, even after all of this. Over the pandemic, I actually looked into going back to school for it, but at least in New York you have to put in time on the police force first, and I have zero interest in doing that, so my dream came to a very deflating and bitter end. What is it about that line of work that fascinates you? Is it something that you’d ever want to explore in the future?
AI: I almost started a criminology degree a couple of years ago when I realized that I was obsessively watching interrogation videos on YouTube and true crime documentaries for hours on end during the covid lockdown. I really enjoy solving mysteries and am very good at catching lies and digging up evidence, so I feel like I’m cut out for the job. [Laughs]. I feel like there would never be a dull day in the life of a detective, but for now I think I’ll just enjoy watching cases getting solved from my couch. Though I really hope I get to act in a crime TV drama like The Staircase.
KP: You’ve also said that one of your favorite roles was Natalie Portman in Black Swan, something that I also couldn’t agree with more. I first saw it in theaters when I was sixteen and I went back after that to see it twelve more times before it left the cinemas. It’s such a brilliant film, and one of those that I still find new things in upon watching it today, especially during the club scene. I think it’s Aronofsky’s finest. What is it that you love about Black Swan and what are some of your other favorite films?
AI: Black Swan has been one of my favorite movies for a long time. It is about the price of trying to achieve perfection. It’s beautiful and devastating, compelling and extraordinary. I didn’t know what to expect throughout the whole film when I was watching it for the first time and was blown away by the story, cinematography, and acting. I’m really interested in the ballet world, which is shown to be dark and intricate. I can relate on some level to Nina’s passion/obsession with her art. Aronofsky lets us into Nina’s mind in a way that allows us to feel the pain, insecurities, and suffering that she feels as she struggles to maintain her sanity balancing both of her “Odette” and “Odile” identities.
Other films I’ve been enjoying recently are Poor Things, How to Have Sex, and Past Lives.
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Photography: Stephanie Diani
