In ‘All Her Fault,’ Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning take on mom guilt and the mental load

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This article contains some spoilers for “All Her Fault.”

Sarah Snook found that leaving her two-year-old daughter for work on the Peacock series “All Her Fault” actually aided her performance.

The new show, available to stream on Thursday, features actress Snook as Marissa Irvine, a Chicago mom who experiences a terrifying situation. When she goes to collect her son, Milo, from a playdate, she realizes she’s at the wrong address – and Milo wasn’t even there to begin with. The other mother she believed was arranging the pickup is confused, the homeowner doesn’t know anything, and Milo has disappeared.

Speaking in a video call, she explained that going through a similar situation with her daughter helped her gain a deeper understanding of what it would be like for the situation to happen to her personally. Becoming a parent gave her a new perspective.

Snook realized she had her limits. She simply couldn’t imagine her own daughter taking Milo’s place, and if she did, she knew she wouldn’t be able to continue working. It was just too emotionally draining and overwhelming, as she explains.

Okay, so I just finished watching “All Her Fault,” and it’s a real rollercoaster. This eight-episode thriller has some genuinely shocking moments, and what I really appreciated is how seriously it tackles motherhood – especially that tendency women have to blame themselves when things go wrong. Honestly, the title is a bit misleading; while it seems to point the finger at one character, the blame game is much more complicated, involving both Snook’s character and Jenny, played by Dakota Fanning, who gets pulled into this mess unexpectedly.

Snook insists it’s unfair to blame her alone, and discusses the often overwhelming mental burden women carry when it comes to raising children.

Both mothers feel intensely guilty about Milo’s disappearance, believing their dedication to their jobs contributed to it. Marissa regrets not verifying the phone number that originally told her about the playdate. Jenny, who works in book marketing, unknowingly hired Carrie Finch – the nanny who would ultimately kidnap Milo.

That’s a key reason why Megan Gallagher wanted to turn Andrea Mara’s book into a TV show.

She explains that a common theme she’s noticed is a sense of guilt many mothers feel, combined with an unequal division of household chores in straight relationships. She believes this is a major problem, and says that almost every woman she knows her age is struggling with it. She describes a scenario many of them experience: dropping their kids off at school and then breaking down in tears before heading to work.

After portraying the cold and calculating Shiv Roy on “Succession,” where her pregnancy felt more like a strategic power play, Sarah Snook was attracted to the role of Marissa, a character genuinely focused on being a good mother.

Television

The actress who plays Shiv Roy on the HBO show discusses how both she and her character have changed throughout the series, now that it has finished.

Snook was looking for a character who was naturally kind and approachable. Unlike Shiv, who exists in a similar environment but struggles to connect emotionally, Marissa is simply a warm, friendly, and nurturing person. She instinctively offers comfort to those who are upset, saying, ‘I’m here for you.’

Marissa and Jenny first connect at a school event in a funny way – they both feel awkward in the bathroom and realize they’re wearing the exact same dress! After Milo disappears, Marissa could blame Jenny, but surprisingly, they become even closer instead.

I loved getting to play a role where the friendship between women was just genuinely supportive and uplifting! It’s refreshing because you often see stories where women are portrayed as rivals, and this was a really nice change of pace.

Marissa and Jenny share a close, supportive relationship – the kind Fanning sees in her own life. They’re the people you can count on during difficult times, offering love and support instead of negativity.

For Snook, Marissa and Jenny’s connection is almost elemental.

She explains that the idea comes from Greek myths and ancient stories. Ultimately, she believes women need to support each other.

Though she doesn’t have children herself, Fanning easily understood the intense stress her character, Jenny, faced in the show, relying on imagination rather than personal experience.

She says she’s dreamed of being a mother for as long as she can remember. Even as a little girl, around five years old, she would pretend to be pregnant, using a blanket under her shirt. She’s never doubted her desire to have children.

I’ve always known her as a really caring person. She’s always been the one looking after others – first with her little sister, Elle, and now with my best friend’s daughters, who I’m lucky enough to be godmother to. They’re five and two, and she’s amazing with them.

I’ve realized my work really comes from life – from the people I know and things I’ve gone through. It even made me think about my own relationship with my mom! I started to laugh because I realized I’ve probably done some of the very things I’m writing about to her over the years. It was a bit of a self-awareness moment, honestly.

Throughout the show, Jenny is portrayed as a loving mother and a supportive friend to Marissa, just as much as she’s a driven professional. She’s currently focused on securing an interview with a famous author, which causes tension with her husband, Richie (Thomas Cocquerel), who doesn’t pull his weight with childcare.

Gallagher says the writers spent a lot of time talking about Jenny and her profession.

Gallagher emphasizes the importance of women embracing their passion for their careers. She believes it’s perfectly acceptable for women to find deep satisfaction in their work, even if that means acknowledging that work can provide fulfillment beyond what family alone offers. It’s okay to admit that while family is important, it doesn’t have to be everything, and pursuing professional passions is valid.

However, this doesn’t suggest that Marissa or Jenny are shown as mothers who don’t care. Both women are very loving and dedicated to their sons.

According to Shiv Roy actress Sarah Snook, media often suggests successful women can’t also be mothers. This doesn’t align with her personal life, she explains.

Becoming a mother has really changed things for me, and I think it’s directly contributed to my recent success. It’s given me a fresh outlook, helped me understand others better, and built my confidence. I now trust my instincts and feel capable of handling anything that comes my way, knowing I can confidently stand by my decisions.

Sarah Snook was also an executive producer on “All Her Fault,” and filmed the project in Melbourne, Australia, to be close to her daughter and stepson, who attends school there. Unlike many of the male characters’ storylines, Snook’s husband, actor Dave Lawson, actively shared parenting duties, bringing their young child to the set for playtime during lunch breaks.

We had toys and a playground on the set of the show because we pretended to have a child there. My daughter probably thinks every time she visits me at work, there will be a little playground and toys for her, but that won’t always be true, sweetie.

Even though the subject matter was heavy, Snook says the set of “All Her Fault” was surprisingly lighthearted, with cast members using humor to cope with the difficult emotions their characters were experiencing.

Just like Marissa, Snook found herself balancing work and family after experiencing a day in someone else’s shoes. She was facing the everyday challenges mothers constantly navigate – the same issues the show explores.

She explains that after a really tough day, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is connect with your child. A hug from her daughter always helps her feel better, releasing feel-good hormones. It’s important for a mom to let go of the stress from work when she comes home, rather than bringing that negativity into the family. Taking that time to recharge is essential for being a good parent.

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2025-11-06 14:04