Lead Star Of UnREAL Shiri Appleby Dishes More About Rachel And Season 2 Of The Hit Series On LIFETIME

U.S. breakout hit and one of 2015’s best new series as proclaimed by Entertainment Weekly, UnREAL returns on LIFETIME for its second season this June, led by its two strong female characters, expert manipulator Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby) and her demanding executive producer Quinn King (Constance Zimmer).

Set against the backdrop of popular dating competition, Everlasting (a Bachelor-like franchise), producers Rachel and Quinn are out once again, pulling the strings behind-the-scenes to do whatever it takes to getthose dramatic and vital footage to drive their show’s ratings. The plot lines are about to get even more intriguing, and the schemes reaching a new high, but what’s even more exciting is lead star Shiri Appleby making her directorial debut on the series.

It’s not everyday you get a chance to direct your own show, and for Shiri, it certainly is a dream come true. “I’ve been trying to direct for many years,” says Shiri. “I knew that a very easy way to get a job would be to star in a television show and have it be a success.” Though it was her first time taking the director’s chair, she certainly felt all the love and support from her cast mates, “The actors of the show were nothing but incredibly gracious and they really worked with me.” She says,“I think we’ve told a really great story.”

With “Director” now added to her glittering portfolio, Shiri proves she is just as driven as her character when it comes to achieving her goals. “I think Rachel is an incredible character,” she says. “She is definitely manipulative, but she’s an incredibly strong, smart woman.”

Every woman on the show has an agenda and Rachel is no different whether it be taking control of her own life after an almost career-ending incident or even trying to outdo and outsmart her own mentor, Quinn. “Rachel definitely wants to prove that she’s capable of doing whatever it is Quinn is capable of,” says Shiri of her character. “She thinks she can run a network or be higher up in the entertainment industry.”

It’s a tumultuous race to the top for each of the characters, from the returning producers to the new batch of contestants. Expect to see them all fight for their rightful spot on set even in the most appalling yet twistedly brilliant ways. What ensues is another eye-opening look at the outrageous world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious and being a producer is a whole other reality.

Shiri says, “It’s really just trying to cover a lot of ground but at the same time being incredibly ambiguous and not trying to force messages down anyone’s throat.” The success of the show is attributed to its sexy, and highly thought-provoking storyline.

UnREAL Season 2 pulls out all the stops with the most provocative twists, and daringly touches on topics that haven’t been highlighted enough, or at all, in television such as mental health, race, and feminism. This season explores more of these issues especially as it casts its first African-American suitor named Darius Hill, an All-American football star played by B.J. Britt.

Also, returning as series regulars are Craig Bierko as Everlasting’s creator, Chet, who is on a quest to reclaim his full power on set; Josh Kelly as Jeremy, Everlasting’s director of photography; and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman as Jay, a field producer whose ambitions run far beyond the show.

Don’t miss out on the drama. Catch UnREAL, same day broadcast as the U.S., every Tuesdays at 10PM on LIFETIME.

Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.