When We Were Young and Unafraid's Morgan Saylor on Homeland Hate & Being a Brooklyn Lifer

Age: 19

Hometown: Born in Chicago; raised in Decatur, GA

Current Role: A professional stage debut as Penny, who helps her mother (Cherry Jones) shelter women in distress at a remote bed-and-breakfast, in Manhattan Theatre Club’s world premiere of Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid.

Screen Cred: Saylor nailed the role of Dana Brody, the scowling teen fans loved to hate, in the first three seasons of Showtime’s hit spy drama Homeland.

"When I was about 12, I played Frankie in a reading of The Member of the Wedding at True Colors Theatre in Atlanta. People in the audience were crying, and I remember feeling proud that I could make them feel things."

"I just got approved for my second gap year at the University of Chicago. My dream would be to study mathematics, which has always been my favorite subject. My palms are excited right now just thinking about it!"

"There’s a lot of estrogen in our dressing room. It’s phenomenal to be in the company of so many smart and talented women: Cherry [Jones], Zoe [Kazan] and Cherise [Boothe], and also Sarah [Treem, the playwright] and Pam [MacKinnon, the director]. I keep pinching myself."

"It’s cool that people reacted so strongly to Dana [on Homeland]. I was never upset about it. Look at her life—her dad was a terrorist! I understand her and I love her. But it’s just a TV show, you know? We’re just telling stories."

"I moved to New York with my boyfriend last summer. He’s a rock-climbing coach at Brooklyn Boulders and goes to school. We got a little place in Bed-Stuy [Brooklyn] and we love it. I honestly think I will live here for the rest of my life."

"Cherry Jones makes fun of me because I never get nervous. Before the first performance, everyone was nervous, and I was like, 'Guys, what are you doing? Just breathe!'"