Since its release on 25 September, Wayward has topped the Netflix charts, as subscribers have flocked to watch new Tall Pines police officer Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin) uncover the secrets of the sinister Tall Pines Academy and its unsettling head teacher Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette).

“The reaction to the show has been so incredible,” declares Alyvia Alyn Lind, who stars as Leila, a troubled teenager who breaks into Tall Pines Academy to save her best friend Abbie (Sydney Topliffe). “To be number one globally for two weeks in a row is a dream.” The success of Wayward is particularly pleasing for Lind (and everyone involved) because of how deeply personal the story is to Martin, who also created and is the showrunner on the series.

While Wayward’s story and characters are entirely fictional, Martin’s best friend in high school was sent to an institution just like Tall Pines Academy. During the two years she attended, Martin’s friend would tell them “insane stories” about the school’s use of “weirdly theatrical aggressive therapy.” While that school was later closed because of the neglect dished out to its students, recent investigations have revealed that many similar schools were just as abusive.

“I wanted there to be a light shone on this industry that’s never really talked about,” explains Lind. “So to see so many people watching it has blown my mind. People online are sharing their own stories of being sent to schools like Tall Pines. The show has made them feel comfortable to come forward about their experiences and how they relate to the show. It’s insane to think so many people have actually gone through this.”

Lind fell in love with the script for Wayward instantly. Having previously appeared in The Young and the Restless, Daybreak, and Chucky, Lind could instantly picture how inspiring, suspenseful, and scary it would be, while she was also attracted to the realism of the friendship between Leila and Abbie. “I wanted to do anything to be involved in the show,” admits Lind. “I literally called my agent after I read it and told him I needed to be in it because the writing was so good!”

Luckily, Lind was able to get some inside help to prepare her audition tape. Not only is Lind’s mother, Barbara, an actress, but her older sisters Emily and Natalie are, too. They spent several hours looking over the script with Alyvia, helping her break it down, giving her new ideas, and making her feel confident about the character and her portrayal. After initially putting herself on tape for Abbie, Martin saw something in Lind that made them believe she would actually be perfect for Leila.

After flying to Toronto to do a chemistry test with Topliffe, the pair became fast friends. “We didn’t stop talking for five minutes,” laughs Lind. “We bonded over our love of Noughties films, High School Musical, and we’d go for picnics in Bellwoods Park. Becoming so close really helped our performances, plus, it just made filming so much fun.”

Martin also sent Lind and Topliffe an extensive document that broke down the inspirations behind the show, how close they were to their best friend as a teenager in high school, the music they would listen to, and why the story was so important for them to tell. Immediately after reading the document, Lind felt an extra responsibility to do the show justice. “This didn’t just affect people in the past, it still impacts people to this day,” explains Lind.

It wasn’t just the vitalness of the story that made working on Wayward such a seismic experience for Lind. She’s been a huge fan of Martin’s work for years, in particular their stand-up comedy and Feel Good, the 2020 rom-com they created and starred in. “They are such an awesome person, they’re so hilarious and open to collaboration. They gave me and Sydney the freedom to make the characters our own and add our own voices.”

Lind was especially excited to share the screen with Collette, too, as the Oscar-nominated star of The Sixth Sense has long been one of her favourite actors. “I’m such a horror fan. I’ve seen Hereditary a hundred times. Little Miss Sunshine is one of my other favourite movies. Everything she touches just turns to gold.” Collette wasn’t actually involved in Wayward at the time Lind signed up to star; she was in a furniture store when her friend and Chucky co-star Jackson Kelly saw online that Collette had joined the cast. “I screamed and everybody looked at me. I actually screamed, I was that excited to work with her.”

Collette proved to be, not just a great collaborator, but also a tremendous human being. Lind turned 18 during a night shoot while making the show and Collette made sure to embrace her at midnight. “She gave me the biggest hug. She is the kindest, sweetest and warmest person I have ever met. All of my nerves about working with her washed away when I met her.”

With Wayward proving to be a huge hit for Netflix, there has already been speculation that a second season might follow, even though it was always intended to be a standalone mini-series. Far from being coy about the show’s future, Lind says she would sign up for a follow-up in an instant. “I want it so badly. If Netflix wants to make more, I am flying to Toronto tomorrow. I love this show so much; I would love to continue the story.”

In the meantime, Lind is just excited to carry on playing more complex and layered roles, while taking her first creative steps as a writer and producer. “I just want to focus on playing more roles that I can really sink my teeth into. Leila pushed me to a place that I haven’t gone before. That’s really exciting to me.”

Wayward is available to stream on Netflix now.

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