Yellowjackets’Sophie Nélisse knows that her character, Shauna Shipman, may not be every viewer’s favorite after the events of season 3, but the star does not seem too phased by the hate. Given that the story centers on teenage girls stranded in the wilderness, some level of animosity is bound to build up betweenYellowjackets' characters.
This is exactly what has happened throughout the series so far, but by theend ofYellowjacketsseason 3,the group is more divided than ever, withShauna taking on the role of antler queen.Unsurprisingly, this position and her part in ensuring that Mari (Alexa Barajas) became the pit girl have set Shauna up asYellowjacketsseason 4’s villain.
In an interview withScreenRant’s Ash Crossan at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Sophie Nélisse herself offered insight into what it feels like to play such a controversial character. What’s more,the star hinted at what is to come in Shauna’s future and how she might change.Check out her full quotes below:
EXCLUSIVE: ScreenRant: It has to be so interesting to play a character that people are so mad at.
Nélisse: I know. Yeah. She’s had a lot of controversy this year, and people are often asking me, “Does it bother you that a lot of people have now started to hate Shauna?”
And it doesn’t really affect me, because I don’t write it. I am just following whatever people want me to do. And I guess it’s flattering to some extent. I’m like, “If people hate her so much, it’s because I’m doing a good job at making people hate her, and I’m portraying her as such a villain.” And also, I love playing a villain.
ScreenRant: Yeah, it’s awesome. I want to ask about Yellowjackets too, because Shauna went a little off the rails, I guess. I’m curious if you knew that was the plan from the get-go and what you [are] excited about for next season?
Nélisse: I mean, I kind of figured just based off of the trauma that Melanie Lynskey’s character [has]. Well, we’re playing the same character, but in her older self, she still carries so much guilt and so much trauma around that I figured that something really messed up must have happened. And, in particular, I assumed [she was] the cause of a lot of it, just because you still see remnants of darkness that [are] still with her, even as she ages. I guess I wasn’t expecting her to be this mean this season, but it was really fun because she’s had such a beautiful arc.
Sometimes I’ll go back and watch the first season, especially when I prep for, like, the next season coming up, and to see her transform from someone that was so sheltered and living in her best friend’s shadow and so quiet to [someone who is] pointing guns at people is crazy.
I have no idea what to expect from this new season. I feel like it could go both ways. She can either tap into an even darker side of herself and really isolate herself, or she can fall under someone else’s lead and maybe she’ll finally attempt to redeem herself. But I don’t know; I don’t feel like she’s maybe there yet.
What Sophie Nélisse’s Comments Mean For Yellowjackets Season 4
Shauna’s Story May Get Even Darker
Unsurprisingly, Nélisse isn’t giving too much away about what will happen to Shauna or the other survivors inYellowjacketsseason 4, but her comments do hint thatShauna’s journey into darkness may not be over yet. Given that Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) has now created a potential for rescue going into season 4, everything could change for Shauna.
Especially in light of Nélisse’s comments about how adult Shauna still wears that guilt,it is possible that Shauna is not going to give up her power as the antler queen willingly.This will be especially interesting to see unfold within the context of her dynamic with the other girls and how their relationships may devolve further.
Our Take On Sophie Nélisse’s Yellowjackets Comments
Shauna Remains One Of Yellowjackets' Best Characters
Audience reactions to unlikable characters can be extreme, soit is reassuring to know that the response to Shauna’s more villainous turn has not influenced Nélisse’s approach to the role. As she notes, it also speaks to how well she has managed to create a complex, imperfect character that is both a villain and sympathetic at times.
All ofYellowjackets' characters have undeniably been through a lot in the wilderness, but Shauna has arguably had it even worse due to having to go through a pregnancy while being stranded. As a result,the journey that Shauna has specifically been on is one of the show’s most compelling, and Nélisse has brought that to life.
As Nélisse noted, nothing that happened in the wilderness truly left Shauna.
Both Sophie Nélisse and Melanie Lynskey have proven themselves perfect in the role of Shauna. As Nélisse noted, nothing that happened in the wilderness truly left Shauna. She still lives with both the guilt and the sense of power that came from it, andYellowjacketsseason 4 will no doubt explore that divide further.
