Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
The mothers are coming, the mothers are coming!
Crystal Fox says ofBig Little Lies second season.
After she read the scripts, her understanding of the story quickly changed.
That was the challenge.
I only got my script and my words.
I read that you imagined Elizabeth as a Berkeley professor.
Can you tell me more about that?Yes, yes.
I thought she was probably a Berkeley professor of African-American studies or womens rights.
I think she was cool and hip.
Sometimes, you have to bond immediately.
All I had to do was stand there and watch the exchange, and then touch her.
That was my first day of work.
And you two initially bonded over your aunt, Nina Simone, right?Yes.
I did a little research before and found out Zoe was into music.
I figured she would be, because her father is.
Shed mentioned that she loved Nina Simones music and she liked it.
I thought,Oh thats awesome, thats my aunt.
I will share that with her.
Can you tell me more about your relationship with your aunt?
Were you two close, as artists?We were very close.
My family is musical and we went to church a lot because my grandmother was a minister.
My cousins played the piano.
Aunt Nina played the piano.
We used to stay with her when I was little, in the summers.
I was very little and we always had a bond, from what she told me.
Later I realized that it had to have been the art.
Im obsessed with Amabellas disco birthday.
What can you tell me about your costume and filming those scenes?The clothes were fun.
It took three days to film that scene!
Youve got adults, youve got kids, youve got these costumes it was just hysterical.
Do you listen to a lot of disco?No.
I like disco as a period piece now.
You know what I mean?
[Laughs] Exactly right.
Its a party for an eight-year-old, thrown by her mom.
Can you tell me whats happening between you and Laura Dern there?Elizabeth is sensitive and intuitive.
She feels something, she senses something.
She saw something, just from touching her.
It put her on guard to be more aware of the surroundings and watchful.
What does Elizabeth think of these Monterey women?Shes checking each of them out individually.
Its,Who are these people that my daughter has surrounded herself with?
Are they good to her?
Are they really her friends?
That seems really key to a moment from the second episode, when Elizabeth and Bonnie are hiking.
You really press her on why shes living in this place where no one looks like her.
Can you tell me about shooting that?It was great.
It had not been brought up.
I said I understand, and I asked if I could try something.
So that was an ad-lib on the day?Yeah.
I wanted to capture the idea and the importance of what Zoe wanted.
Youre the second person to ask me about it.
Im glad about that, because that means it landed the way we wanted it to.
Her moms question is,Are you here hiding, or are you okay with being the only one?
And if thats the case, then why?
Do you think that Bonnie is hiding?I dont know.
But Elizabeth believes that even Bonnies choice of husband [is suspect].
Something feels missing, you know what I mean?
And now, its like,Wait a minute, whats going on your life?
I dont want to be that person, dont make me that person!
That felt verbatim from my own mom.See, you know!
The older people get, the less time and excuse my language they have for the bullshit!
They cant afford it.
I cant afford to miss my daughter.
No one is telling the truth!
Were not talking about this death, were not talking about any of that.
What the heck is going on?
You sound just like my mom right now.
Tell me more about Elizabeths spirituality.
Is she practicing voodoo?We took a moment to really think about voodoo.
Its not just putting spells on people and wishing them evil.
There are practices for healing.
Thats what I wanted to bring to it.
I dont even call it voodoo.
From a mom to a daughter, all I wanted to do was bring that healing to her.
I dont think [Elizabeth] overuses it, but she is grounded in it.
Its the basis of her faith.
What do you think of the flashback scenes with Bonnie and Elizabeth?
Some people have described the flashback where Elizabeth shoves Bonnie underwater to teach her to swim as abusive.
What did you make of it?As Im seeing it, Im likeWow.
To me, when you know better, you do better.
Thats the first thought that comes to my mind when I see [the swimming scene].
You teach what you were taught.
As you grow up, if you continue to stay open and aware and learning, you get better.
Thats what I feel like Elizabeth is hoping for.
Has your perspective on Elizabeth and Bonnies relationship changed as youre watching the show?A little bit.
What I read for my audition was different than what they wanted it to be once I got there.
I didnt know that until Andrea greeted me.
And then she said, And Im sorry youre going to have to be such a bitch!
After seeing how the scripts unfold, I understand what [Andrea] meant.
But it changed how I thought Elizabeth would be.
Especially between a mother and a daughter.Thats exactly right.
A mom and a daughter?
It would be way different if it were between a mother and her son.
A mom is helping grow another woman.
Thats gonna be complicated.
I would hope that it would be Shailenes character, but I dont have children.
I think I could be a blend of all of them, except Nicole.
Nicole is the coolest.
I think Id be a blend of all of the others.
Fiery like Renata, at times.
Definitely Earthy like Bonnie, at times.
Reeses character, oh my gosh, I dont know what description to give her.
Very outspoken, very high energy.
But Shailene, because I like listening to folks.
I like the way she listens to people.
I wouldnt be doing my job if I didnt ask: Will Elizabeth make it out of this coma?
Will she be okay?
[Extended, devilish cackle] Now thaaaaaaats one question, Hunter, that I cannot answer.
Let me ask you: Would you want her to?
