An interview with Mireille Enos

16 June 2011

Was remaking a cult show like The Killing a curse or a blessing?

I thought it was a blessing. I knew the Danish series had an incredible following. The streets of Denmark emptied when it was on. But we had Veena Sud as our writer and show runner and AMC making such great TV, I thought all the cards were stacked in our favour.

 

Were you worried about how it would be received by fans of the Danish original?

Why be worried? I had no control over it. We could only do the best possible job creating it. Some of our US audience would have been familiar with it but most wouldn't so it some way it was something new.

 

Did you watch the Danish version before you began playing Sarah?

No and I've continued to stay away from it because I have heard how wonderful it is and I wanted to keep it out of my mind from the ground up.

 

Tell us about Sarah?

Life seems very hard for her. She has learned to defend herself from her own big emotions. She has a son and a relationship that is more or less successful. I think she is very brave.

 

What did you think of the story when you first read the script?

I thought I would be the luckiest girl in the world if I got the part. When I really want a part I get really nervous but this one seemed so out of the realm of possibility. Plus I had just found out I was pregnant when the script came to me.

 

So were you pregnant when you were shooting?

I was five months pregnant when we shot the pilot then started shooting the rest of the series when she was three months old. By the last day of shooting [the pilot] I was in a men's extra large size wind breaker and then could only shoot me from the front looking directly into camera.

 

Had you had your daughter when the series was picked up?

I was eight months pregnant when we found out the series was going ahead and in Vancouver so I got lots of little sweaters and baby Uggs at the baby shower. Then we made it a family adventure, packed up the baby and me and my husband drove ourselves up to Vancouver when she was six weeks old.

 

Before The Killing you were best known for playing twins in Big Love.

Big Love was by far the biggest role I had had. Before that I had just done a couple of guest star roles in series. The Big Love women were so wonderful it was my play ground for learning how I worked in front of a camera. It definitely built my comfort level with film work and segued into this role beautifully. Big Love had just informed me my storyline was going to be smaller in the last season so I was free to audition for other things. But I knew I was pregnant so I thought I wasn't going to act again for who knew how long.

 

Did you spend any time shadowing real police officers?

I didn't because I was pregnant. But I do Tai Kwando and I have friends who work in the police department so I talked to them. But Veena spent tonnes of time with women cops and she finds the minds of detectives really fascination so I spent a lot of time talking to her.

 

Why do you think The Killing has had such a huge appeal?

I think people are hungry for a series that slows down and allows you to invest in the people affected by what happens.

 

Assuming you solve the murder of Rosie Larsen at the end of this series is that the end or could there be series two?

Because Sarah and her relationships are part of the show after the case is resolved it could go on. There could be some other case where you continue to follow her and her son and her relationship with her fiancé.

 

When did you find out whodunnit?

We all got the information as the scripts were released and I was happy to wait. I was told some back story stuff I needed to know in terms of plot. But I didn't want my mind to be cluttered by scripts. I read a couple at once and got really confused and had to go to set next day and ask what we were doing.

 

Did your family pester you for the answer?

My husband used to come to work with the baby so sometimes he would read the scripts for the next episode before me.

 

This is your first lead role - does it feel like it's been a long time coming?

I feel like this is a real ensemble not like I am carrying the weight of the show. I feel like I have always been very lucky in the roles I have played whatever medium I have gone to work in. I've had wonderfully talented people around me and got to do incredible plays on Broadway. It has happened in its own time. I'm solidly in my 30s and I've had to have a kind of patience even though I have been doing work that has been really satisfying and ultimately really great. But now I feel like I'm here and this show is a great platform for film and other TV work. But I am grounded - I have a husband and a baby.

 

This must be the first time you have really been recognised by fans in the street - does that feel weird?

Yes but it is a really sweet kind of response. I'll be standing in line at the store and someone will say how beautiful my baby is and then very quietly say 'the show is great by the way.'