The TV Chick

I realize I have a lot of favorite shows, but Nurse Jackie is truly one of them. Edie Falco leads an outstanding cast as they navigate their way through All Saints hospital. What makes this show great is that each character brings something totally different and amazing to the table. And despite all of her drug-using, adultering ways, you still find yourself rooting for Jackie. One of the characters that stood out for me from the beginning was Zoey — Jackie’s new optimistic protegee who had a way of warming my heart and making me laugh at the same time. As season one ended and season two began, Zoey became a comedic staple, and her charming quriky-ness is never to be underestimated. I recently had the chance to chat with Merritt Wever, who plays the esteemed Zoey, about working with Edie, Zoey’s recent new looks and behavior, and what she wants to see from her character going forward.

What originally attracted you to the show?
The actors. I liked the writing, and the opportunity to work with Edie was probably what I liked the most. Since it was just the pilot script, I couldn’t actually tell what Zoey was going to be like, I wasn’t sure. It took me a couple of episodes to find some footing. So it was mostly just Edie and thinking that the script was funny.

And what has it been like working with Edie?
It’s pretty fantastic. She’s fabulous. All the good things are true. And the more I work in other situations, the more I value her and what she brings to the set, personally and professionally.

Did you talk to any nurses or spend time with any nurses before you started the show to prepare?
I did, and then quickly realized — I spent a couple hours in an ER, and then remembered that Zoey is brand new and doesn’t need to be used to anything or comfortable yet at all, and realized I was kind of wasting my time.

That makes sense. She starts out very new.
Yeah, I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me earlier.

And are you anything like Zoey at all?
I don’t know, I’m sure we have to similar in some ways, but she’s probably a lot more positive and optimistic and in love with life and everything that it brings, good or bad, than I am. I wish I had some more of her enthusiasm, but unfortunately I just do not. I’m like Zoey fresh half sister.

The evil twin, perhaps.
Yeah. The blue twin.

And Zoey’s evolved quite a bit from the beginning of season one until now. Can you talk a little bit about that evolution?
I don’t know what to say. I know that I’m relieved as an actor that the writers were thinking about things that I hadn’t — that I didn’t know enough about to consider things that you think about when you’re doing a TV show and you might be there for more than a season or two. Things like character arcs and change and stuff like that. When I got back for season 2, I realized quickly that it would have been really boring had they had me for 12 more episodes just be brand new and kind of doing the same song and dance. And they were a step ahead of me, and already thinking about letting her change and grow. And I had been worrying about different things but really appreciated what they were giving me to do. They’re smarter than I am (laughs). It’s not my job to write or think about storylines. I’m glad it’s their job and not mine, they’re a lot better at it.

Zoey spent all last season being mentored, and now she is mentoring Sam. How has that been developing?
It’s fun, I like doing it. I like when Zoey tries to be too big for her britches. I like when Zoey tries to bite off more than she actually chew.

One thing I really love about Zoey is her sly wit: her comments about the pixus, among other things. Is that your sense of humor injected into the performance?
It’s the writing. It’s there, which I really like, and I feel like the writers [and] the creators are really open when you’re on set to trying things, which always makes things easier. So it does feel more like a collaboration than maybe some other sets that I’ve been on. But it’s there in the writing, and I just kind of get there and play with it. But they do seem to leave a lot of room for her, or for me playing her, to find things, which I really appreciate.

I know you can’t spoil too much. I’ve seen the first batch of episodes so I know a bit more, but can you talk about the recent Zoey developments — the eyeshadow, brushing off Sam, the walk of shame. Why is she going to so much trouble?
Where we are now in the airing, she obviously has some kind of thing going on elsewhere outside the hospital. And she’s trying to experiment with things she hasn’t – well, I guess she has played with them before. I don’t know, she made out with her boss at Burger King, so I don’t know (laughs). There’s obviously some sort of — for lack of a better term — love interest outside of the hospital right now that she has her mind on. And there will be somebody who comes into the hospital who has a fondness for her, and let’s say in a romantic way.

Interesting. And the Zoey/Dr. O’Hara pairings are always such great, wonderful scenes. What’s it like working with Eve Best?
She’s great. I really liked getting to play with that character as Zoey. It’s a lot of fun. She’s such a grande dame — O’Hara. It’s just great personally to be around so many women on set. You don’t find that to be the case often. Maybe more on stage, but getting to work with full grown women who really know what they’re doing — it’s quite special.

I completely agree. It’s such a great cast. And do you have a favorite moment from filming the show so far?
That’s a good question. Yeah, I have something that’s coming up with Julia Ormond, who comes in for a couple of episodes, that I really liked doing. A case of Zoey trying to take on more than she can chew, that I had a lot of fun with. But it hasn’t aired yet. I don’t know if anyone else will particularly like it but I had a lot of fun doing it.

And here’s a big question that you may not even know the answer to. Is Zoey going to catch on to Jackie? Will she figure out her secrets? There have definitely been a few close calls.
I wouldn’t want to say that I know one way or another, because I wouldn’t want to spoil it for people guessing what happens.

I knew you probably couldn’t tell me that (laughs).
(laughs) I figure anything I say will somehow give away what might or might not happen. I don’t know. I know we’re not a mystery or anything, as a genre.

And what do you want to see from your character going forward — either for this season, or the show just got a season 3 pickup.
New things. I — for my own personal, selfish reasons — would love to find out where Zoey comes from. I just want somebody to tell me what made her. I don’t necessarily need to do it on the show (laughs) I don’t need to necessarily see Zoey’s home life, but I just wish somebody would tell me where she came from.

Didn’t she make a reference to her mom and her scrubs?
Yes, she did. Her mother’s bought her scrubs. Her father is in jail.

Interesting. Perhaps we’ll see more of that as the show continues.
Perhaps.

And I really miss Mo-Mo this season, I know that a lot of fans do. Is there any chance that he might be back, even just for an episode?
I don’t think so, but who knows? I’m sorry that people miss him, I’m sorry to let people down.

Oh no, not at all. I think it was just a surprise because I know I thought he was a very strong character.
No, of course.

But I think that this season is just as strong as last season. And I know we talked a little bit about it, but can you give a little teaser for what’s coming up in the rest of the season for Zoey?
I think we’ve aired 3 so in the next episode to air, she has what I would call a biological dilemma.

I like that. And do you have any other projects coming up?
Yeah, there’s a movie that writer/director/actress called Lena Dunham did that just won an award at South by Southwest, that I’m hoping comes out at some point called “Tiny Furniture.” But other than that, no.

Any future stage projects? You just finished a run of a play in LA.
Nothing as of now, but I’d really really like to do that, though. It’d be great to fit that in before season three starts, though it’s unlikely. That was a really nice privilege to [get to] do it.

Nurse Jackie airs Monday nights at 10 pm on Showtime.