Samantha Walkes and Alona Tal Discuss ‘Cross’ Movie and Collaborating with Ben Watkins

appens for Cross and Elle. In terms of high school sweethearts or reconnecting with old friends or flames, Walkes and Tal had very different experiences.

“You’re not gonna like my answer, boo. My answer is that I was, I guess, an overachiever: President of Student Council, track runner. And I just… no one invited me to prom. No one invited me to the school dance; no one approached me,” Walkes shared.

“People treated me like I was a teacher, like I was different just because I was very socially involved, but at a level that, I guess, most high schoolers don’t really participate in. And I led a lot of things, I planned a lot of events. I really loved that part of my high school career, but then I realized it cost me in the long run because I ended up taking my cousin to my prom – which I’m actually quite proud of, because I love my fam, but it was a different experience.”

On the other hand, Tal joked, “Too many stories. So many we don’t have time. [laughs] I did have a high school sweetheart, and he was lovely, and I hope he’s well. We are not in touch, sadly.”

For Tal, this wasn’t her first experience working with Ben Watkins. Previously, the pair worked together on the series Hand of God, and Tal was more than happy to reunite with Watkins again and play any part, even one in the background.

“Ben – I remember when he announced that he was working on it, and I’d reached out to him asking if there was any part that I could possibly read for for him to consider me, and he apparently had already prepared this one for me. I did not know that he was already thinking of me for this one, so it was very nice! I still got to audition for it and earn it,” Tal shared. “And honestly, as I told him in that original message, I would play a plant in anything that he wrote. I would gladly be the tree in the background.”

Walkes added, “Because you know that storyline would be so great. Those leaves would be luscious!”

Be sure to catch Samantha Walkes and Alona Tal on Cross, now streaming on Prime Video.