Abigail Cowen: An Actress Encouraging Us To Embrace Our Differences and Advocate for Our Mental Health Needs

Trigger warning: This article discusses mental health, bullying, and suicide.

2020 left many of us feeling powerless, but this new year is a chance to reclaim our powers. There’s no better way to welcome in this energy than by watching the new Fate: The Winx Saga series, featuring Abigail Cowen, who stars as Bloom in this new Netflix series. Bloom shows all of us that it’s our differences that make us a force to be reckoned with. If you’re having some trouble uncovering your own unique power, read on for our interview with Abigail, who chats with us about her experience working on the set of Fate: The Winx Saga, her journey as an actress, and her passion for mental health advocacy. 

“Realize that healing isn’t linear. It won’t just be better tomorrow. It is a journey and a fight. You have to fight.”

Your new series Fate, based on the Winx Club series, is coming out very soon. How are you feeling about the release?
I’m very excited, but I’m also very nervous. It’s my first lead role in something. It’s a mixture of emotions. It’s excitement and nerves!

You play Bloom. Can you tell us a bit about her character in the series?
Bloom is an outsider. The show takes place in the Other World, but she was born in the human world. She found out around 16 years old that she has powers, and she was sent to the Other World to learn how to control them. She’s stubborn, so it’s kind of about her journey of learning about herself and developing friendships, all while trying to control these crazy powers. 

How do you think you’re alike and different from Bloom?
I would definitely say I relate to her stubborn personality. I’ve been kind of stubborn and hard-headed my whole life. I relate to Bloom a lot actually, especially at that age and the things she’s going through, figuring out who she is and coming to terms with herself. You know, the typical things most teenagers go through. I relate to her drive and stubbornness now in my life. I’d say the difference is… I don’t really know. I would say maybe just the fire powers. I don’t have those.

What do you think the biggest lesson you learned from Bloom was?
I’ve learned so much from Bloom. What makes you different is your superpower. It’s what makes you special and beautiful. It’s what makes you, you. But it can be scary at first. Playing her as a character, and going through those emotions with her, I think anyone can relate to that. The whole show is learning to accept what makes you different and what sets you apart.

I’ve watched only the first few episodes so obviously the fairies are still getting to know each other and there’s a bit of tension, but how was it working with so many awesome women behind the scenes?
It was amazing! It’s so special when you have a female-centered show like this. It makes for a wonderful environment on set and on screen. The cast just has these awesome, strong women that are all so supportive and encourage one another. That’s great to work and be around. We all became great friends and hit it off on day one. 

Giving you a second to brag on yourself, what do you think you brought to the table on the set of Fate: The Winx Saga?
You know, I think everyone brought something different. That was the main theme of it for everyone. I definitely have odd mannerisms. I don’t know if that’s a good thing. I know that’s what was mentioned to me. It was something I was insecure about because when I talk, I think I have dorky mannerisms. But like I said, being on set with so many people who were loving and really supportive of what makes you different, I kind of figured it could actually be incorporated with Bloom. I thought that was a nice realization for me. I hope that answers your question, but I don’t know if that’s a bragging moment. *laughs*

In what ways did this particular show or set challenge you as an actor?
In every way possible, to be honest. It was my first ever lead role. It was my first heavy role. That’s not to say there’s any such thing as a small role or small actor. It was just a role with a heavier responsibility. I felt like I was working day in and day out, long hours in crazy weather conditions. Just having that amount of responsibility and the different emotions to portray in different scenes in one day was a lot. I was very nervous going into it, and I had to overcome those nerves and get out of my head, never having done a lead role before. I really had to force myself to go for it and also just seek out support and advice from people on set. Having that supportive environment on set was helpful. But, yeah, it challenged me in every way possible—as a person, as an actor, as a friend. 

Obviously, this version is a bit edgier than the Nickelodeon Winx Club. But in a way, I think it makes it more relatable for people my age, young adults. What sorts of lessons or moments are you hoping viewers really take away from these episodes?
It definitely is different. I like the saying, “The Winx audience grew up and so did we.” I think we really focused on that for the show. That was the agenda for it. There are so many lessons to be learned. I think the friendship aspect is wonderful and important to embrace. A lot of the time that can be a struggle in the world. I think the way the show portrays these friendships is special because it doesn’t just show five girls getting along with butterflies and rainbows. It shows the downs, but that through friendship, you can come out of it. It shows the different types of women within friendship and acceptance, empowerment, and inclusion. It’s so important to be a part of and learn from. For people the age of the girls, they can watch this and be encouraged to accept themselves for who they are. At that age, it’s hard because you want to fit in. I know at that age, I wanted to be everyone else, and I hated what made me different. I love that this show shows that, and it shows friendship coming out of it.  

I read that you grew up on a farm, often playing and creating your own stories. Looking retrospectively, how do you think those simple moments have influenced your acting now?
Oh gosh, in every way possible! Thinking back a lot lately, I am realizing how much it did affect my method. I remember playing Barbies by myself, or I would go outside with my brother and create stories. I would put on shows with different scenarios. I was constantly creating. It was amazing having that freedom as a kid to express yourself however you wanted to and how you see fit. It allows for endless possibilities in your adult life as well because you get used to allowing your brain to go wherever it wants. When I was young, I’d play Barbies and create these stories. I would start crying to the story. I remember thinking, “Oh my gosh. I can just cry like this? Maybe I can be an actress.” I was so into the emotions of it. I pull from those moments now, being in touch with different emotions. It’s like a muscle I’ve trained since I was a kid. 

Switching gears… I know you’re a huge advocate for taking care of your mental health. 2020 hasn’t been easy on all of us, so what have been some ways you’ve been looking out for yourself?
I’ve been making sure to be patient with myself and giving myself grace. With that, it’s helped me not be so angry at myself for not wanting to be social or feeling low for a day. I think so many people are feeling like that right now and are feeling angry at themselves for wondering what’s wrong with them. I think being patient with ourselves is the most important thing right now. And realizing that we aren’t the only ones going through this. We are all in this together. Nothing is wrong with us. It’s just the hand that life has dealt us right now. Even with that, it doesn’t always help. I think it’s important to exercise, eat well, and confide in people. Tell them you aren’t doing well today. Just speaking it and being bold in that, I think, is the most important thing to do because it’s the scariest. I think it’s the scariest because there’s such a stigma around mental health and stigma around feeling sad in the day. Stigma says if you’re feeling sad, low, depressed, or anxious, it means you’re weak or that something is wrong with you. That’s not the case at all. With that stigma, people don’t talk about it, and they bottle it up. Then they just go into a spiral, and it gets worse. I think at this time being patient with yourself and seeking help is the bravest thing you can do. And the most important thing. 

Only going into as much detail as you’re comfortable with, what sparked your passion for speaking up about mental health?
When I went through a hard time in middle school—having been bullied for having red hair—that took a very big toll on me. I was homeschooled by eighth grade because of it. I learned a lot about how to love myself. It’s a long, long journey. It’s going to be a journey for the rest of my life, and I have to use the tools I have to accept myself, love myself, and put myself first. I would say that sparked a lot of it. It really hit off a few years ago when a close friend of mine died by suicide. After that, it struck something in me [to] be as open and vocal about things as I can be. It opened my eyes to realize so many people are going through this silently. If one person can speak out and say, “Hey, you’re not alone,” or just explain the chemical process going on in the brain… it’s not about telling people they can be ‘fixed,’ it’s saying, “Hey, there is a solution to your pain right now. This isn't the end all be all.” Doing those things is important. If I can be the one person to help another person, it would be very worth it to me. I know people go through the pain all the time, the pain of going through the effects of suicide. I think it’s one of the most important things to talk about.

For young people who look up to you, what advice can you offer to someone who may be unsure how to advocate for their mental needs?
It’s hard because some people that go through these things don’t reach out because they feel like they don’t have anyone to reach out to. My advice is that there’s always helplines to call. I’ve heard of people calling them. I know it’s something you can reach out to. But even just putting it out there and reaching out to just one person and speaking into existence can help you come to terms with it. It’s easier said than done. You can even write it out or journal about it. Getting it out and not feeling like it’s a dirty secret is a big first step. Remind yourself that right now you may feel hopeless and it may not automatically get better, but tomorrow is a new day for something new to happen in your life. It’ll be worth it to stick around for. Remind yourself there are better times to come because the main thing with depression and anxiety is a lot of it stems from hopelessness. Find yourself something to give yourself a little bit of hope. Realize that healing isn’t linear. It won’t just be better tomorrow. It is a journey and a fight. You have to fight. I think there are a lot of different resources, and I hope there will be more in the future that will be more accessible. 

“The word that came to my mind was ‘hope.’ Keep having faith, and keep finding ways to be hopeful about what the world will be and can be.”

Lastly, what do you think is one good intention or goal everyone can set going into this new year?
I think being hopeful. The word that came to my mind was “hope.” Keep having faith, and keep finding ways to be hopeful about what the world will be and can be. It’s a lot of what people are going through right now, losing hope in finding a solution to this pandemic. I think remaining hopeful and manifesting that is important.

STORY ELIZABETH STAFFORD
PHOTOS KEVIN SCANLON
HAIR DIMITRIS GIANNETOS
MAKEUP ADAM BREUCHAUD
STYLIST AMANDA LIM