Alexa Demie says fans thought she was just Maddy Perez in real life

• Fans wrongly assumed Alexa Demie was simply playing herself as Maddy Perez
• Demie told i-D the assumption was frustrating but acknowledged her private nature
• Season two of Euphoria was the most emotionally draining for Demie to film

Alexa Demie's performance as Maddy Perez in Euphoria earned her considerable praise from both audiences and critics alike.

Yet despite the acclaim, one recurring assumption from fans left the actress quietly exasperated — the belief that she was simply playing a version of herself on screen.

Speaking to i-D, Demie recalled the frustration of hearing people suggest she was not really acting at all.

"'Oh, she's not acting, that's just who she is.'" She was quick to set the record straight. "That couldn't have been further from the truth."

Even so, Demie was measured in her response to the misconception, acknowledging that she had given people little reason to think otherwise.

"That was a bit frustrating, but I also can't be upset because I never really showed people or let people in." She added simply: "Naturally, I'm just really private."

Season two was the hardest to film

Euphoria has never been an easy watch — its characters are morally complex and often exist in deeply uncomfortable territory.

For those tasked with bringing them to life on screen, the experience of filming was frequently just as demanding.

For Demie, it was the second season that proved the most emotionally gruelling. She contrasted it with the relative sense of resolution she felt while working on the third.

"No, two was. Filming season 3 truly felt like the third act of my journey with the show and I felt held."

"I don't think it was coincidence that Sam wrote GOD into the script the way he did."

"I felt the presence all around. Two was the hardest season, by far."

The toll that season two took on her was severe enough that she questioned whether she wanted to continue at all.

"After I finished filming that I was like, 'F*** everything. F*** the show—everyone. I don't want to do this.'"

That experience ultimately prompted Demie to withdraw from the Hollywood spotlight for a period, stepping back to recover from the emotional weight the role had placed on her.