Bodysuit by Commando
Brut Silver Spiral Post Earrings by Alexis Bittar
Boots by United Nude
Ring + Bracelet by Jill Herlands

Maria Sten has built a versatile career as an actress, writer, director, and filmmaker, bringing a range of perspectives and creative visions to her projects. Known for her role as Neagley in Reacher, Sten now takes center stage as the star and executive producer of Neagley, the highly anticipated Reacher spin-off centered on her fan-favorite character. Her career has included a wide range of experiences in acting, writing, directing, dance, and modeling, while her Danish, Swedish, and Congolese roots have also shaped the stories she wants to tell. In this interview, Sten shares how she brought Neagley to life in the action series, exploring the character's complexity and emotional depth as she stepped into the role of leading her own series. She also discusses her creative mindset and process, as well as what she hopes to explore next in her career.

Dress by Akira
Shoes by Schutz
Earrings by Erickson Beamon
Ring by Jill Herlands

While playing Neagley throughout the seasons of Reacher, you’ve brought qualities like resilience, toughness, strategic thinking, and loyalty to the character. How did you approach bringing those qualities to life on screen while also showing Neagley’s emotional depth?

I think that characters are, in the best-case scenario, always three-dimensional, or at least we always try to make them complex individuals and not just one-note. For me, that complexity, vulnerability, and background were always hidden beneath the surface of this character. It is simply a way of fleshing out a character and making them feel like a real human being. The toughness is sort of the obvious choice or the obvious quality in her, but of course, there is a reason why she became the way that she is, and to me, that is the interesting part. It is just a matter of doing your homework and figuring out what makes the character this way.

As an actress, writer, and director, you’ve experienced different perspectives both in front of and behind the camera. How have those experiences influenced the way you approach acting?

I think being an actor makes me a better writer, and being a writer makes me a better actor. Having directed, I sort of know how the cake is made. For me, it's very helpful to collaborate that way and understand what everybody needs when we show up on set and do a scene. It makes me a better collaborator overall because I empathize with the other jobs at hand. Each of these experiences adds something and helps me be a better collaborator. Of course, I continue to try to further myself every time I show up on set as well.

How did it feel to go from being part of the Reacher ensemble to becoming the central character in your own series?

It felt great. I love the character of Neagley, so doing a spin-off was always a desire, a chance to dive deeper into her character and backstory. I am delighted it happened the way it did and that fans are taking it so well. Coming off a super successful book franchise and a super successful television show, there is naturally a lot of pressure. The bar is high, so you want to make sure that you get it right and that people respond to the material. Overall, it's been an incredible experience.

Brut Gold Large Drop Twisted Clip Earring by Alexis Bittar
Earrings by Stylist’s Own

You and Alan Ritchson have built such a strong dynamic throughout Reacher. How has your relationship, both on and off screen, evolved since you first started working together?

We have a shorthand now, meaning we work very efficiently. When we show up on set, it is easy to work together because we understand each other and the relationship between the characters. We always try to give each other what we need in a scene, so it is quite seamless to do that together. That has been lovely to build on and, of course, take advantage of in the show as well.

Now that Neagley has officially premiered, how does it feel to finally see a story that you’ve put so much time, passion, and hard work into come to life on screen?

That's really the best part: seeing it out in the world and finally out of my system. It feels like I can finally take a breath and let what we made do what it does and take on a life of its own. You never know how these things will be received, but it is a little bit like giving birth. You spend a long time doing it, an entire year, and sometimes it's painful or hard work. Then it finally comes into the world and takes on a life of its own. It's great to have that experience and know that we made something we can be proud of.

Left:
Dress by Akira
Brut Gold Large Drop Twisted Clip Earring by Alexis Bittar
Earrings by Stylist’s Own
Right:
Dress by Akira
Shoes by Schutz
Earrings + Ring + Bracelet by Jill Herlands

What aspects of Neagley do you think make her well equipped to be a private investigator while navigating the high-stakes world around her?

I think that Neagley is a problem solver. She is a dog with a bone. She is always looking for something to fix because she cannot fix herself, not that she has even tried up until this point. Being buried in work and taking care of her father consumes all of her brain space; it is a way to stay in control, be purposeful, and avoid confronting her own situation and trauma. Having served as a special investigator in the military, she was in the environment where she felt most at home. Transitioning back into the civilian world while continuing to operate in that same intense space makes her comfortable.

Neagley has come a long way from being a fan-favorite character in Reacher to the center of her own series. What has this journey been like for you, and what does this new beginning mean to you personally?

It is so gratifying to see how people have taken to this character. I certainly didn't know she'd be received this way when I signed up for it, nor did I know Ted Lasso would have the enduring success it has. You never really know. But I am so grateful for how things turned out, and I naturally want to keep deepening the character. I love telling stories, so I see this as an opportunity to both continue telling Keeley's story and find new, interesting stories and films to dive into, because I love my job.

As a writer, you’ve contributed to Big Sky and been recognized through programs like The Black List / Women In Film Episodic Lab and Margot Robbie’s Lucky Exports Pitch Program. How have these experiences influenced you as a writer?

Diving into a writer's room afterward is a great experience. What is nice about television is that it is quite immediate compared to movies. You can spend seven years trying to make a movie, and it never happens, but with television, once a show gets greenlit, it goes into production, and nine times out of ten it will actually air. While we are currently in an era of streaming where studios occasionally shelve finished projects, which is always wild when it happens, usually whatever you write and film will make it to the screen. That is deeply gratifying because you learn so much going through production on a TV show: how things are made, how to do rewrites, and, once again, how the cake is made. Those experiences are so informative as a writer, producer, and filmmaker. Naturally, anytime you do a job, it ideally makes you better at it and elevates your craft, and that has definitely been my experience.

Dress by Akira
Shoes by Shutz
Earrings by Erickson Beamon
Ring by Jill Herlands

With your background in dance, modeling, and acting, how have those experiences shaped the performer you’ve become today?

In this particular show, I am definitely drawing on my dance background because we have so much stunt choreography to learn quickly. Being entirely accustomed to physical movement comes in very handy on a show like this, especially since the action sequences are so intense. Consequently, I always approach characters from a very physical place. Physicality is vital to me when building a person on screen, and having that kind of body awareness greatly helps when executing the job.

You have Danish, Swedish, and Congolese roots. How has growing up with a multicultural background shaped the woman and artist you are today?

It is simply who I am. Growing up as a mixed kid in Denmark is a huge part of my identity, and on some subconscious level, it definitely made me feel like an outsider. That is likely where I tell stories from, and I have learned to embrace that. While I do not necessarily feel like such an outsider anymore, experiencing life first as a mixed kid in Denmark and later as an immigrant in America means you often find yourself part of something while still not fully belonging anywhere. That sense of place heavily influences the narratives I want to tell. I am naturally drawn to stories about the outsider or the rebel, or simply narratives about people who look like me, in order to create better representation for little girls who grow up wanting to see themselves on screen. That remains a massive part of my identity, both as a person and as a professional.

Looking back at being crowned Miss Denmark in 2008, what do you think that accomplishment taught you that still influences you today?

It took sheer hard work. I have always had a pretty intense work ethic. I was eighteen at the time and eager to be in America, and I really just did it for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is so much more work than people realize. We spent an entire month in Vietnam with all of the other contestants, going from six in the morning until eight or nine at night with continuous rehearsals, functions, dinners, and photo ops. It taught me what life in the public eye was really about, and how to maintain poise, stay respectful, show up, and do the work.

Left:
Shirt by Helmut Lang
Ring by Jill Herlands
Tie by Stylist’s Own
Shorts by Kenneth Cole
Tights by Falke
Vita Platform 120 Velvet Black Shoes by Alexandre Birman
Right:
Bodysuit by Commando
Faux Fur Coat by Et Ochs
Brut Silver Spiral Post Earrings by Alexis Bittar
Boots by United Nude
Ring + Bracelets by Jill Herlands

Looking ahead, what are you most excited to explore next, both in your career and personally?

I would love to make some movies. I've been working in television for a long time, and I'm really looking to pivot toward film. I would love to do some small character-driven pieces, and naturally, I'd also love to continue doing splashy action. In a best-case scenario, I'd love to balance a combination of both moving forward.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Maria Sten
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair: Takisha Sturdivant-Drew at Forward Artists
Makeup: Nick Barose for Exclusive Artists using YSL Beauty
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Emma Green
Photo Assistant: Dani Sax
Fashion Stylist Interns: Martina Pavone, Ciara Mahoney
BTS: Serafina Fauci
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Ali Rosoff, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

Maria Sten Takes the Lead