Madelaine Petsch<\/strong><\/a> has experienced a multitude of emotions about saying goodbye to Riverdale<\/em><\/a>, telling Us Weekly<\/em> exclusively that she\u2019s thrilled about Cheryl Blossom\u2019s ending<\/a> and excited about her own future.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an actor on the show, wrapping was, maybe, one of the hardest weeks of my life. The people that I work with \u2014 the cast and the crew \u2014 are truly some of the most phenomenal people on this planet. I feel very lucky to have spent seven years with them. We pretty much had the same crew for seven years, so I think the hardest goodbye was saying goodbye to our crew,\u201d Petsch, 28, told Us<\/em> while promoting her video campaign for the new Mercedes-Benz CLE Coup\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n Petsch recalled experiencing mixed feelings as production finished on the hit CW series<\/a> in June. (The show, which is based on characters introduced in Archie Comics, will air its series finale on August 23<\/a>.)<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more to me about saying goodbye to these people who made the show [and] put their love into it. So that was quite difficult,\u201d she continued. \u201cBut I know it was time to put the red lipstick away and say goodbye to Cheryl. So, I\u2019m excited to say goodbye to Cheryl [and] I think her story has been completed really well. I think people will be happy with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Petsch has brought Cheryl Blossom to life since Riverdale<\/em> debuted in 2017, delivering scene-stealing performances as Cheryl navigated grief following her brother\u2019s death<\/a>, an unexpected introduction to witchcraft and more. Petsch has also left her mark while collaborating with Vanessa Morgan<\/strong> on Cheryl\u2019s iconic love story with Toni Topaz<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cVanessa has been my best friend since before the show even started. So to play her onscreen love when we have so much chemistry was absolutely wonderful. What I love about her is that even in scenes where we\u2019re just [in the] background, we find ways to make Choni feel real and authentic and like they\u2019re truly in love,\u201d Petsch shared with Us<\/em>. \u201cI think you can really see \u2014 especially in the final couple episodes of the season \u2014 that what was really important to us is figuring out what our relationship looks like and making sure that it feels authentic and people really are happy with it.\u201d<\/p>\n While reflecting on her Riverdale<\/em> days, Petsch praised the series for teaching her<\/a> some valuable lessons.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing that Riverdale<\/em> did that was really wonderful was [how] we would get scripts morning of \u2014 sometimes we would get new rewrites for a scene we were about to shoot in that moment. You really were in an environment where you had to work and think on your feet,\u201d she noted. \u201cLike, you never really got to just settle in and I think that that is a really great boot camp for an actor who wants to continue acting.\u201d<\/p>\n Petsch enjoyed how Riverdale pushed Cheryl throughout the seasons<\/a>, adding, \u201cIt is a really great challenge to find the nuances of these characters and still find the excitement in playing these characters for seven years. But every project feels different. I feel like going in with a blank slate is the most important thing mentally.\u201d<\/p>\n Petsch, however, isn\u2019t in a rush to dive right back into work after dedicating seven years to a single project<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited about taking a vacation and spending some time working on myself. Also, I think this is an important time for me to separate myself from this character I spent so many years [playing]. Because otherwise if I went into a project immediately afterwards, I would maybe still have pieces of her with me,\u201d she told Us<\/em>. \u201cBut I think it\u2019s important I take this time to separate Cheryl from myself and move on to this next big part of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n Petsch noted that she\u2019s still figuring out how to prioritize her mental health<\/a> amid the big life change.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that I know exactly what to do. There\u2019s no rule or guidebook on how to navigate this. But I did just go on a spa retreat with one of my best friends [Caroline Day<\/strong>] who actually played Heather<\/a> on the show a couple of years ago,\u201d Petsch said. \u201cI spent two full days working out a ton, getting massages and just trying to remove myself from this big heaviness that has kind of been around the end of the show. Now I\u2019m really focusing on making my space feel like a home \u2014 I think that will be helpful. And I am doing my weekly therapy sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n As Petsch continues to put herself first, she is still keeping an eye out for potential projects when the timing is right. She credited her experience in the entertainment industry for allowing her to go with her gut when it comes to choosing<\/a> a role.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m somebody who likes variety in my career. But when it comes to my next steps, it\u2019s really just about the person who I\u2019m playing. Do I feel like I can get into her skin easily or not? Sometimes it\u2019s really appealing to have a challenging time getting into a character because it\u2019s more work,\u201d she detailed. \u201cAnd I love the work. So, to me, it\u2019s just about what I see on the page and what I can bring to life and how I think I can embody this character.\u201d<\/p>\n Petsch continued: \u201cThere\u2019s really no rhyme or reason to the characters that I resonate with. It\u2019s just a feeling. It\u2019s like my best way of describing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to wrapping Riverdale<\/em>, Petsch worked alongside Froy Gutierrez<\/strong><\/a> and Gabriel Basso<\/strong> to film all three films in the Strangers<\/em> remake trilogy back to back, which she is excited for fans of the franchise to see<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I took this task on, it felt far too large for anybody to ever handle. Like truly, I [felt] like I was over my head. But then when I got there, all three [films] take place in a short amount of time. I [approached it like I was] filming one long movie and then it all made sense to me,\u201d she shared. \u201cI was able to fit this puzzle together as if I was basically making one long movie or a television show or anything else. It was actually quite easy to get my brain around it once I realized the span of time it takes place over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Vanessa Morgan and Madelaine Petsch<\/span> Kailey Schwerman\/The CW<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Madelaine](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Madelaine-Petsch-Hints-Riverdale-Fans-Will-Be-Happy-With-Cheryl-Conclusion-in-Series-Finale-Mercedes-Benz.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Madelaine Petsch<\/span> Mercedes-Benz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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