Rising Star: Aubri Ibrag
Rising star Aubri Ibrag is quickly making her mark with emotionally nuanced performances and a magnetic screen presence, most recently in her breakout role on The Buccaneers. In this candid and thoughtful interview, Aubri opens up about portraying complex characters, finding strength through vulnerability, and the unexpected ways she stays creatively inspired. With her signature mix of introspection, humor, and honesty, she gives us a glimpse into both her artistic process and the quirks that make her uniquely herself. I loved playing that unraveling not as weakness, but as a kind of resurrection. Lizzy isn’t trying to betray anyone. She’s trying to find the pulse in herself again.
Photographed by MASHA MEL
What drew you to your role in The Buccaneers?
What drew me to Lizzy was the shame she lives in. She’s someone who has learned how to survive by being agreeable and small. After what happens with her, she shuts down. She carries a shame that was never hers to begin with, and that shame begins to shape how she sees herself—how she moves through the world, how she connects or doesn’t connect, even with her own body.
So, when she gets engaged to Hector, it makes sense. He’s kind, he’s safe, and she convinces herself that this is what a happy life looks like now. No spark. No chaos. Just security. But underneath that, there’s a quiet grief, because she truly believes that the part of her that once felt deeply, that once burned with joy or desire, is gone and silenced.
And then Theo shows up. At first, it’s just lust—messy, inconvenient, overwhelming. But that’s what makes it important. It’s not about him, not really. It’s about her. About this flood of feeling she didn’t think she was capable of anymore. After being violated, after going numb, Lizzy suddenly wants something. And instead of burying it, she reaches for it. And for a character who has spent so long trying to be good, it’s the first time she’s
really being honest.
I loved playing that unraveling not as weakness, but as a kind of resurrection. Lizzy isn’t trying to betray anyone. She’s trying to find the pulse in herself again.
How would you describe your character in three words?
A quiet storm.
What was the most surprising part of filming a period drama?
That I didn’t drop dead in a corset. Joking! I love them—they’re gorgeous—but also, how were women doing anything in those things? Period dramas are all grace and poise on screen, but behind the scenes, breathing was a mission, and I fell… a lot. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Corsets or comfort—be honest.
Corsets, obviously. Breathing is so last season, haha.
Who’s inspired you the most in your acting journey so far?
I’m inspired by actors who make you forget you’re watching someone perform. People like Mikey Madison, Margot Robbie, and Natalie Portman—all in completely different ways—have this ability to make you feel exactly what their character is feeling. There’s no distance. No performance. It’s just raw and present and honest. I admire actors who are fearless in the emotional space, who let themselves go to uncomfortable or unpredictable places, who don’t worry about how they look, just how it feels. When you watch someone like that, it stays with you.
What kind of role would be a dream for you?
A dream role for me would be Sean Baker’s Anora. She’s sharp, funny, messy, and constantly shifting between control and chaos. I love that she’s both romantic and realistic. She wants more, but she also knows how to survive. I’m drawn to characters that are complicated, layered, full of contradictions—women who use performance to get by but, underneath it all, still want to be loved for
who they really are.
What’s your ideal way to spend your day off?
Wake up at noon, move from the bed to the couch, put on Sex and the City or a true crime documentary, and eat plain croissants all day while cuddling my stuffed animals. Ideally, no one speaks to me, and I remain horizontal. That’s my perfect day off.
What song is currently on repeat on your playlist?
Currently I’m obsessed with “Paradise Circus” by Massive Attack.
What’s a beauty product you can’t live without?
My Laneige lip balm. I’ve had one within arm’s reach since I first tried it in 2019.
Who’s your style icon?
Gabriette. Whenever I go shopping, I ask myself, “Would Gabriette buy this?” My friends make fun of me. I think she’s incredible.
What’s your go-to coffee or tea order?
An iced vanilla latte with oat milk, please!
What’s something fans might be surprised to learn about you?
I have a collection of stuffed animals who are basically my children. They all have names and very distinct personalities. My favorite was a Squishmallow named Aubrey the
Astronaut—yes, that was actually her name on the tag—who I found in a bin at ALDI in 2022. Total fate. But I lost her during filming Season Two of The Buccaneers, and I was genuinely devastated. I even put up flyers on online teddy bear forums to try and find her again. It felt like losing a soulmate. If anyone finds her… please return her to her rightful mother.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I actually got the best advice at Coachella, of all places. I had lost all my friends and ended up sitting on the ground alone—very dramatic—and this lovely man sat next to me and said: “Always try your best, don’t take things personally, and don’t make assumptions.” And honestly, I think about that all the time. It was such a simple moment, but the advice has stayed with me way longer than the hangover.
What’s one item in your closet you’ll never part with?
My new CouCou white slip dress. I just got it and I haven’t taken it off since. One of my friends literally calls it my uniform and is concerned about how often I wear it.
If you weren’t acting, what would you be doing right now?
I’d probably be interrogating a murder suspect at a police station. I’ve always wanted to be a detective—I think I’d be great at it. I can almost instantly tell when someone’s lying to me. It’s a gift… and a curse.
What’s your “just one bite” guilty pleasure?
Reality TV. I always tell myself I’m only going to watch one episode of Love Is Blind… and somehow I look up and it’s 3 a.m. and I’ve emotionally adopted three couples and
developed a deep personal vendetta against some random stranger named Brad.
Where do you feel most creatively inspired?
When I’m alone in my apartment. I shut the curtains and start singing, dancing, rolling around on the floor, playing the piano—sometimes I even make little short films by myself or pretend I’m performing for a crowd. It’s a bit embarrassing… but honestly, no one can see me and that’s when I feel most free. That’s where the good stuff happens!
What’s one fashion moment from The Buccaneers you’d wear in real life?
Lizzy’s wedding dress—hands down. It’s so stunning, I’m secretly hoping Kate and the costume team will let me wear it for my actual wedding one day. Though… maybe it’s a bad omen, considering the events of that day. Still, I’d risk it. It’s that beautiful.
If you could time travel to any era, what decade would you visit?
The ’50s, definitely. I have a framed picture of Audrey Hepburn in the middle of my living room and I’m obsessed with all her films—Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. There’s just something about the elegance and the simplicity of that era that draws me in. I’d happily time travel just to wear the dresses, ride around Rome on a Vespa, and
cry in black-and-white.
What’s next for you? Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?
Watch this space!
What’s your current mantra, quote, or lyric that’s getting you through it all?
There’s a lyric from a song called Burning Pile by Mother Mother that’s really been sitting with me lately:
"All my troubles on a burning pile, all lit up and I start to smile. If I catch fire, then
I change my aim, throw my trouble at the pearly gates."
It’s chaotic, but also kind of liberating. It reminds me that sometimes the only way through something is to let it burn, laugh through the flames, and keep going.
