By Joe Puccio

While there has been an abundance of quality, supernatural, facetious, thrillers to hit the small screen in recent times (Lucifer, Penny Dreadful, American Horror Story, to name a few), none have quite encompassed the multi-layered genre quite as well as Evil.

Premiering to critical acclaim on CBS in 2019 before shifting to the less restrictive Paramount+ the following year, the ambitious drama excelled in a variety of aspects, including writing, tone, cinematography, direction, and of course, acting. The ensemble cast featured Mike Colter as David Acosta, an ex-war journalist training to be a Catholic priest, Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir, a technical wizard who happens to be an atheist, and Katja Herbers, an agnostic forensic psychologist who moonlights as a mother to four animated daughters.

The series, which ended its four-season run last month, has been praised for its unmistakable chemistry between not only its three protagonists, but among its junior co-stars as well.

Dalya Knapp, the youngest of the program’s troupe, got her first taste of show business at just 8 years old in Gracie’s Keeper, a 2018 short film, before landing the role of Laura Bouchard in the quirky, New York City-set, show.

“About two weeks after my second audition, which was in front of the producers, I remember I had just gotten home from school and my parents asked to speak with me,” Knapp recalled, in a recent chat with Generation X Wire. “My manager and agent called and told me that I did really well and that I got the role. I didn’t know what to say at first!”

Typical plotlines on the show, about investigations of possible paranormal activity, revolve around themes such as demonic possessions, corruption within the Church, the harmful effects of technology, and, simply put, good versus evil. For the precocious actor, now closing in on her 14^th birthday, the sensitive themes are taken in stride.

“I always seem to get very dark roles more than, say, Disney-type stuff,” she joked, “which is kind of funny. I really try my best to learn everything about the show and I take it very seriously.”

To illustrate just how determined Knapp is with her craft, conversations with her parents, acting coach, and other mentors is a common occurrence when the situation calls for it. When she impressively nabbed the highly coveted part of Talia, Jodi Kantor’s (played by Zoe Kazan) daughter in 2022’s She Said, based on The New York Times’ probe of Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual misconduct, she immediately discussed the delicate nature of the film’s content with her mother. Understanding the true events of the story helped Knapp fully grasp the weighty piece. “It helped me feel more comfortable and I was able to get used to the material,” she exclaimed.

The same strategy was followed by Knapp on two of her other lauded performances, a tense one-off episode of CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted and a riveting two-parter of NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, both Emmy Award winning programs.

While the New Jersey-born acting prodigy treasures the relationship she fostered with her adult colleagues, as well as creators Robert and Michelle King (“I don’t remember this but they told me I was telling them jokes on the first day we met”), on Evil, her deep fondness shared between her and her three “sisters” is immense.

“I honestly can’t imagine doing the show without them,” Knapp acknowledged. “My final audition was with Maddy (Crocco, who plays Lexis) and we became close right away. We actually hung out when we were done that day and thought it would be so much fun if we both got hired and could play sisters,” she continued. “Skylar (Gray, who plays Lila) too, we can all relate to each other since we’re so close in age. And Brooklyn (Shuck, who plays Lynn) is great, she’s like a real older sister to me. The four of us grew up together.”

Even improvisation proved to be a cohesive, group effort for the quartet. “Sometimes the writers would ask us to ad lib in our scenes and we would basically say the same things because we knew each other’s personalities so well,” she noted.

A number of episodes have emerged as fan favorites throughout Evil’s tenure on the air, from the debut season’s “7 Swans a Singin’,” about an epidemic of Catholic school girls singing a repetitive melody nonstop, to “E is for Elevator,” a sophomore year effort highlighting a terrifying Japanese urban legend called the Elevator Game. Knapp, an admirer of both selections, names an entry from this year as her choice.

“The recent one where the woman appeared from the future, claiming to be me in 30 years,” she opined. “That one was a lot of fun to film. I think the show got better each year, especially this season.”

Streaming numbers for the final season have been excellent, with Herbers noting on social media that the series sustained twelve consecutive weeks in the Top Ten while the “King of Horror” himself, Stephen King, a self-avowed superfan, simply tweeted “Dear Paramount+: More EVIL, please.” Although nothing is confirmed, a fifth season would obviously be welcomed by Knapp.

“I would absolutely love that,” she gushed. “I was so sad when it ended and I really appreciate all the support and love for the show. I know Robert and Michelle have been trying really hard to get it picked up somewhere else and I think we have a good chance!”

While Evil’s new lease on life is uncertain, one thing perfectly clear is that the future is quite bright for the sophisticated teenager’s acting prospects. “I love my job and I love what I get to do,” she smiled. “I’m so grateful and hopefully you’ll see me soon.”