AnnaSophia Robb has long captivated audiences with her performances, from the surf-inspiring Soul Surfer to stepping into Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic shoes in The Carrie Diaries. Now, she’s diving into a world of mystery, murder, and meticulous suburban facades in Grosse Pointe Garden Society, NBC’s newest drama that’s already drawing comparisons to Desperate Housewives — but with a fresh, modern twist.
The series, which premiered yesterday, February 23, revolves around four seemingly ordinary members of an elite garden club whose lives take an unexpectedly dark turn. Robb stars as Alice, a dreamer and high school English teacher whose best-laid plans are unraveling before her eyes. But beyond playing a key role in the plot, Robb also introduces viewers to the Grosse Pointe Garden Society world by narrating the first episode, setting the tone for a season full of secrets, intrigue, and jaw-dropping twists.
In an exclusive interview with GRAZIA USA, Robb delves into the complexities of her character, the show’s unique storytelling approach, and why Grosse Pointe Garden Society is the must-watch series of the season.
The Allure of Grosse Pointe Garden Society
“I’m excited for people to see it. It’s been really fun filming it,” Robb shares with GRAZIA ahead of the series premiere. “Every time we do interviews, people are like, ‘What’s going to happen next?!’ It’s like being a part of a mystery.”
That intrigue stems from the show’s seamless weaving of suburban normalcy with underlying chaos. “We have the element of mystery. And you meet all of these people — it’s an unlikely mash-up. We’re in a garden society, we’re in suburbia, there’s a bunch of women in Lily Pulitzer and Ralph Lauren polos, but then there’s a dead body, and there’s a mystery,” Robb explains. “I think it’s about everyone wanting to be perceived as having it all together on the surface and everything is fine, but really, underneath, their worlds are imploding.”
While Robb remains tight-lipped about the show’s biggest twists, she does hint at unexpected alliances and friendships forming throughout the season. “I love that it’s an ensemble show,” Robb says, noting that the entirety of the cast plays a pivotal role in bringing this rich, complex world to life. “We have so many characters and we get to explore their backstories and learn more about them. Much like a garden, there’s a lot of fun flowers, people, and characters popping up. It makes something really colorful and vibrant and interesting — you just want to keep going and going and learning more.”
The Heart of Alice
Robb’s character, Alice, is described as a dreamer whose best dreams come crashing down on her. “Alice feels trapped,” Robb shares. “She wants to get out of Grosse Pointe. She sees herself in New York as a writer, but she doesn’t know how to go from where she is to where she wants to be. It’s driving her absolutely crazy.”
Beyond career frustrations, Alice is also navigating relationship dilemmas. “She’s in this relationship where it’s like, ‘Are you going to take that leap, or are you going to stay put and make it work?’” Robb explains. “She’s caught in that in-between stage of decision-making. I think so many people can relate to her.” Being married and in her early 30s herself, the actress admits that she too feels that “looming pressure” of society — specifically when it comes to everyone talking about having children and continually asking, ‘What’s next?’
“You feel like you’re just figuring yourself out and what it is you want to do, and you finally have the courage to be like, ‘I’m going to go get it!’ And then biologically and socially, you’re having this giant pressure to pop out babies,” Robb admits honestly. “I think there’s so much realness to that conversation.” One moment in particular made Robb realize just how bold Grosse Pointe Garden Society is willing to be with this realness. “There’s a scene with Patty and her in-laws talking about her vaginal mucus, and I was cracking up,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re saying this on network TV? This is incredible!’ I know myself and so many of my friends, this is where we’re at, where we’re like, ‘We’re supposed to have kids now?’ There’s also a lot of humor in all of that. But it’s also a really sensitive subject.”
Setting the Tone as Narrator
As the narrator of the first episode, Robb had the unique task of introducing viewers to this high-stakes suburban world. “Alice is a writer, so she sets up the metaphor for the show in terms of introducing every character as a flower,” Robb explains. “There’s a groundedness to it, and then things start to get crazy.” And it gets crazy fast.
“This show wastes no time,” Robb teases. “Sometimes, you watch a TV show and you’re like, ‘Come on, give us some juicy drama!’ But it [Grosse Pointe Garden Society] delivers,” she continues. “Even in episode two, you see the consequences of her [Alice’s] actions. I remember reading the script and being like, ‘She does what now? Excuse me?!’” Robb describes Alice as a bit of a bulldog — once she gets an idea in her head, she won’t let it go. “That’s also placed with the comedy of the show, which is really fun,” she tells us. “You get to take something a real person would do and just like exaggerate it out a little bit.”
A Career Evolution
Robb has built an impressive career playing dynamic, complex women, always choosing roles that challenge and excite her. But does she bring past characters into new roles? Not exactly.
“I’d say my past characters don’t really influence my other characters,” she answers while pondering the question. “It’s more about the process of getting into a role — creating a character journal, building a backstory, and talking with the showrunners and really fleshing out who this person is.”
That said, she has noticed a pattern. “This is actually the second time I’ve played an Alice,” she muses. “The first time was Mercy Street, this PBS show. And I was like, ‘Oh wow, I’m an Alice, and I’m a writer for the second time?” referencing her role playing the young Carrie Bradshaw in The Carrie Diaries. “It’s funny as you go along in your career as an actor, and you’re like, ‘Oh.. interesting. Do I start writing?'” she jokes.
Robb’s journey to Grosse Pointe Garden Society wasn’t a solitary one, with her deep connection to the natural world — so evident in her portrayal of Alice — stemming from cherished childhood memories spent cultivating gardens alongside her grandparents. “Some of my favorite childhood memories are in my Nana and Papa’s garden and planting flower beds with my grandfather,” Robb shares with GRAZIA. “Those have been the things that I think I’ve actually really closely paired with Alice because I’ve built it into part of her story and why she is part of a garden society.”
Rebel Ridge Recognition
Robb’s recent work on Rebel Ridge has also garnered significant attention, culminating in the film winning a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Movie Made for Television. The actress recalls the moment she heard the news on the nomination: “I was on set of Grosse Pointe, and I felt like, ‘Yeah, good!’ I’m so proud of the film.” Beyond personal satisfaction, Robb emphasizes the collaborative spirit of the project, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the entire cast and crew. “I think everyone on it worked so hard,” she states, “and I am so happy it was as successful as it was and that so many people were able to watch it on Netflix.”
She also praises director Jeremy Saulnier, saying, “Jeremy wrote one of the best scripts I’ve ever read, and he executed it as such. The movie that you see on Netflix, there are so many processes from when a script gets made to when people see it. There are so many opportunities for other people to come in. And he made the movie that he set out to make, and I think it really resonated with so many people.”
She also expresses her excitement around all of the love Aaron Pierre is getting right now, sharing, “He deserves it! He is a good guy. He is a hero and I want him to get all of his flowers all of the time.” For Robb, Rebel Ridge represents the power of collaborative storytelling and the impact a film can have when passion and talent converge. “It was really special to be working on something where I felt like the whole crew believed in the project from the get-go, and that was really special.”
What’s Blooming Next?
With Grosse Pointe Garden Society taking root on NBC, Robb is looking towards the future with a mix of excitement and ambition. While she’s currently keeping specific details under wraps, she reveals, “I’m developing a couple of projects myself right now, which is fun and different, and it takes a long time, which is great. Good things take time.” This foray into development underscores Robb’s desire to contribute to the creative process beyond acting, allowing her to shape stories from the ground up.
“I would love to do more theater,” Robb also adds, highlighting her longing to return to the stage. “I love the theater. I live in New York, and it’s just something I want to get back into.” And, as a testament to her belief in community and collaboration, Robb also expresses her commitment to supporting fellow artists in her future endeavors: “I think it’s fun to be in this industry because you get to work with people that you build relationships with. I’m excited to just jump in and help on friends’ projects and be involved in different ways because it is a creative process. And I think that is what is really fulfilling, not only supporting the things that I want to do, but also my friends’ creative visions.” For Robb, the future is a garden ripe with possibilities, where she can cultivate her own creative visions while nurturing the talents of those around her.
Watch Grosse Pointe Garden Society On NBC
Grosse Pointe Garden Society is now streaming on NBC, with the season finale set for mid-May — meaning there’s plenty of time for the drama to reach new heights. Prepare for secrets, scandals, and suburban chaos you won’t want to miss. Fans can expect more unexpected twists and high-stakes drama as the season unfolds. And with AnnaSophia Robb’s undeniable charm and commitment to every role she takes on, there’s no doubt she’ll continue to surprise and inspire audiences.
As for Robb’s personal take? She wants viewers to enjoy watching the series while also doing some introspection. “I hope audiences have fun with the show but also reflect on, ‘What are my dreams, and what is really holding me back? What am I distracting myself from doing? What am I telling myself I can’t do because other people are preventing me from it, which is really just a lie when really I could go after it myself?'”
