“I think it’s perfect,” Howey says of how the season ends.
Warning: This post contains spoilers fromGinny & Georgiaseason 2.
But then, it all vanished.
Brianne Howey as Georgia in ‘Ginny & Georgia’.Courtesy of Netflix
Well, her recent past.
(Talk about an exit!)
EW spoke with Howey about Georgia’s season 2 journey and that heartbreaking ending.
Diesel La Torraca and Brianne Howey in ‘Ginny & Georgia’.Amanda Matlovich/Netflix
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When you got this role, did you go anywhere specific for inspiration?
BRIANNE HOWEY:Truthfully, I grew up with a young single mom.
So that relationship resonated with me right off the bat.
Brianne Howey as Georgia in ‘Ginny & Georgia’.Amanda Matlovich/Netflix
The accent also really helps me get into character.
It’s just so musical and lyrical and Georgia is so performative.
you’ve got the option to’t help but lean into it.
She stands by what she’s done, even when her daughter is upset with her about it.
Georgia’s worldview is more limited than others.
Georgia does what she has to do.
There’s just little things like that that you just do what you gotta do.
You have to be a little more creative and savvy when your options are limited.
I truly don’t think Georgia sees any other options.
These are the most obvious options to her and the only option.
When we first pick up with Georgia in season 2, she and Ginny are not on good terms.
What was the shift like for you to play Georgia without her daughter?
Season 2 we really start to see Georgia’s cracks.
Georgia’s closer to breaking than we’ve ever seen her.
And I think we see the mask unveiled more than ever.
That actually goes for all of the characters, but especially Georgia.
I have to ask: Do you think she really loves Paul (Scott Porter)?
She is 100 percent all in on Paul.
Georgia has never been allowed to truly only think about herself in a selfish way.
It’s about taking care of the kids and making sure that everything’s okay and that means Paul.
And for that reason, I think she does love Paul.
It really feels like she lives her entire life in survival mode.
She must be so tired.
Being Georgia is exhausting.
[Laughs] It’s a lot.
You completely nailed it.
As I’m taking notes throughout the scripts, that’s exactly what I’m writing in it.
I’m like, “This is where Georgia’s survivor mode clicks in.”
Although, look, there are plenty of things Georgia does that we could definitely argue are slightly selfish.
But to her, she’s doing all of this, without a doubt, for her children.
It’s so heartbreaking.
He takes her right back there.
All of your instincts have to kick in.
You don’t have time to think.
I love Nikki [Roumel].
Just seeing how on-brand Georgia is and knowing that this is who Georgia has always been.
What was it like to film the scene where Georgia finds out that Ginny has been self-harming?
There was so much anticipation.
Antonia and I, our stomachs were in knots for weeks.
And then luckily, working with Antonia, it’s the easiest thing in the world.
I just look at her face and she’s so honest and vulnerable and I’m tapped in.
So that part makes it easy.
But yeah, it’s pretty devastating.
But we have to talk about mental health.
It couldn’t be any more important.
This was obviously a big discussion.
This is where George’s worldview is slightly limited.
Cynthia blocking Gil’s app is maybe the kindest act anyone has ever done for her.
This is, truly from the bottom of Georgia’s heart, her way of repaying the favor.
You put me out of my misery, how do I help put you out of your misery?
So what was your reaction to the season ending with Georgia in handcuffs?
I think it’s perfect.
Georgia’s life is constantly brought back down to reality.
And that’s why Georgia is the way she is and has the outlook that she has.
She knew it was too good to be true but she wanted to believe in this fantasy.
They were like, “Georgia can’t cry here.”
But my heart was breaking watching him!
And then of course there’s Zion and those phone calls.
I love shooting those calls with him.
So it’s hard.
It’s very complicated.
We did get that moment where we realized Georgia remembers Joe, though.
It was so satisfying!
It’s fun for me to play Georgia around him because she lets her guard down a little bit.
And like she says, she doesn’t feel judged by him.
And I don’t know if there’s anything more beautiful than that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Ginny & Georgia’s second season is on Netflix now.
