TV

Agnes Bruckner dishes on “The Returned,” “Once Upon a Time” and kissing Sandrine Holt

A&E’s The Returned is a supernatural thriller about a small town where dead people don’t always stay dead. Officer Nikki Banks, played by the lovely Agnes Bruckner, is a tough cop trying to keep the peace during the town’s crisis, while also protecting her ex-girlfriend, Julie. Agnes was gracious enough to answer some questions about The Returned, Once Upon a Time, and making out with ladies.

AfterEllen.com: Thank you, first of all, for taking some time to talk-I appreciate it. And I’m really enjoying The Returned so far!

Agnes Bruckner: Of course, thanks! I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

AE: I know that the show is really closely based on a French series of the same name (Les Revenants), did you watch that at all to prepare for your role?

AB: Yeah, I did. I didn’t see it before I auditioned, but then after I got [the part of Nikki] I watched the French version. I think I watched the whole thing in, like, two days or something. I binge watched it, because it’s so good. But, yes, I watched it before we started working.

AE: I know [The Returned] is such a different take on the traditional zombie story, but I was wondering if you looked to that genre at all for inspiration?

AB: We kind of did our own thing, because it’s not really a zombie-type show for me. It’s a lot more-you have to think outside the box as to what happened or where [the returned] are coming from. So I just did my own take on it.

AE: So, Episode 6 just aired this week, and we saw Nikki and Julie starting to reconnect a little bit. Can you give us any hints as to what’s in store for them next?

AB: They definitely have a past. I think people are going to be able to see inside Nikki’s character more. She’s kind of this tough cop, you know- she’s interrogating people and she’s really hard core, but then when it comes to Julie she’s a lot more vulnerable, she’s a lot more sensitive. She cares about Julie a lot, so she’s really trying to look out for her. I think it’s important to see that shift of the tough cop who’s still doing her job, but she’s looking out for Julie, and worried about her situation.

AE: So, I actually have a theory, and I don’t know if you can confirm or deny anything-or if it’s going to come up later-but, in my head, Nikki didn’t become a cop until after Julie’s attack, like she did it because of Julie’s attack. So now she’s this tough as nails cop, but she’s got a heart of gold and she doesn’t know how to express it. Is that true at all? [Author’s note: I think I just really like describing people as having a heart of gold.]

AB: Mmmm, I mean, that’s a good idea, but no.

AE: [defeated] Ah, okay. Darn.

AB: [laughs]

AE: So, anyway, speaking of Julie-Sandrine Holt was on The L Word back in the day, so, obviously, we love her at AfterEllen. What’s it like to work with her?

AB: Oh, man. You’re always, as an actor, hoping that you’re going to get an acting partner, or even just cast members in general, that you can work with well, but also have fun with off-set-and on-set! And Sandrine is one of those actresses who loves what we do, but also has a sense of humor, so we would laugh all the time. [laughs] I remember the first time-I think it was Episode 3, Episode “Victor,” when we were in the Halloween costumes, and it was the first time I had to kiss her. And I was really nervous, because you always get nervous before a kissing scene. I just remember being so nervous, because I want to be respectful when I kiss her- like sexy, but also be respectful. And I was like, “Ok, Agnes, you got this!” We did the first take and I kissed her, and it was really sweet, but Charles [our director] just comes over and he’s like-he’s English-he’s just like, [in English accent] “You know, Agnes, she’s wearing this beautiful leather suit-do you wanna touch it? I think you should touch it.” And I was thinking, “Oh my god, is he telling me to feel Sandrine up right now? It’s gonna be so uncomfortable.” So, we did the next take and I don’t even remember what I did, I completely blacked out I was so nervous, but Sandrine was such a good sport about it. She was fine, she was just like, “Yeah, you can do whatever-it’s cool.”

AE: Well, she was on The L Word, so she was probably used to it.

AB: Yeah, and you know-I did Breaking The Girls, so I’ve made out with Madeline Zima, but it’s still nerve wracking. It doesn’t matter if you’re kissing a girl, guy, whatever- I was still nervous, but she was a really good sport about it. She was like that the whole time we were working together, and we’re still good friends.

AE: And you actually brought up my next question! [laughs] Knowing that your character, Sara, in Breaking The Girls was also queer, is sexual orientation something you think about at all when considering roles?

AB: For me, honestly, it doesn’t matter about the sexual orientation of the role at all. It really depends on the material and if I can relate to the character in any way, because I love playing characters where I can find a part of me in them. It’s almost therapeutic for me to play out the emotions of that character, when it’s something that I’ve been through. And you know with Breaking The Girls and The Returned, now, I’ve had great experiences. I’ve gotten to work with some super cool, strong women, so I love it.

AE: Another thing in terms of Nikki and Julie’s relationship: Right now Nikki could kind of be seen as the villain of the relationship in a lot of ways, because she stayed away from Julie for years, and she’s clearly moved on at least a little bit, in terms of a new physical relationship, but I’ve still kind of found myself rooting for Nikki and wanting her and Julie to get back together. I think you bring a lot of vulnerability to the role, and I was wondering where do you think Nikki is at, emotionally, at the moment?

AB: To me, I think that she never stopped having feelings for Julie. I think that the relationship she was having since Julie was almost just to fill a void. I think she cared for the girl, but I don’t think she was in love with her. She’s always had her heart set on Julie. You know, I think when people go through something as intense as Julie went through, it brings any relationship — whether it’s a friendship or romantic relationship — to another level. So she’s always had her heart set on Julie, but she’s kind of confused. She wants to help, but doesn’t want to push it, because I think Julie is the kind of character that doesn’t like to get overwhelmed by emotion.

AE: As of right now, it seems like Nikki is still very skeptical-she’s sort of the Scully to Julie’s Mulder. Are we going to see her attitude shift in any way? Will she start to believe that this is real?

AB: I think Nikki is one of the only characters that’s going to kind of maintain the fact that this is like I don’t know, you know, she sees what’s going on and she kind of accepts it in a way, but she’s just super skeptical like I think a lot of the other characters emotionally are involved or invested in a way so they kind of want to believe or convince themselves of something but i think that Nikki is just very super skeptical because the kind of triangle-Victor, Julie, Nikki-I think she’s just super nervous about something happening to Julie, so I think she maintains the viewpoint that like this is fucked up and weird and you need to like, this is not going well.

AE: Yeah, I always appreciate her perspective, because honestly I feel like everyone else in that town is way too blasé about people coming back to life. It’s like, “Oh, another dead person. Cool.” Like, what?

AB: [laughs]

AE: It’s crazy.

AB: Yeah, [Nikki] definitely, from the get go, has been very on top of it – like that interrogation scene she has with Tony, she goes full force with it. And that’s what I’ve really loved about playing her. She has this really hard side when it comes to the work and especially about Julie, but then throughout the season she gets more and more vulnerable and you get to see more and more of her sensitive side, and she kind of becomes this protector for Julie. Which is so fun to play, especially with Sandrine, because even when you just make friends with someone, you get protective over them. So that just brought us closer together, offscreen as well. It was really cool.

AE: So, The Returned is the not the first supernatural work that you’ve done, is it a genre you enjoy watching as well?

AB: Definitely, you know, I don’t watch a lot of television, but movie-wise, I love horror films. Growing up, my brother and I were obsessed with, like, Child’s Play, and Jason, and Friday the 13th, and all the stuff. So I’ve always really enjoyed it. And Aliens, anything sci-fi, it’s all definitely a big part of my world. I play World of Warcraft, I’m kind of a big gamer, so I love that fantasy world of dungeons and dragons, and kings and queens, and that era. And also the sci-fi stuff like Aliens, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. Sigourney Weaver inspires me. She’s this gorgeous and strong woman.

AE: Yeah, she’s awesome. So I know that you’ve been acting for a pretty long time-I think you were 11 when you started on The Bold and The Beautiful. Do you have any tricks for not getting burnt out?

AB: [exhale] Oof, well, for me, I just genuinely and truly am obsessed with what I do. I even love the struggle of it, because there was a time when I-I don’t even remember what age-but I just wanted to be a teenager and have fun, not focus on work all the time. I left the business for a minute, but I really missed it, so I came back and was fortunate enough to continue working. I just love it. I have really thick skin when it comes to the rejection of not getting a role you really want, or anything like that. I’m the type of person that I get stronger, or learn something new about myself. I read something once about people who are like “Thank god it’s Friday!” but, for me, I love what I do, so I just I don’t wait until the weekend. I enjoy my off time and when I’m working.

Even through the crazier or harder experiences-I remember when I did Anna Nicole Smith, we shot for four weeks in Atlanta. It was super intense makeup, like four hours in the morning and two hours to take it off after work. And it was like six different outfit changes, and three different locations a day. It was just a super intense shoot, but it was fun for me. I enjoyed going through that, and then seeing the results at the end. So yeah, just really enjoying what you do-enjoying life.

AE: Wow, that’s intense-that’s a lot of makeup.

AB: [laughs] Yeah!

AE: So, I noticed that you’ve done daytime TV, primetime TV, and films-do you have a favorite?

AB: [sounds of contemplation] All of the above. When I was on The Bold and The Beautiful, I really enjoyed it, because it was my first job and I enjoyed working with the actors-the people who played my parents were super cool. Jacob Young, who played my brother, we just reconnected on Twitter, which is pretty crazy because it’s been so long. You do a whole script in a day, so you have to be prepared, and it’s really where I learned to memorize lines as well as I do now. You really have to just show up, and have everything ready to go.

Primetime TV is cool. It’s a much faster process, which is also very challenging but good. And films-I just love films. I think that might be my #1, because you get to go somewhere for a couple of months, weeks, whatever, and build this little family, this little army, and put in work on something really cool. And then you maintain friendships with some people, and you might see them again on another set, like crew members or what not. I just love it all, I love the process of all three.

AE: I know you are going to be on Once Upon a Time soon, which is a favorite among AfterEllen readers, so congratulations on that!

AB: Yes, thank you, I’ve been so excited. I think my episode premieres April 26th, so I am super stoked about that, because that’s been another dream role for me. It’s just been really fun. Talk about a fun cast! That cast is just like-man, I can’t even call it work. It’s just play, I go play everyday [laughs].

AE: That’s awesome. Can you tell us anything about what’s in store for your character, Lily?

AB: I can’t say too much about it yet, because there are a lot of plot surprises, but I can say that she’s this super, super intense character. She’s had a very kind of crazy upbringing and she has a really serious attitude. But, yeah I’ve gotten to work with Lana and pretty much everybody from the cast so far, so it’s been really cool.

AE: Nice!

AB: I can’t say too much about it, I’m sorry!

AE: No, that’s totally fine. Okay, so at the end of my interviews I like to do rapid fire questions, because I’m a very professional journalist and they’re fun. So I’m going to ask you some questions and you have to say the first thing that comes to mind, okay?

AB: Okay.

AE: Alright, favorite color?

AB: Green.

AE: Do you prefer zombies, vampires, or werewolves?

AB: Werewolves.

AE: Are you a morning person or a night owl?

AB: Night owl.

AE: Which is more difficult to film: an emotionally charged crying scene or a sex scene?

AB: Sex scene.

AE: If you were not an actress, you would be a…

AB: Marine biologist.

AE: Do you prefer beer, wine, or liquor.

AB: All of the above. [laughs]

AE: [laughs] What is your current favorite song?

AB: “Bitch Better Have My Money” by Rihanna

AE: Heels, sneakers, or flip flops?

AB: Sneakers.

AE: Cats or dogs?

AB: [pained sound of indecision] Cats.

AE: That was a tough one, huh?

AB: [laughs] Yeah.

AE: Do you prefer to watch something supernatural like The Returned or fantasy like Once Upon a Time?

AB: [another pained sound of indecision] Gosh, I don’t know. I have to say Once Upon a Time, I don’t know, I just watched Game of Thrones, so I’m like into more fantasy.

AE: What would be your dream acting role?

AB: Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. Re-boot! [laughs]

AE: [laughs] Okay, well that’s all I’ve got! Thank you so much!

AB: Yeah, thank you so much, this was fun!

You can catch Agnes on The Returned (A&E) Mondays at 10/9c and starting April 26th on Once Upon a Time (ABC) at 8/7c.

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