She also talked about her time onThe Leftovers, the evolution of her character, and collaborating withDamonLindelof.
COLLIDER: When this came your way, what was the appeal of this project for you?
How much did you know about what the journey would be?
She didnt have all of the scripts written, but she knew where these characters were gonna go.
With Mary, on the top level, shes a very sympathetic character.
She suffered this terrible loss that than any of us would go nuts over.
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That was a way in.
But then, where does she go and at what point does she hop off the train?
Im ready to go.
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I dont have to protect myself anymore."
That was really good timing.
What was it like to work with Damon Lindelof onThe Leftovers?
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Was he pretty communicative while you were making that?
BRENNEMAN: Yes and no.
I was like, “What is it?”
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So, he would give you information as it came.
There was no other Mary than me.
Ditto with Hamish [Linklater] and Lily [Rabe].
She just loves her characters and she loves collaborating.
BRENNEMAN: Shes like a zealot.
The beautiful thing about that is that shes a laser toward her purpose.
The bad thing is that she will chew up anything, including herself, in the path.
Everyone in this has their own brand of messed up.
What is the fun of exploring somebody like that, where you know whats driving her?
Is it freeing to play somebody like that?
BRENNEMAN: Yeah, its totally freeing.
Whats really fun about all of these characters is theyre very action-oriented.
Theyre not sitting around philosophizing about their plight.
Its like, what is the next step?
I can relate to that.
To be in that persons skin is not a bummer.
Its a crazy ride.
And Mary is so motivated on her mission that she hires a serial predator to help her.
She believes that her daughter was abducted by a serial predator, so shed better learn about that.
There are two women at the center of this story, but youre both living very parallel lives.
Youre not crossing paths much, at all.
BRENNEMAN: I loved it.
I feel like Lily had the lions share of the story, in terms of reconstructing the path.
Marys pretty singularly focused.
I would say to Lily, “Im just thinking about you, every day.
How do I get to you?
How do I get you to give me some information?”
It reminds me of the best parts ofKilling Eve.
Its like a love affair.
I think she loves Emma, or she knows her as Karen.
Its a really clear drive to play.
What was it like to also explore that mother-son relationship?
BRENNEMAN: It is a family unit.
I think Mary adores her son, and shes extremely protective.
Her young lover is a secret.
Really the only person who knows her by the end is John.
BRENNEMAN: Its a heartbreak.
Its a relatable thing.
In addition to losing a loved one, you lose your mind, which we all can tap into.
Where is your bar set, when it comes to what youre looking for in a project?
BRENNEMAN: Its such a good question.
I cant tell, all the time.
And then, I sit with the writer.
The writer is really God.
Its like, “How are you seeing this world?”
I just played the bad guy on a season ofGoliathand got to do incredible things.
I love that character too.
I said, “Why do you think shes doing what shes doing?”
and the writer, whos amazing, was like, “I think she wants money and power.”
I was like, “Thats not that interesting to me.”
Then, I pitched another thing.
and they were like, “Great.”
So, there are the actions, but then theres also the “why” that somebodys doing it.
If the way is not interesting to me, then Im a little floaty.
If I can root and find the North star, then Ill go anywhere.
Thats the problem of the editors and the directors.
I dont wanna protect myself anymore.
Does it feel like understanding the motivation makes more sense than figuring out how to like a character?
Im a human being.
Its about, what am I trying to do?
The emotional stuff comes out of that.
People do lots of different things when theyre in emotional distress.
They cry, or they go nuts, or they drink, or they build a company.
Human beings are complex, so you need a writer who gets that.
Tell Me Your Secretsis now available to stream at Amazon Prime Video.
