What sold you on this?
It was a very exciting opportunity to play that.
Is that something youve noticed that you seem to be drawn to?
I find that fascinating.
Lets talk about what happened when you were growing up.
What are you trying to prove to me and why?
Image via ABC
Theyre like, Ive got this covered.
I dont need you.
And literally everybody is more complicated than that.
How did you approach figuring out who this character is?
Were there any real people that you spoke to?
What was most helpful for you?
OLSON: No real people.
Im just a big people watcher.
I learn a lot about people in that way.
Image via ABC
That just makes me want to dig deeper and figure out why.
How do you typically approach characters that youre going to play?
Is there one thing you like to figure out first, or is it different for each character?
OLSON: I always start with whats really going on.
And definitely, the wardrobe, hair and makeup makes a big difference.
I really like collaborating with the people who do that, to make it figure it out.
A single mom with a brilliant but unconventional mind becomes an unlikely crime-solving partner to a by-the-book detective. Her unique ability to piece together clues that others overlook makes her indispensable to the LAPD Major Crimes unit, leading to an unorthodox but highly effective investigative duo.
Theres something to that.
All the departments are very important.
What has it been like to figure out the tone of the show?
Its part drama and part comedy, but its not jokey comedy.
Youre dealing with the world of crime, so theres a certain level of darkness to that.
How has that been to figure out?
Its a lot of trial and error.
Im so proud of and happy with where we are.
This is a very real world and theres real stuff going on.
People are being murdered.
That is the show.
It is a crime procedural.
But Morgans not a cop.
I cant help but be a smart ass in situations like this.
Theres lots of humor to it, but the world is very grounded.
How much fun is it to play someone who is so mouthy?
Are there ever times when you feel like you oughta dial it back a little?
OLSON: Its very fun.
Going too far would be making things ridiculous or big.
I dont ever want it to cross into silly or goofy or cartoony.
Theres a way to be big and loud and serious and funny.
The character is serious, but what shes saying is funny to watch.
As long as its grounded and a truthful reaction for me as her, its not too far.
I like pushing things to the limit.
OLSON: Yeah, absolutely.
She doesnt take herself too seriously.
Her house is a mess and it doesnt bother her at all.
Her kids are loved and well taken care of, and thats the most important thing.
One of them is a very lived-in and loved, messy household.
When she gets around to cleaning it, then great, that feels good.
But its totally fine the way it is because her kids are good and shes good.
Shes not trying to keep up appearances.
She really doesnt care what anyone thinks about her.
Those are admirable qualities.
Come for the crime of the week, stay for Moradec!
When you read that, how did that help shape the character for you?
What did that scene tell you about her?
What was that scene like to shoot?
OLSON: That was just really fun.
I thought it was a great cold open.
(Show creator/executive producer)Drew Goddard did such a wonderful job at having that be the cold open.
And the way that it ends was at the opposite end of the spectrum.
I just thought it was so great.
We shot the pilot in Vancouver and Alethea Jones, our glorious director, is just a genius.
I love her so much.
She was like, You have a choreographer and youre meeting with him every Saturday.
We shot that for a couple of days, and it was just so much fun.
I love how it was cut together, and I love how it ends.
It just really wraps Morgan up.
Shes doing her job, but shes barely doing her job.
Shes exhausted and cold and tired, but shes a fighter.
Shes just like, Might as well enjoy it.
OLSON: Her son has an incredibly high IQ, like her, but he hasnt been damaged yet.
I didnt wanna lose sight of that, as we went through the series.
Obviously, it ends up working, with her helping the police and it being a really positive thing.
She doesnt want that for her son.
I love the scenes that are at home.
Normally, youre dreading the scenes with the kids because you just dont know about kids and animals.
We got so lucky with Matthew Lamb and Amirah J, who are fantastic.
“Its big, and its exciting.”
While shes helping the police, Morgan has also asked the police to help her.
How much of that will we learn about this season?
Theres a definite throughline and it is an arc that we are exploring.
Its a big part of the series.
Its for Morgan, but really, its for her daughter.
Theres a lot at stake, in figuring out what happened to Roman.
High Potentialairs on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu.
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