IN CONVERSATION WITH JOLENE PURDY

interview by JANA LETONJA

Jolene Purdy will next star opposite Kevin Bacon in the Prime Video original ‘The Bondsman, dropping on 3rd April. She is best known for her memorable roles in ‘Wanda Vision’, ‘The White Lotus’, and ‘Orange is the New Black’, for which she won a SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

’The Bondsman’ is described as a mix of camp, comedy, and supernatural elements. What drew you to this project, and what makes it stand out from other shows in the genre?

From the moment I read the script and saw who Midge was, I was obsessed. I knew I needed to be a part of it. First of all, bossing around Kevin Bacon? Hell yes. What a dream come true to go toe-to-toe with someone I admired and watched growing up. I also love challenges and trying things that scare me because they will inevitably help me grow, so embodying Midge checked all those boxes. 

‘The Bondsman’ stands out because it’s like nothing else we’ve seen. Demons, humor, heart, gore, family, scares, and country music all packed into eight bingeable episodes. How they all go together is insane, but every person who had a hand in this project lent their talents to blend it into a supercharged show that leaves nothing to be missed.

Can you tell us more about your character, Midge? What was it like stepping into her shoes, and how did you prepare for the role?

Midge is a force of a woman and she knows it. She faced the most unimaginable, losing her baby, and without knowing the strings that came attached, surrendered herself to it. Yet, she still finds the tenacity to rise to the occasion, all while remaining a nurturing mother and PTA president. Her story is what it means to be a mother in the wicked world today. Although I don’t fight demons on the daily, I do have an eight-year-old whom I fiercely protect, but I also encourage her to grow into her authentic self while instilling strength, intelligence, honesty, bravery, grace, and kindness. 

The show blends horror and humor. How does your character balance these elements, and how did you approach the comedic moments in such a dark setting?

Blending horror with humor? Sounds like my personal life. Just kidding. When I read the script, I immediately saw the strength in Midge, but I found that if she leaned into a sweetness to offset the unsavory rules of demon slaying, it was charmingly comedic and a smart manipulation tactic that truly might be the work of the devil. It was fun playing with the creative team to find that duality for Midge to live in. I also feel like the writing lent itself to comedy on its own, so I remained grounded in a world she was already accustomed to, at least at the beginning of the season. As things progress, we get to see what Midge is like outside of her regularly scheduled paper-pushing, bounty-hunter-managing, cookie-baking, single-mother-self, and that’s where it became really fun. I love playing a character outside her comfort zone, maybe because it’s challenging and puts me out of mine.

’The Bondsman’ drops all eight episodes at once. What’s your ideal binge-watching setup, and how do you hope audiences react to the show?

I love a good comedy or rom-com binge. Each time a show I love drops all episodes at once, my heart does a happy dance. Sometimes I wait to enjoy it with friends and a good snack situation, but most of the time, I can’t wait. It gives me a chance to shut off and dive into a familiar world I didn’t even realize I missed so much. I really hope ‘The Bondsman’ provides just that for audiences, a time for people to gather and laugh, or scream, while they experience a world that is far from the everyday routine. I hope people are excited to see Kevin Bacon slay demons with heart and humor. I feel like the show has so much to offer and keeps the audience wanting more. How could you not stay up all night watching them all?

You’ve played such a wide range of roles, from ‘Wanda Vision’ to ‘The White Lotus’ to ‘Orange Is the New Black’. How does ‘The Bondsman’ compare to your past projects?

Those were all such amazing projects to be a part of. So fun and challenging in different ways. But I think ‘The Bondsman’ has provided me the ability to develop and showcase a character more in-depth than I have previously been able to. We see her backstory, her humanity, and her nuances that all forge together to give reason for the strength, tenacity, and heart that Midge has. In my previous projects, I have been more of a supporting character to the story, but in ‘The Bondsman’ we see my character front and center alongside Kevin, and a driving force at that. But what I think all the roles I’ve played have in common is my love for crafting a character that provides a great balance with the actors I perform alongside.

Speaking of ‘The White Lotus’, your performance in that show was so memorable. What was it like being part of that phenomenon, and did it change anything in your career?

‘The White Lotus’ was a freaking dream. Maui during a pandemic, with that cast? It was a very pinch-me moment, and we all knew it. From floating and laughing in the waves, watching sunsets with Steve Zahn, Alexandra Daddario, and Molly Shannon, to saving Jennifer Coolidge from being drowned by the waves of the Pacific Ocean, it was unreal. The freedom that Mike White gave us, along with his brilliantly intricate storytelling made with honest, flawed characters, created a canvas for success. I think being a part of ‘The White Lotus’ gave me greater industry recognition, which afforded me more opportunities to showcase my abilities. Hard work, persistence, and preparation all came together for ‘The Bondsman’, an opportunity that ‘The White Lotus’ helped pave the wave for.

Being half Japanese, how has your biracial identity influenced your career and the roles you choose?

Being hapa has been challenging in Hollywood. No one knows where to place me, and it hasn’t really given me the option to choose my roles. I am very lucky to have personal representatives who know me so well as both an actress and a person. They see characters in me beyond my ethnicity and appearance. I have also been fortunate to haveallies in casting who trust me to add my stamp to their projects, regardless of my appearance or ethnicity, even if I’m not exactly what was originally written on the page.

Hollywood has made strides in Asian American representation, but there’s still work to be done. What changes do you hope to see in the industry for actors of color?

I see Hollywood trying to be more inclusive and develop more projects that tell authentic stories about people of color, with people of color. I would love to see more that are a slice of life. We already are, but as you mentioned, there’s still work to be done, and I’m here for it.

Are there any personal stories or types of projects you’d love to develop or star in that haven’t been done yet?

I want to do a musical so badly. I grew up doing musical theater, and I am actually a trained singer, so I would love to go back to my roots. There is something about music that naturally lends towards emotional storytelling, and I would love to get a chance to sing on screen.

Besides ‘The Bondsman’, what can you share with us about your other upcoming projects? 

I have been working on creating my own projects. I am currently developing a comedy series about well-meaning moms who are constantly, and hilariously, missing the mark as they schlep their kids to overpriced extracurricular activities that the kids have no real interest in and aren’t even good at. I have also been dabbling in stand-up comedy and hope to finish and perform a one-woman show by the end of the year.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography STORM SANTOS
hair ESTHER VASQUEZ
makeup MARLA VAZQUEZ