Phaedra Parks Knows Exactly Why She's Starring in 'The Traitors'

Longtime Bravo fans you know Phaedra Parks is – and always has been – a star. But thanks to her standout performance in its second season The Traitorsthe rest of the world also discovered an important fact: Phaedra is He made for television.

The hit Peacock show features reality TV stars from various shows including; Survivor, Island of LoveThe Real Housewives franchises, The challenge, and more, to compete in a murder mystery game for a cash prize. Among the 20 cast members, three have been labeled Traitors who work in secret to try and eliminate everyone else. Viewers know who the traitors are, but the rest of the cast, called the Loyalists, do not. If a Betrayer can make it to the end of the show without being detected, they win all the money. if all Traitors are eliminated, the remaining Loyalists share the prize.

During the first episode of the season, Phaedra was cast as one of the Traitors – a role she quickly proved she was born for. Working in parallel Big BrotherDan Gheesling and SurvivorParvati Shallow, the trio started the season with a successful run of banishments. But after Thursday night's episode, Phaedra was the only Traitor left. Despite unrivaled fashion looks and even more iconic one-liners (not forgetting “Lord, not Ekin-Su” and “I do too much'cause you do too little”), the former Real Housewives of Atlanta The star managed to remain largely unnoticed and to eliminate the suspicions of her competitors. Viewers, on the other hand, can't keep their eyes off the star.

Rolling rock caught up with Phaedra to discuss her triumphant journey The Traitors so far — and how it's just getting started.

What made you decide to join its cast? The Traitors for season two?
Well, I was approached to do the first season and I had a scheduling conflict. I told them, “Try me later.” Long story short, when they came back the second time, it was literally three days before I had to leave to do the show. I hesitated and thought, “Can I do this?” Because I only had three days. I've got pre-teens and a teenager, I've got a million businesses and I was like, 'Can I get it all set up to leave in three days?' My parents were like, “Tell us what show that's about,” and when I said, “Some show in Scotland called The Traitors,” they were the biggest fans. They said, “Oh, you're going. You'll call them tomorrow morning and tell them you're coming.'' The next day, my parents were at my house at 10 in the morning with their bags and they said, “What do we need to do to get you ready to leave here?”

Three days is not a long time to prepare!
There is no time. I was like, oh my god. [Sharon Vuong, Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming] He called me that Thursday night at 10:45 and said, “Can you leave on Monday?” I said, “Monday? Next week?” She said yes.” I said, “Wow.”

What did you expect from this experience?
I really thought it was going to be a revival Dynasty. I thought it would be Dynasty meets Survivor. I asked the producers, “What is my inspiration for my wardrobe?” and they said, “It is a spiral staircase, a beautiful landscape, a magnificent castle. Think Joan Collins inside Dynasty.” So I was like, yeah, that's me.

Was the experience different than you expected?
It was completely different because the only time I was given a Dynasty moment go to breakfast. From there, it turned into Survivor. I have never played a physical game. The most physical I get is raising a glass of champagne and wearing my eyelashes, so being in a forest, trying to find my way back to the castle and fighting bugs is really out of my comfort zone . But last year, I said it would be my year of yes, so of course I accepted the challenge. I did my best to participate as best I could.

Why do you think you were chosen to be a Traitor?
I mean, I'm a lawyer. I just think it made for an interesting little twist because last season, it was the players who were the Traitors, and throwing a housewife into the mix is ​​definitely interesting. We were very different from the players. We're not competitive like that. We want to win “Best Outfit”, not really “Strongest Man” competitions. So it just added a different experience.

Do you think viewers underestimated the Housewives?
Good, yes. They think housewives are definitely not [capable]. People who don't watch our shows would definitely think we couldn't compete with real players because that's not really in most of our comfort zones. Now, give us an argument, and we'll win it, my love. But let's be in this scenario with these people who have literally won Big Brother, Survivorand The challengethat we really understand the strategy, you know, we don't actually do that.

Do you watch the new episodes every week?
Yes. And now I see that Dan was even dirtier than I thought. He was conspiring against me and I had no idea. But looking back on it, it's really good because I see what people were really thinking, so you get a bit more insight. When you're there, you only know your circle, and there are definitely small factions of groups at home.

Well, you've proven yourself to be the strongest Traitor, that's for sure. Why do you think you got past Dan and Pavarti?
I feel like they were playing based on their experience as gamers. I was actually playing based on my experience as a lawyer, undertaker and a Housewife. What I've learned is that what people will always take away from any experience is how you make them feel, and in all my jobs, my job is to make people feel valued, understood and recognized . I just used the skill set that I know from working everyday. You just listen more than you talk.

I spoke with executive producers Mike Cotton and Tony Ireland, and they mentioned how impressed they were that you always look so flawless and put together the morning after your late night shoot as Traitor.
Let me be very honest with you: I literally only slept maybe two and a half hours a night at most, but beauty is my thing. Beauty is my name, so I will never show up without being ready to compete in the beauty category. I don't care if I sleep for 20 minutes, baby. I put on the eye drops, the eyelashes and, honey, I curl my hair. I can always find time for it. I could hear people in the car saying, “Look for the person who looks the most tired. This is the Traitor.” There was a day when Janelle [Pierzina] She showed up, and she looked a little worn out, and some of the kids said, “Oh, it must be Janelle. she looks crazy.” This let me know that I needed to make sure that no matter how sleepy I was, I was performing my best.

Ever worried that the faithful would hear you and the other Traitors sneaking into the dungeon after everyone went to bed?
Well, you must be a little nervous. When you get ready to sleep, everyone goes to sleep one by one. [Producers] call your name and say, “Say goodbye to your friends. It's time to go to your room and sleep.” Once you get to your room, there are secret doors throughout the castle and they let you out.

Your hilarious one-liners have turned into so many different viral memes. Have you seen any of these?
God, I love them. I laughed so hard. When I was up The housewivesit was mentioned that I was one of the most mimetic characters and for it to happen again Traitors It's amazing. All these memes are so funny, and I just laugh. I love them. I really try to repost every single one people post, but they sure tickle me. I love TikTok for me and CT [Tamburello] to be in a rom-com.

The Traitors it has actually become a date show every Thursday. Why do you think people love this show so much?
I think the first season was obviously very good. I went back and watched it. But I think this season, the casting was just incredibly good. You have people from all different walks of life, unlikely characters coming together. I would never have met CT but for this show, right? I certainly never would have met Dan, Lord knows, but for this show. You have the gamers, you have Maks [Chmerkovskiy] from dancing with the Stars who was incredibly fun to work with. He is so funny. Then you have the whole Bravo crew, the little girl gang. You've got pilot Pete, honey, who's the quintessential bachelor, and he runs the castle like The bachelor. I think it works because you have very strong personalities who are used to being the kings and queens of the castle, and when you combine that dynamic, it makes for very, very hilarious and good television.

There are other unscripted or even scripted projects that you would be open to after doing something similar The Traitors?
Yes, I really like this space. I can't do Survivor. I can't do anything that will make me vulnerable to bacterial vaginosis or anything like that. I'm a glamber, honey. I can't do anything in the real desert. However, this was so much fun for me. I would do it again in a heartbeat. This is my favorite thing I've ever done in terms of television, hands down. I would do it again and again because I really enjoyed the mind games and the competition. I like to travel and also like to meet new people. This was everything I love to do bottled in one.

Looks like things are turning around Real Housewives of Atlanta — Kandi Burruss recently said she won't be returning to the show. Would you return to the show?
My love, they're shaking, honey. Shaking like a shake and bake. I actually talked to Porsha [Williams] just before I started the interviews [today]. Never say never. I mean, I was on the show when it was the best of the entire franchise and I'd love to see it happen again because Atlanta can be great. They just need big talent and haven't had it in a few years.