Myha'la Herrold is Caught Red-Handed

Caught Red-Handed is an interview series that begs the questions: What do cool people actually consume? What are their digital vices and indulgences?

When HBO’s Industry quietly entered the scene in November of 2020, it didn’t get the immediate Game Of Thrones treatment I hoped it would. I was in my girlboss era, and Industry’s Euphoria-zation of entry-level corporate machinations helped me glamorize my 9-to-9.

“Guys, an intern literally dies in the pilot from grinding too hard,” I’d gush to my Brooklyn artist friends, who’d nod politely.

About halfway through the season, I perused the Instagram page of its star Myha’la Herrold, who played the Machiavellian protagonist Harper Stern, a scrappy American upstart charting her course at London’s prestigious Pierpoint & Co. investment bank.

Her profile seemed remarkably normal for someone headlining a show on the same network as Succession and The Wire. It was almost too accessible like I had looked up a cast member from my college’s production of Little Shop to see if we had any mutuals. (Other people must have thought so, too — Myha’la met her boyfriend through an optimistic IG DM around this time).

While it was overwhelmingly evident that Myha’la, who had barely graduated from Carnegie Mellon before booking Industry, was going to have the type of career cited by eager Tisch freshmen for years to come, for a funny, fleeting moment, it was like the rest of the world hadn’t caught on yet. She could probably still buy Hold the Cones from Trader Joe’s without being asked for a selfie in the freezer aisle.

Of course, that recognition quickly careened into focus like a derailed train in a Michael Bay movie. Getting tapped for Gen Z’s response to Scream, to the delight of A24 nerds everywhere? Check. Gracing the cover of Teen Vogue’s New Hollywood issue? Check. Dominating the screen opposite industry vets Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali? Duh.

Today, Myha’la joins us as one of the glowing faces of Colgate’s new "My Smile is My Superpower" campaign, inclusive of a brand music video, that encourages young people to embrace the beauty of gaps and imperfections. In the spirit of that authenticity, for this month’s Caught Red-Handed, we chat with Myha’la about addictive iPhone games, fashion faux pas, and the Broadway cast albums she’ll happily queue up for you on Spotify.

Emma Sharpe: If you were living through a permanent blackout, like your character in Sam Esmail’s brilliant Leave The World Behind, what TV series would you make sure you had on DVD in your prepper bunker?

Myha’la Herrold: I would neeeeeed Frasier. I watch it or listen to it in the background every single day. It’s my comfort blanket.

Emma Sharpe: You told W Magazine that Bareburger is basically a third wheel in your relationship at this point. What’s your go-to order?

Myha’la Herrold: The Spicy Paul Bunyan HAHAHAHA.

Emma Sharpe: As a student at a strict Catholic high school, you famously enjoyed pushing the limits of the dress code. Today, when you’re at parties or runway shows for some of the biggest fashion brands in the world, are there still any fashion “rules” you like to break, or faux-pas you lean into?

Myha’la Herrold: It’s not a conscious thing, me breaking rules, anymore. I think I incidentally break rules when I just do what I want! Above all else I want to be comfortable and happy in my clothes so if that means breaking rules, I’m willing to do that. If I’m not happy, I cannot serve the look!

Emma Sharpe: What’s the dumbest thing you spent money on recently?

Myha’la Herrold: Royal Match. The game on my phone that has me in a chokehold.

Emma Sharpe: Before becoming a bona fide movie star, you came from musical theater roots. If someone put your Spotify on shuffle, would there be any Broadway albums you’d be worried might pop up?

Myha’la Herrold: NEVER WORRIED. I’d be excited if Legally Blonde or 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee or the Actors Fund of America Benefit Recording of Hair came on because they all slay.

Emma Sharpe: In addition to your starring role on Industry, you also appeared in Black Mirror, joining the ranks of stars like Jon Hamm, Daniel Kaluuya, and Salma Hayek. In the spirit of the show, is there a social media habit or vice you want to cop to?

Myha’la Herrold: Doom scrolling is real. I’m glad my glasses have blue light screening on them because I’m sure I’d be blind by now if they didn’t. I’d love to not doom scroll but the algorithm has me by the neck!

Emma Sharpe: I can’t wait for Industry season 3. If real life Myha’la had to take financial advice from Harper Stern, Succession’s Kendall Roy, or the Monterey Moms of Big Little Lies, who would you pick?

Myha’la Herrold: I feel like the Monterey Mom’s advice would be transferable. So, maybe not the best financial advice but sure they’d know how to get me out of a sticky situation if I really needed it.