“Maintenance Required”
Photoshoot / Interview
When Madelaine Petsch steps into the frame, she brings more than star power — she brings grit, wit, and a spark of rebellion. In Maintenance Required, her newest role as Charlie, a mechanic fighting to keep her vintage auto shop alive against a corporate oil-and-repair giant, she delivers a performance that’s equal parts rom-com charm and motor oil realism. Think grease-stained hands, six-pack discipline, and the kind of dialogue only an actor-producer can shape with authority. Surrounded by muscle cars, restomods, and a flawless 1960s Mercedes 180SL “baby gullwing,” Petsch proves she can hold her own in a male-dominated garage while carrying a love story that feels refreshingly authentic. Here, in her very first interview about the film, Madelaine Petsch talks about her mechanic training, her vision as a producer, and why some cars — like the Bronco — should never go electric.
Dimitri: Maintenance Required is such a unique blend — part rom-com, part vintage car love letter. What drew you to the project?
Madelaine Petsch: I loved that it felt fresh. Charlie, this all-female mechanic shop, and her story had bones I really believed in. I was also given the opportunity to come on as a producer, which meant I could help shape the dialogue, work on the casting, and bring a lot of myself into the character.
Dimitri: You did mechanic lessons for months before filming. How real did that training make the performance for you?
Madelaine Petsch: It was huge. I spent about three months with a mechanic in his shop, learning how to actually work on cars. By the time we were shooting, I could change a tire, handle tools, and understand what Charlie’s world felt like. The best compliment was when our on-set mechanic told me at the end, “I’d hire you in my shop.” That made my day.
Dimitri: The cars are practically characters themselves — the Ford Bronco restomod, the vintage Mustang, and that Mercedes 180SL “baby gullwing.” Which one stole your heart?
Madelaine Petsch: The Mercedes. It’s so beautiful and timeless. We couldn’t really drive it, since it belonged to the owner, but just being around it was incredible.
Dimitri: In the film, there’s even a debate about electrifying a Bronco. What’s your personal take?
Madelaine Petsch: (Laughs) I still stand by Charlie — don’t kill the soul of the Bronco! There’s something about that sound and that power you can’t replace with electric.
Dimitri: Beyond the cars, the story pits a small independent shop against a big corporate chain. How important was that theme for you?
Madelaine Petsch: Very. I think a lot of us feel that tension between corporate power and small businesses. It happens in every industry, not just auto repair. It was meaningful to tell that story through a character who refuses to be crushed by it.
Dimitri: Jim Gaffigan, Madison Bailey, Katy O’Brien, Jacob Scipio — what was the chemistry like on set?
Madelaine Petsch: Honestly, a dream. Jim was hilarious and improvised so much. Madison became one of my closest friends. And when Jacob came in to test, I knew immediately he was our Beau. He brought charm and soul to a character that could have gone the other way.
Dimitri: I have to ask about Pebble Beach — or rather, Leeds, where you actually shot it. You fooled me completely.
Madelaine Petsch: That makes me so happy! We shot 80% of the film in Leeds, UK, but our production designer made it feel like Northern California. If you thought it was Pebble Beach, we did our job right.
Dimitri: This is also your first big streamer-release as producer and star. How does it feel?
Madelaine Petsch: Exciting. I haven’t really spoken about Maintenance Required yet, so this is special for me. It’s a project I care deeply about.
Dimitri: You’ve had such a run — The Strangers: Chapter 2, Pretty Babies now filming. How do you balance it all?
Madelaine Petsch: I don’t (laughs). I don’t really want to. When I do get time off, I’ll do something grounding — like recently I went on a spiritual retreat in Colorado. It keeps me centered before diving back in.
Dimitri: If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Madelaine Petsch: To take a deep breath. I was an anxious teenager and young adult. Every step led me here, so I wouldn’t change anything — but I’d tell myself to breathe and enjoy the ride.