A nightmare became a devastating reality for Sophie Dixon (played by Lizzy Greene) in a recent episode of A Million Little Things. What began as seemingly innocent music lessons with her guitar teacher, Peter (Andrew Leeds), unraveled into a chilling case of grooming and sexual impropriety, leaving Sophie, and viewers, reeling.
The alarm bells first rang when Gary (James Roday Rodriguez) discovered suspicious texts from a man listed as Sophie’s “ex-boyfriend.” As the pieces fell into place, it became horrifyingly clear that Peter wasn’t just prepping Sophie for college auditions; he was systematically manipulating her. The disturbing revelations included Peter convincing Sophie to perform in her bathing suit as an “exercise” and, most shockingly, masturbating in front of her after a successful audition. In a misguided attempt to “normalize” the situation, Sophie even sent Peter provocative photos, which ultimately led him to drop her as a student.
Fortunately, Sophie found immediate support in Maggie (Allison Miller), a trained therapist, and Regina (Christina Moses), herself a survivor of sexual assault. Their presence was crucial in convincing Sophie that she was not to blame. However, as Lizzy Greene reveals, this traumatic event is just the beginning of a long and challenging road to recovery for the young teenager.
Unpacking the Trauma: Lizzy Greene on Filming Sophie’s Story
In an exclusive interview, Lizzy Greene shared insights into the preparation for such a sensitive storyline, the experience on set, and her hopes for what viewers will take away from Sophie’s journey.
Extensive Preparation and Research Greene revealed that showrunner DJ Nash pitched her this storyline in July of last year, giving her ample time to prepare. “I’ve had a lot of time to really research and gather as much information on this topic, and specifically grooming,” she explained. This preparation included numerous calls with individuals in Los Angeles who shared their own experiences. “I’ve had people share with me their own experiences, which has been one of the most moving parts of all of this,” Greene noted, highlighting the profound impact of these personal stories on her portrayal.
Maintaining Lightness Amidst Intensity on Set The scene where Peter masturbates in front of Sophie was intensely depicted without being explicit, a deliberate choice by the show. Greene described the filming experience: “That scene was actually shot last on the last day of the episode. We moved through it fairly quickly.” She emphasized the importance of separating the difficult material from the on-set atmosphere. “With intense scenes like that, and especially with such a sensitive subject matter, we found it really important to keep that intensity just for when they slate and then when the cameras cut, we get out of it,” she said. “There’s always a lightness kept between takes. This cast and crew are just like family… being able to kind of flip on like a light switch and flip it off when needed and when not needed is really important. Andrew [Leeds] is wonderful, by the way, and is such a great actor.”
The Lingering Impact: Music, Guilt, and Recovery
Sophie’s love for music, a passion she pursued fiercely, including giving up Harvard and a significant relationship, is deeply intertwined with this trauma. Greene confirmed that this experience will indeed affect Sophie’s relationship with music.
Questioning Her Talent and Passion “When you think about what she’s given up, like Harvard for example… She puts so much effort and energy into this and practically just puts all of her eggs in this basket,” Greene explained. “After this happens to her, she is in the back of her mind asking, ‘Was I ever even talented?’ I think that’s one of the most heartbreaking things. There’s also that question of did Peter ever even see me as a musician? Or did he ever see me as someone who was wanting to take this seriously?” This struggle will be explored further as the season progresses, with “some really great scenes with a few of the other cast members really getting into this specific question about what she is going to do with that music and and what her plans are for the future.”
The Immediate Road to Recovery: Leaning on Support Now that the truth is out, Sophie’s immediate next steps will involve confronting the emotional fallout. “Unfortunately, what’s really common with survivors of sexual violence is there’s the struggle with guilt and shame. We’re going to see that happen,” Greene shared. “She’s going to ask herself these questions of ‘Was I partially responsible for what happened?’ Of course, the answer is absolutely not. Sophie did nothing wrong and I’m really hoping that she’s going to realize that.”
Sophie will heavily rely on Maggie’s insights, which will be “really important because Maggie can give her both her advice as someone that Sophie loves and also as a therapist.” Even with Delilah stuck in France caring for her father with dementia, Sophie will still lean on her mother for support, showcasing the complexities of family bonds under duress.
A Message of Support and Awareness
Above all, Lizzy Greene hopes that Sophie’s storyline will resonate deeply with viewers, offering both solace and education.
For Survivors: Acknowledgment and Healing “Firstly, [I] hope that this brings support and security and acknowledgment and healing to anybody who has been affected by sexual violence,” Greene expressed. “I hope that this whole story that we’re going to tell is going to be helpful in the healing process for them.”
For All Viewers: Understanding and Awareness For those less familiar with the topic, especially grooming, Greene hopes the episode serves as an educational tool. “I hope that this helps inform a lot of people about it and show that this can happen to anyone,” she stated. “I just hope that this makes people feel seen and I also hope that people will be able to really understand just how deep this issue goes.”
Sophie’s journey through this trauma is a pivotal and essential storyline for A Million Little Things, promising to tackle a difficult subject with the sensitivity and depth it deserves. As Sophie navigates her path to healing, her story aims to bring crucial awareness and support to countless others.
