'From's Greatest Fan-Favorite Character Was Never in Danger of Being Killed Off

Editor's note: The below interview contains spoilers for From Season 4 Episode 6.

Heading into the back half of From Season 4 this week, the MGM+ horror series has raised as many new questions as it's revealed new clues to help fans solve its biggest mysteries. There's no real indication about what Sophia (Julia Doyle), AKA the Man in the Yellow Suit (Douglas E. Hughes), has in store for the town, but she's not the only danger at the moment. In the wake of a fateful trip to the lakeside settlement, one of the season's biggest twists so far has nothing to do with the supernatural. Episode 6, "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," sees Donna (Elizabeth Saunders) experiencing a medical event that leaves the town's heart hanging in the balance — literally — and forces Boyd (Harold Perrineau) to reckon with the possibility of saying goodbye to someone who has become more than just an ally.

Ahead of Episode 6's premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with Saunders about this week's major turning point. Over the course of the interview, which you can read below, the actress discusses some of the episode's most emotional moments, including Ethan's (Simon Webster) speech and Boyd's tearful confession, whether her character was ever in danger of being killed off this week, and more.

COLLIDER: This episode in particular is so emotional and such an important point in Season 4 — not just for Donna, but for all the characters who have become so close to her. I want to backtrack a bit and start with where we find Donna at the beginning of the episode, when she brings Boyd and Kenny into the shed to fill them in on what happened with the dolls. What do you enjoy about filming those group scenes where everybody's in a room, and you're really getting to bounce off of each other?

ELIZABETH SAUNDERS: It is really dynamic, and I really look forward to them. Because I feel I have so many quick one-on-one scenes with people, which we're still bouncing off each other, but when we get in those bigger group scenes, there's just so much more to play off of and directions we can go with it. It's also just nice being able to work with several other really good actors.

That's all in the lead-up to the reveal of Roger and what the dolls did to him. How many of those effects were practical makeup, so that you had something to react to? It's very chilling when Donna pulls back the sheet, and you see the buttons and the mouth that have been sewn in.

SAUNDERS: I think they added stuff in. I can't honestly remember. I know when I watch things, and there's the stuff like seeing his jaw ripped out in the scene where the doll attacks him, there's suddenly the memory of watching what has happened, whereas when we shot it, you don't have quite that mental vision of it.

'From's Elizabeth Saunders Researched What Donna's Heart Attack Would Look Like

"... it was nerve-wracking for me because it's one of my least favorite subjects."

How much research did you do into how a heart attack would present for Donna and how to portray that on a physical level?

SAUNDERS: I did a lot to make sure I felt that it was going to fall into a zone that seemed real. I had done quite a bit of research already because, being a woman in my 60s, and I actually have always had anxiety and dealt with panic attacks, I have presented myself to emergency in the past to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack. Because the symptoms in women are so different and just disparate compared to what men's are, to me, it's, in a way, more frightening because any little thing — is that indigestion something? Is that pain in my back something?

In terms of actually displaying it without it being sort of the “TV heart attack,” I made myself watch heart attack videos. Most of them were in the ER and were being monitored, but just sort of finding out how benign they can look. They're not all those great big widowmakers. So, I did quite a bit, and it was nerve-wracking for me because it's one of my least favorite subjects.

When this happens to Donna, it feels like everything comes to a halt. All the characters immediately surround her, including Ethan, who references the moment when Donna told him to be brave. Is it harder for you, being in a position where you can't emote at all, not to be emotional when this sweet young actor is giving this very emotional and tender speech that really calls back to how close these characters have become?

SAUNDERS: It's actually okay for me. I have an ability, and I don't know that I love this ability about myself, that I can compartmentalize certain kinds of things, and that would fall into that. Also, sometimes you don't realize... you guys see that comment about, “I feel safer when you're here,” so there's this throughline. Because of the way we shoot and the order we shoot, I sometimes don't see the connection that would be that thing that tweaks me into wanting to cry or open my eyes. I just listen. It's a great exercise to just listen.

'From's Elizabeth Saunders Reveals What Boyd and Donna Have Most in Common

"That's a vital part of Donna's journey right now, learning about love and connection."

Right after the heart attack happens, Boyd's trying to resuscitate Donna, and he's saying, “You don't die until I say you die.” Later, in the bedroom, when they're alone, he admits, “I cannot do this without you.” I was curious for your thoughts on not only what that indicates about their relationship and how it's evolved over these seasons, but also how Boyd can't fathom losing Donna. That possibility is unacceptable and inconceivable to him.

SAUNDERS: I can't speak for Harold [Perrineau] on this, but I think that Boyd is having that realization. What I can speak for is what Donna's journey is right now, discovering that she can't go on and do what she does without other people. Even though those two butt heads, they're both learning about the need for somebody else, or other people, that we're all connected. That's a vital part of Donna's journey right now, learning about love and connection.

Was there ever a bigger conversation about whether Donna would even survive the heart attack?

SAUNDERS: Not that I was aware of. They discussed it with me, as in, “Just so you know, it's coming down the pike, and you're going to survive.” But I don't know if there was previous discussion. John [Griffin] has said that he's had fans go, “I will come find you if you kill Donna.” [Laughs] So, I don't know if he's just being nice to me or what. Kill me and take that risk.

I know you probably can't say much about what's coming, but how are Donna's heart attack and recovery going to shape her journey for the rest of Season 4 and even into the final season?

SAUNDERS: Well, I think she has to become more reliant on other people and accept that. Because it's just in her nature. It's so drilled into her. Whether it's nature or the way she was raised, she has to be resilient. She has to survive. She has to help other people survive. I think what it changes is that she still has the drive to do that, but she now has to be reliant on other people to do it and to suck it up.

She's probably not going to be the easiest patient. [Laughs]

SAUNDERS: Yeah. No, I was going, “If they make me an easy patient, I'm going to be so pissed,” because it makes no sense. No, she doesn't want to be an easy patient.

I was very relieved when Donna opened her eyes. I'm sure fans are going to be breathing a sigh of relief, too, so no riots are coming John's way.

SAUNDERS: [Laughs] Maybe a brief riot. Hopefully, they don't run out to do it before I wake up.

New episodes of From Season 4 premiere Sundays on MGM+.