TV

Jessica Szohr on playing badass lesbian nurse Gretchen on “Complications”

If you’ve been watching Complications on USA this summer, you already know how awesome Nurse Gretchen Polk is. For those of you that haven’t, Gretchen is the no-nonsense, badass partner-in-crime to vigilante doctor, John Ellison. The two of them have gotten into quite a lot of shenanigans in a very small amount of time, and Jessica Szohr, who plays Gretchen with a sassy attitude and heart of gold, has been a standout on the summer series

We chatted with Jessica with me about Complications before tonight’s finale.

AfterEllen: You know when I started watching Complications I assumed it would be a pretty standard medical show, but I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised that it’s a lot more than that. What initially drew you to the show and what did you like about it?

Jessica Szohr: When I first read the pilot, I kind of had your reaction. I was like, “Okay, is this like a medical show? If this potentially goes my way, is this something I want to be apart of for six years?” Playing a nurse and being in a hospital-you know, doing that whole thing. But then I was reading it and seeing the different layers of Gretchen, and her relationship with John. I was always a fan of Matt Nix‘s writing, and I spoke to him about his vision and then I realized, no, this is a doctor and nurse who get tied up in the middle of a gang war, and you see a lot more of their personal stuff at home intertwined with what goes on in the hospital. And for me, Gretchen was just so different from anything I’d ever played. It was challenging to me, and I realized it was so far from just a medical show. Then I was like, “Okay, this could be really rad.”

And for any actor, I feel like when you read the pilot you don’t really know where the storylines are going to go, or what’s going to connect, or who you’re going to fall in love with, or who’s going to stay alive or not make it. You’re finding out about your character as you’re going. You know, there are things in episode five that I had no idea about Gretchen. And obviously, for me to have something to play with, I gave her a backstory. But there were things I didn’t know about Gretchen until two months into playing her, which is also fun and scary and exciting. I was pleasantly surprised by the writing and all the surprises and turns and how badass Gretchen is.

AE: Right, so it was revealed that Gretchen was a lesbian in, I think it was, episode three. When did you find out that she was going to be queer? And what was your reaction?

JS: I found out when I started filming. And I remember, a friend of mine once was watching the show, and she called me and she was like, “Oh my god, you didn’t tell me! Did you know? Weren’t they supposed to tell you?” And I kind of was like, “Why?” It’s just who she loves. I didn’t know what Gretchen’s romantic life was going to be at all. And when I read the script, it kind of made it seem like, at first, like she was my roommate. Like, oh, getting home and grabbing a beer, and then they embrace each other. So for me, I approached it as this is the person she loves. It didn’t matter if it was a man or a woman or whatever.

But yes, I found out when I read the third episode, and I was happy about it! It was fun to play with. I had never played a lesbian before or had a character that is in love with women, so I embraced it. And her relationship with Liz is super special, and very different than any other relationship she has in the show, which is really special for me to play with and have fun with. Because as you see as the show goes on, there’s so much of Gretchen’s backstory, and her relationship with her sister, and being in and out of foster care, and all of that-and then that’s like a solid relationship that really pulls on Gretchen’s heart.

AE: Did you feel any pressure when you did find out that you would be portraying a queer character?

JS: I didn’t really approach it any other way. I literally played her the same way, and it was just-the only time I ever really talk about it or am questioned about it is in interviews, obviously, but no. Literally, it was just like this is who is her girlfriend and that was it. I didn’t try to make Gretchen different or act a certain way or play her this way or that way. I just kept playing who I was playing.

AE: Cool, well, I just wanted to say, as a queer woman, I really, really loved your delivery of the line that’s like, “She’s my roommate, that I sleep with.” I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve wanted to say something like that to people. So thank you for that.

JS: [Laughs] Oh, yeah! Well, it’s so funny because the way Gretchen and John’s relationship is, they’re partners in crime, they both respect each other a lot and need each other to save other people and help each other out, but yet they still approach situations very differently. Gretchen’s very in the moment. She wants to get things done right now without always thinking things through, and John’s very “Let’s plan it out,” very structured. So, I think sometimes those little heated moments-she was probably annoyed! He could probably tell that that was my girlfriend. He’s never seen me act, especially, that nice to someone. It’s in my home, I embrace her. So when we walk out and he’s like, “That’s your… roommate?” I mean, to me, that whole dynamic and that line was funny because it’s like, she probably wanted to slap him in the face and be like, “You knew that was my girlfriend. Stop.” But it’s funny little things like that that make me like their relationship, too.

AE: Speaking of relationships, another one that I really enjoyed was Gretchen’s relationship with her sister. The chemistry between you and Tiffany Boone was so great, right from the beginning. Were you involved in that casting process at all?

JS: I met her before she did the first scene-which is the first scene that you meet her, in the kitchen, when she’s behind the fridge. So, nope, didn’t meet her before. She’s a really great actress and our chemistry just kind of sparked right away. I think, too, we both just did a lot of background work, and really knew where we were coming from-of like getting out of these foster homes. I think there was a lot of building that we did on our own time, separately, that really helped us pick up right away.

AE: Do you have a particularly favorite thing about Gretchen? Do you have anything in common with her as a character?

JS: What I really like about Gretchen is that she really goes after what she wants and gets things done. Which I really, really like about her. I think I have similar things in my personal life like that-I really go after what I want. But she takes way bigger risks than I would ever. Some of the things that she does… it’s like, she could end up in jail or die at any moment, which I think is incredibly ballsy of her. And I also think that’s why she’s crazy. [Laughs] And she definitely has a chip on her shoulder and doesn’t take shit, which I really like. You know, I hope that as the series goes on, if we go on, that her walls come down a little bit more so that she’s not always so hard on everyone. And I do like when you see the soft side of her, but that’s who Gretchen is. She has this tough, I don’t give a shit, I’m gonna do what I want kind of attitude that makes her her.

AE: You played Vanessa on Gossip Girl for five years. What was it like to transition out from being in that role for so long? Were you excited to get back into playing a character for TV? Do you prefer TV over film?

JS: I really enjoyed playing Vanessa. I mean, at times she definitely got on my nerves, I think because [laughs] she was written as this indie, bohemian, artsy chick from Brooklyn who couldn’t stand the Upper East Side, but yet she was always up there. She was the only character that slept with all the guys that lived on the Upper East Side, like, what is she doing? Give her her own world. But I had a lot of fun playing her, because there are certain things that she had that Gretchen has. She didn’t care what people thought of her, but she was much younger, and at times she didn’t know where she fit in, so she kind of didn’t care, but did care a little bit. I had a wonderful time. I made some great friends and had a great experience working in one of the best cities in the world. It’s fashion, pop culture, just an amazing show, and we had such a good fanbase. So I have no complaints and it was such a great time in my life. But I think when we ended, I was ready to move on.

And it took a minute. A lot of offers that came in and a lot of jobs that people were calling about were, you know, a bohemian, artsy girl. And I took a minute and went through reading scripts and taking names and auditioning and figuring out [what I want]. Is it film? Is it TV? And really at the end of the day, for me, as an actor and artist, I want to work with great actors and good directors and just tell good stories. And whether that’s on a television screen, or a movie screen, or on a stage-to me, it really doesn’t matter. I just want to tell a good story and have people take something away from the work that I do. And from Gossip Girl to today, I really think TV has taken a major turn. I mean a) there’s way more networks, b) there’s so much good writing in television now. And there are so many people that have turned over, that want to do it. I mean when we were doing Gossip Girl, Martin Scorsese was not directing pilots, you know what I mean? Dustin Hoffman and Kevin Spacey-they weren’t doing TV. So, I feel like the writing and so much has changed with television now, which I think is really, really amazing and awesome. But yeah, for me, I just like working with good people, learning my craft more and more, and telling a story that people can get something from.

AE: So, the first season of Complications is wrapping up-what were your favorite scenes and/or storylines?

JS: I liked when they were getting the chemo drugs [laughs], when Gretchen broke through the window of the car. I also think there was a good connection, and a really strong little turning point with John and Gretchen, when she went to save him when he was held at gunpoint. And then when she was stitching him up, I think that was a really beautiful moment for them, of like, “Holy shit, we’re really in this deeper than we thought we were. We’re in the middle of gang territory with guns pointed at us.” And who knows what would’ve happened to him had I not shown up, or had he not had an extra gun in his car.

For a little bit of humor in this crazy world that they’re in, I really like Gretchen’s banter with Jed, like when he called about the cat. I also think there’s something very interesting about Gretchen trying to keep her sister in rehab and make sure she stays off drugs, while she’s into some sort of weird drug situation with Jed. It’s very contradictory to me, and I think it’s very interesting and I’m curious to see how that’s going to play out. Gretchen’s pretty smart, even though she’s very in the moment and doesn’t think everything through, but you know her instincts are on a lot. That’s why I think they haven’t ended up dead or in jail. [Laughs] But I think that whole dynamic is very interesting, that she’d give Jed drugs when he has a major problem, but yet she’s trying to keep her sister in rehab. That was always a big thing for me the first season when I’d read the scripts, I’m like, “Wow, this is a very interesting character thing to play with.” And then, most of my scenes are with Jason (O’Mara), John, and we have a lot of fun. But I think that John’s the first male role model that she really, really respects.

AE: We haven’t seen much of Gretchen’s girlfriend, Liz, lately, and when we did see her she wasn’t in a great moodwhich is understandable considering all the craziness that’s been happening. Did she finally get fed up and leave Gretchen?

JS: [As of right now], we are in a relationship and fine. What I thought was cool with the way Matt created that storyline and brought in Liz, was that he wasn’t making Gretchen a lesbian for the shock value, oh my god, overly sexy, two girls together. It was like, it is what it is, which I think is really cool about it. But, I also think people are curious to know where is that relationship going. Is Liz going to be there and fight with her through all of these crazy things? Does Liz actually know what’s going on? So, I would like for them to explore that more, because in the situation that Gretchen’s in, gang members coming into the hospital, and possibly knowing where she lives, and doing drive-bys at John’s house, it could affect my personal life-whether it’s my sister or my girlfriend, so I do think they need to touch on that more as we move forward.

I do like that they didn’t make it this whole thing of, “Oh, Gretchen’s a lesbian, so now we have to touch on that and go deep into that,” because I feel like when you do that it makes it seem like we have to do that, because it’s not a normal thing. And I think, in life, you like who you like and you love who you love and that’s just what it is. So, I like how they did that and I think the way Matt writes is very real, I don’t think it was for shock value, it just was what it was. So, right now, I think they are still together and it is still something that will definitely come up in the second season.

AE: Gretchen has only had a few scenes with Lauren Stamile’s character, Bridget, but our readers definitely noticed some chemistry between them. Did you notice that or play that up at all? How do you see them interacting in the future, romantic or otherwise?

JS: So it’s funny, because I feel like a lot of the fans and a lot of people are writing that we’re going to have something, which when I read any of the scripts or even played in the scenes, I didn’t really see that going that way. But I think anything can happen. [laughs]

AE: Fair enough. So, tonight’s the finale. When we last saw Gretchen, she was still standing by John and supporting him, even though they’re obviously in really deep. So, what can you tell us about the finale and Gretchen’s state of mind leading into it?

JS: Gretchen’s state of mind-I mean, I think at this point they really are like, “This is crazy, what have we gotten ourselves into and how are we gonna get out of this?” And the cliffhanger at the endI’m pretty sure I called Jason after I read the script and was like, “I did not see this coming.” It’ll leave you all at the edge of your seats. I hope everyone enjoys it and had a fun journey this first season, because we had a great time bringing these words to life and playing in this crazy, scary, interesting, exciting world.

AE: Also, I know you’re going to be on Season 2 of Kingdom. What can you tell me about your role on that show?

JS: I play a girl named Laura Melvin and she’s a photographer. She happens to be shooting by the beach and she sees, through her lens, this crazy kind of cool character. She doesn’t know anything about him, but there’s something that she’s drawn to and they meet. It was kind of interesting to go from being on Complications, where I’m playing a character that’s trying to save people and get people out of trouble, into this other world that is about people who are going into cages and literally trying to beat the shit out of each other. So, it couldn’t have been more different, you know. It’s two different worlds. It’s very different, but very fun to work on both. Laura was a tough cookie, she was like a mixture of a more mature Vanessa and a not as hardcore as Gretchen girl. So, she kind of had a little bit of both and then I added a couple of other little flavors that I haven’t been able to play with yet. I hope everyone enjoys that.

AE: Okay, so I like to finish my interviews with a series of rapid fire question. So, you know, just try to answer these as quickly as possible. Favorite color?

JS: Army green.

AE: Are you a cat person or a dog person?

JS: Dog.

AE: If you were not an actress, what would you want to do?

JS: Interior design.

AE: What is your current favorite song?

JS: I would either say “I Love You So Bad” by LANY or “Squad Or Nah” by House Party and Fetty Wap. [Laughs] Which couldn’t be more two types of music, by the way.

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

JS: I would say wine. Red wine.

AE: Favorite superhero?

JS: Batman.

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

JS: It depends. I can stay up all night, but I can also get up at 5:30 in the morning. So I think it just depends where I’m at or what’s going on.

AE: What’s your dream acting role?

JS: Oooh, I don’t know. There’s so much. It’d be cool to play someone in politics, it’d be cool to play a crazy drug addict, it’d be cool to play a mom. I don’t know. I don’t think I have an answer for you on that one.

You can catch Jessica tonight on the Complications finale at 9/8c on USA and on Season 2 of Kingdom starting October 14th on DirecTV.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button