“It felt surreal.” Hayes Warner on starring as Debbie Schaffer in The Shards.

Did you read the book in preparation for the role? What was your reaction to it?

“I actually read The Shards the year before I ever knew there was a Ryan Murphy adaptation in the works. I’ve always been a huge fan of Bret Easton Ellis’ writing, and I remember finishing the book thinking it would make such an incredible film or TV series because his writing is so visceral and visually descriptive. Everything felt so cinematic that I was constantly creating these really vivid images in my head as I was reading.”

“So when I booked the role of Debbie Schaffer, it felt surreal. Walking onto set on my first day was like stepping into the world I’d already imagined. Suddenly all of those mental images had come to life—the costumes, the production design, the atmosphere—it was everything I’d pictured, but somehow even more immersive. It was one of those rare moments where something you’ve imagined for so long is right in front of you, and getting to be part of bringing that world to life was incredibly special.”

Can you tell us about your character Debbie for people who don’t know her? Who is she, and how did you get into the role?

“Debbie Schaffer is Bret’s girlfriend at the beginning of the story. On the surface, she seems like the quintessential all-American girl—beautiful, popular, confident—but there’s a lot more going on beneath that. As the story unfolds, you start to realize she’s navigating a lot within her own family while also being caught up in the mystery surrounding Bret and everything happening around him. One of the things I love about Debbie is that there’s always the question of what she knows, what she suspects, and what she’s choosing not to say.”

“To get into the role, I did a lot of deep-dive research into the cultural icons of the early ‘80s that I imagined Debbie would have admired or wanted to emulate. I wanted to understand the music, fashion, films, and women who shaped that era because all of those influences help inform who a person is. I was also really grateful that the series expands on Debbie beyond Bret’s perspective. The novel is told entirely through his eyes, but the adaptation gives her a richer inner life and explores parts of her story that we don’t see in the book. That gave me the opportunity to build out her family dynamics and emotional backstory, which made her feel like a much more fully realized person to step into.”

Can you tell us about working with Ryan Murphy? What was the collaborative process like, and what was the vibe on set?

“Working with Ryan Murphy was honestly a dream come true. I grew up a fan of his work—I was raised on Glee and American Horror Story—and I’ve followed everything he’s done since. Walking onto set, I definitely felt a lot of pressure because I was suddenly working with someone whose work had shaped so much of what I loved growing up.”

“But those nerves disappeared almost immediately. Ryan creates an environment where you feel completely safe to explore. He encouraged us to try different things, improvise, and bring our own instincts and little personal touches to the characters. As an actor, that’s such a gift because it makes you feel like your voice matters. He was also incredibly approachable and generous with his time. I always felt like I could go to him with questions about Debbie or a scene, and he became such a valuable creative resource throughout the process.”

“One of my favorite parts of the experience was that our conversations didn’t stop when we wrapped for the day. We’d would all have dinners together outside of set, talk about the characters, the story, or sometimes nothing work-related at all. I don’t think people realize just how funny Ryan is—he has such a sharp sense of humor, and he made everyone feel at ease.”

“We were also so fortunate that he directed several episodes himself. Watching him work was like getting a masterclass. He’s incredibly detail-oriented and always knows exactly what he wants, but he’s also open to discovering something unexpected along the way. And everyone knew that when Ryan said, “Got it,” at the end of a take, you knew you had it. It was such a simple phrase, but it carried so much confidence. I learned an enormous amount just from being able to watch him work every day.”

This is your acting debut. What was the hardest part about acting, or what surprised you the most about the experience?

“I grew up acting in theater, so I had a foundation I could bring with me, but stepping onto a set was an entirely different experience. The biggest adjustment wasn’t the acting itself—it was learning the rhythm of set life. You have to be able to access the same emotional place over and over again, sometimes after hours of waiting, sometimes at three in the morning, and still make it feel fresh every take.”

“The stamina was probably the biggest challenge. We were filming for about seven months, with plenty of 18-hour days, and I learned very quickly how important it is to prioritize your physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself isn’t separate from the work—it allows you to keep showing up for your character every single day.”

“One of the things that surprised me most, though, was how much I loved the freedom of screen acting. In theater, you get one chance every night to tell the story from beginning to end. On set, you have the opportunity to approach a scene from different angles, try different emotional choices, and discover something new with each take. It becomes this collaborative process where you, your scene partner, the director, and ultimately the editor are all shaping the character together. I found that incredibly exciting because it gave me the freedom to keep exploring Debbie, even after I thought I’d figured her out.”

What is your favorite on-set memory?

“There are so many that it’s hard to choose just one. What I’ll remember most is how quickly the cast became a family. We genuinely wanted to spend time together, so even when we weren’t filming, we’d all end up hanging out. Every lunch break we’d pile into one of our trailers, eat together, tell stories, and laugh until we had to rush back to set. Those moments made such a long shoot feel really special.”

“Another favorite memory has to be our dance rehearsals. We have some incredible party scenes in the series, and learning all of the ‘80s dance moves was one of the funniest experiences I’ve ever had. Watching everyone completely commit to doing the worm, attempting all these wonderfully over-the-top moves, and seeing ourselves take it so seriously was absolutely hilarious. There were so many moments where we couldn’t keep a straight face because we were laughing so hard.”