Ruby Cruz Finds Her Landing as Mars’ Next Generation in For all Mankind Season 5
Throughout its nearly seven-year run, Apple TV‘s original series For All Mankind (2019–) examines what would happen if the 1960s global space race never ended. It begs the real-world question of how much further society could advance space exploration. That one question is answered in the shape of Mars inhabitation, with season 5 depicting life on Mars for the next generation of space explorers in the year 2012.
One of the inhabitants is rising star Ruby Cruz who plays Lily Dale, Miles and Amanda Dale’s younger daughter. Uniquely, Lily is one of the few characters in For All Mankind who has spent a majority of her life on Mars, as her father, Miles, relocated there to work for Helios Aerospace when she was young. Cruz spoke with EnVi via Zoom to explore the beautiful universe For All Mankind creates towards the hypothetical length space travel can bring.
Seeing Mars Through Lily’s Eyes
To genuinely embrace Lily’s perspective on life on Mars, Cruz had to accept the unfamiliar environment as her new normal and step outside of herself. “I think it really was just envisioning the mundane of Mars life, [as] it [was] so incredible and magical being on those sets that are so elaborate, detailed, and insane for me as Ruby.” She continues, but this time as her character, saying, “‘This is what I’ve seen every single day…It’s just home.’”
This season of the series focuses on the progress of the Mars colony 20 years after its inception, as ordinary people work to grow its economy, infrastructure, and most importantly, make it their own. Cruz’s approach to innovation differs from For All Mankind‘s focus on scientific developments within the colony. She instead emphasizes Lily’s perception of Mars’ physical environment as the norm, comparing it to her love of similar elements on Earth.
“I love Earth. I love the sky, the green, and just being in nature is such a powerful thing here that envisioning that feeling, but towards a different environment, all the reds, learning to love all the hues of reds and oranges, and envisioning those sunsets and those sunrises.”
Cruz is no stranger to having a diverse catalog of acting projects under her belt. She starred in the cult classic comedy film Bottoms in 2023; HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls; and as the first openly LGBTQ+ princess in Willow, cementing her place in entertainment history. Cruz is now gaining traction through this Emmy Award-winning series, delving into the alternate-history and science-fiction genres with the profound lead character of Lily.
Creating Her Own Identity As Lily
Lily is briefly introduced to viewers as a child in season 4, but by the events of season 5, she has grown up and graduated from Happy Valley Institution of Education. Initially, Lily intends to follow in her older sister Sarah’s footsteps by studying journalism at Tulane University on Earth. However, as the season progresses, she becomes increasingly involved in the political conflict unfolding between Earth and Mars.
The rebellion began when Lee Jung-Gil is suspected of murdering Yoon Tae-min in Happy Valley’s first known case of homicide. As the situation escalates, Lily finds herself jailed by Mars peacekeepers while protests storm throughout the base. She subsequently helps leak confidential data revealing a conspiracy involving the Mars-6 Alliance, Helios, and Kuragin.
Cruz emphasizes how her own drive for activism contributed to Lily’s journey and, in turn, helped teach her real-world life lessons. “I think reverting back to that time in my life when I was in high school and I realized I actually had a voice in fighting for things that I believe in was a really cool thing to return to,” she shares.
Cruz reflectively discussed the parallels between the events of For All Mankind and our own present-day society. “The world is really inflamed right now. I mean, it always is, but really right now it’s so terrifying, and it can feel so overwhelming in terms of where I have a voice that actually makes a difference. I think it was really inspiring to be in Lily’s mind, where it’s like, ‘Don’t overthink it. Just do it.’”
With season 5 signalling the end of an era for the series, For All Mankind‘s sixth and final season is set to premiere in 2027. Until then, viewers can continue appreciating how Mars’ empowering and inspirational new generation, such as Lily, can influence our perceptions of space travel and its adventures. For All Mankind Season 5 will wrap up on Apple TV on May 29, so don’t miss out on the more exciting journey and innovations before it’s too late!
Looking for more action-packed series to add to your watchlist? Check out our exclusive interview with Skill House actress Dani Oliveros!
