There is a quiet power to Romy Weltman. When she speaks, you want to listen. She is deliberate; thoughtful in how she lingers on certain questions, everything she applies herself to is armoured with hours of reflection, preparation and purpose. For years, Weltman has been steadily building her career, moving between roles in television and film, expertly crafting a resumé of versatility and range. Now, with Revival, her new series on SyFy that aired its season finale in August, she leaves nothing to imagination as Em Cypress.
The baby of the Cypress family, her character is haunted by her addiction, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and a terrible secret. Weltman’s performance is bold, uncomfortable and raw – she gives an unflinching look at an imaginable tale of survival. To hear her describe it, playing Em was more than another role; it was a responsibility.
“I felt there was a lot of care taken in how her depression, addiction and anxiety were written.” She says with a reflective look. “And a lot of passion and genuine desire for more conversation. No Hollywood glamour or romanticizing it. All of that made me want to be a part of these conversations, and I’m so grateful to have had that opportunity.”
Photo By Paige Thompson
When she first read the scripts, there was no warming up to the troubled character, she admits she felt an immediate pull towards Em because of the strong writing for a young woman. “The two scenes that were given for the audition were when Em and Dana are in the car and when Em sort of loses it on her family and tells them she doesn’t need them or anyone.” She says. “With Dana and Em, I connected to how they were two people navigating their way through life, wanting to be there for each other, but couldn’t always. That feeling of love was it for me.”
In the series adapted from the beloved comic of the same name, Em is the heart of the supernatural conflict. She often feels like the black sheep or the one who can’t quite measure up to her sister Dana (Melanie Scrofano) or the expectations of her father, Wayne (David James Elliot), and that affects how she sees her own worth. Her revival becomes both a curse and an opportunity for her to redefine who she is, but her self-worth is constantly bruised by secrecy, shame and the feeling she’s a burden on the people she loves. “I feel like we’ve all been in these positions before, where we feel the people close to us have so much to say about who we are when we haven’t had the chance to figure it out ourselves.” She explains. “I know a lot of young people can feel that, and I know I have – maybe not in the same way Em does, but all the underlying emotions she has were so relatable to me in my own way.”
Accepting the role as Em meant becoming a character beloved by a devoted fanbase. Anyone with the internet knows how intense these fandoms can be. Weltman was prepared for the passion but had some concerns going in. “Em in the comics has green eyes, and I have brown eyes.” She laughs, “So I thought about little things like that! I think it’s hard not to feel pressure when stepping into anything that is an adaptation or something that already exists. Luckily, the response has been nothing but kind words and love from the Image family.”
Photo By Paige Thompson
Still, taking on the role wasn’t only about being a part of something impactful, but equally about artistic challenge for the actress. A choice that has proven both right for her growth as a performer and her career. “I haven’t had the opportunity to play such a strong character before. I’ve played mentally strong characters – gotta give them some credit,” she smiles, “but physically strong, I haven’t really done before.”
Weltman, who is five-foot-one, is accustomed to people believing her height is indicative of a level of weakness. “I think I’m strong, definitely stronger than people assume I am.” She laughs, “I mean, I can’t do what Em is doing, and there is something so exciting about that! I’ve always had the idea of playing a superhero in the Marvel universe.” I interject to affirm her desire to be in the MCU because I can totally see it. “And that’s the dream! For me, acting is two things: therapeutic and a place of imagination for healing your inner child. It’s feeling Romy’s emotions by getting to mask through a different person, and it’s dreaming of all the things you don’t always have the opportunity to do, but you can do. I had those feelings with Em.”
For an actress in her twenties, choosing the right roles often defines a career trajectory. With Revival, Weltman is showing audiences what she can do and showing them who she is. “I felt there was so much about her that I knew I was capable of doing, but also so much that I didn’t know, so I knew that would be a big challenge. But what more could I ask for than to challenge myself and to work with incredible people who are only gonna teach me more?”
One of the challenges for her on-screen counterpart is Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a real-life condition that causes brittle bones. The psychological weight and physical impact of the disease are big reasons why Em suffers from addiction. For Weltman, it was an honour to represent those who are afflicted with OI, and she readied her portrayal with the utmost care. “I did so much research because representing a topic like this shouldn’t be mocked or made fun of or anything like that. OI can really change your life and the way people view you and how you view yourself.” There is conviction behind her words. “I took the same approach to her addiction as well. Again, that is something that can be very glamorized on TV, and for Em, her addiction explains so much about why she is the way she is. Both required proper knowledge and understanding.”
Photo By Paige Thompson
That knowledge led to a performance that avoided Em as a tragic figure or trope. She was grounded in the subtle gesture of her missing confidence with rounded shoulders as she walked, attempting to hide herself in plain sight. With her quiet moments of pain, Weltman created a portrait of someone living with difficulty rather than being defined by it. “I have this notebook that became Em’s journal.” She adds. “It started as a research journal, and then I just started getting deep about her relationships with her sister and all these things in her life. Her OI is serious and completely explains the dynamic of the family, too.”
Speaking of her family, one of the most powerful elements of Revival is the relationship between Em and Dana. On-screen, their bond is complicated, tender and sometimes explosive. Off-screen, it was just as vital and nothing but love. “Mel is a phenomenal actress. I wish I could tell you we put so much work into our relationship, but it really was an instant connection.” She says, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her co-star. “The show is filmed in Saint John, and I went there alone. It was my first time living on my own, all by myself for that long, and I felt like Mel and a lot of the cast and crew would look out for me. Mel had me over for Thanksgiving, and I got to spend time with her family, which really helped the dynamic on-screen.”
With season two of the original series still unclear, the reception online has been a celebration of the fresh concept and a demand for more. The finale feels like the start of Romy’s ‘season of becoming’, and as her presence in the industry continues to expand, she remains entirely grounded and in love with her job. “I try to look at auditioning as an opportunity to do what I love. That’s a big thing for me, and I think it has really helped me throughout my career.” She tells me. “Loving my job is a really big privilege and not something I take for granted; I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, but also I am more than my job.”
Weltman, who has both an older brother and a sister, attributes her healthy relationship with her career to the lessons she has learned from them and how supportive her family unit is. “My sister and I were talking about how so many high-pressure jobs make us as individuals feel as if our purpose is determined by our job, and that is not a healthy mindset. We had to remind ourselves that, as much as we love what we do, life isn’t defined by what we do.”
REVIVAL — Season:1 — Pictured: Romy Weltman as Martha “Em” Cypress — (Photo by: Denis Duquette/Laviver Productions/SYFY)
As our time came to an end, I had one last curiosity on my mind. In its first season, Revival manages to balance tragedy, action and story seamlessly, but the thing I desperately needed to know was how she felt in those epic fight scenes.
“Like a badass,” She gives me a cheeky smile. I encourage her to own that ish because she absolutely kicked ass this season.
“This role shows a lot of vulnerability that maybe I have not shown before. Em gave me a chance to play with a lot of intricacy, to go deeper, to do more research with my work. The material allowed the audience and the industry to see what I am capable of. I feel like I was able to prove myself and show why a person shouldn’t be underestimated because of their size.”
And with that, she flashes me a smile, equal parts playful and determined. Romy Weltman is here to stay.
