The TV Chick

Suits has had a stellar season so far. Harvey is being sued for fraud, Donna just got fired because she’s kind of the reason he got sued and the big bosses are fighting it out. Is Hardman a good guy or a bad guy? Is Louis going to finally redeem himself? And what about Jessica? With her firm and job on the line, she’s going to do anything to keep Harvey reigned in, Hardman at bay and the firm afloat. I recently had the chance to chat with Gina Torres (who plays Jessica) about what’s coming up, the decision to fire Donna and when we might learn about her personal life. And for all the Firefly fans out there, I asked her about the Comic Con panel that she wasn’t able to attend.

Jessica has had a really interesting season thus far. Are we going to see her continue to get in the trenches and involved with the cases?
Well, I don’t know about a lot of the cases, I know that there’s this one case (laughs) that’s first and foremost on her itinerary. So we’ll definitely see [that]. She’s fighting for her life, she’s fighting for her firm, so we’ll definitely see her in that [sense].

Harvey and Jessica have had one of the most interesting relationships this season. How are we going to see this develop throughout the trial?
Oh my gosh. I think you’re going to see the envelope of our relationship pushed even further, definitely. He’s put her in quite a position that she’s just found out about and now there’s this trial and then there’s Hardman looming. And whatever threat he might pose. So there’s a lot going on. And there’s a lot of push and pull. And ultimately, I think their love and respect for each other has to win out and unite them, because they have bigger fish to fry. They don’t have the luxury of being petty.

I feel like Jessica is sort of a mentor, but also trying to control Harvey’s wild side, like in the last episode with his crazy poker habits. So will that continue or will they be a more united front to fight off Hardman and the law suit.
I think they have to. I think they have to put it aside. Harvey’s her guy. Harvey’s her right hand. And he’s not in his best place right now. Jessica, also. She’s keeping it together, but she has to keep it together. You can’t see her sweat. So she has to make sure that Harvey is walking the line and that he’s not going off, half cocked, because that will only hurt him in the end and the firm.

Absolutely. Are we going to see that strong-arming of the judge come back to bite Jessica at all?
I don’t know. I don’t know. I beat her down pretty far. (laughs) I kind of did away with her.

That must have been fun to play though!
Yeah it was great. When I read the script I thought, oh fantastic, we’re finally going to see her teeth. And we’re going to see her teeth not necessarily used for good. But we know she has them. We’ve known all this time that she has them and that you don’t want to get on her bad side. It was interesting to actually see a little bit of what that looks like.

I know a lot of the fans think and hope that Donna will be back. Do you think it was a hard decision for Jessica to fire her? Do you think we might see her bring Donna back?
I think it was an easy decision to fire her. I think she knew she had to do it. I think there was no question in her mind that she had to do it. Jessica is a pro, she suffers no fools…it is very clear that what she did was wrong. And like I said, she’s fighting for her life. Somebody had to die. So the decision to do away with Donna was absolutely necessary and an easy call to make. Actually doing it, not so. The reality of having to do it, and looking at her in the eye, that wasn’t fun. That’s not something that is easy for Jessica. I don’t think it’s something that she thinks of as fun to do, but I do believe that it was absolutely necessary.

Do you think we’re going to delve a little more into Jessica’s home and and personal life?
I hope so. I hope so. I mean, you have to, right? Eventually. We know that Louis had a cat (laughs). Harvey likes to gamble. Mike likes pizza. We know these things about these people. It’s just a matter of time, and when the time is right. I absolutely trust the writers to bring that stuff out at a time that makes sense.

Do you have an idea in your mind about what her backstory is or where she came from?
I have a sense of it. I would hate to talk about it and be really, really wrong. (laughs) But I believe she comes from a powerful family. I believe that she’s third, fourth generation lawyer. But we’ll see, won’t we?

Do you think perhaps we may see her get a love interest?
Like I said, I hope so! We’ll see. The writers and I in tandem have created such an amazing character, I feel, that you can’t just bring in any old guy. The writers have got to come up with a very interesting character, it has to be organic, and then we have to find the guy to play it. And in such a way that we don’t disappoint our audience. If you’re going to make Jessica wait this long to get some, let’s not disappoint anybody. Let’s get it right. (laughs) Let’s just get it right.

We saw Donna make the mistake of her career. Do you think Jessica is capable of making that level of mistake? As you said, we haven’t seen her sweat much.
Of course she’s capable. We all are, which is what’s so great about this show, which is so great about Donna making the mistake. We’re all flawed. We’re all capable of any number of mistakes. And I can’t wait for Jessica to make hers. For the world to see, anyway. Because she’s human and of course she’s made them. She’s made them already, you just haven’t seen them. (laughs) She’s very human and I made the comment earlier that one only comes by humility by experiencing humiliation. And so I believe that Jessica has great compassion for Mike and for Harvey and all of their foibles because she is accepting of her own. So we’ll see what that looks like.

Maybe someone played a humiliating prank on her…
Who knows! Who knows! She fell in love with the wrong guy, any number of things. She’s a disappointment to her parents. Who knows. Who knows what it is. Who knows what demons are having coffee with her in the morning. I’m not exactly sure, but I can’t wait to find out.

Definitely. You are about half way through filming season two. What would you like to see from Jessica going forward?
I’d like to see a season three pick up! A season three pick up so that all of these fantastic questions you are asking me actually have the time (laughs) — the on-air opportunity to work themselves out. That’s what I’d like to see.

I am hoping for the same thing! And do you have a favorite Jessica moment?
I think right now — because this changes because we’re not done — I like the end of episode one of the second season when Harvey comes down the hall with the tray, and very little is said. Actually, I don’t think I said a word — or maybe a word — I think that was such a beautiful example of he and I, in that moment in time. I thought the was a really sweet moment in time for our characters.

Definitely. I know you can’t spoil a lot, but what can you tease about what to expect in the next few episodes? Any good Jessica/Hardman moments? Jessica/Louis moments? What can you tease?
Yes and yes. And yes again. Seven through ten will be a ride. Seven through ten will be an absolute ride. Don’t miss them.

Lastly, were you disappointed not to make it the Firefly reunion?
I’m actually getting reports from journalists that I’m talking to today. I didn’t log on or follow it. But I was very, very sorry I couldn’t make it. There was no way I could have gotten out of my work schedule or I would have absolutely been there and been with my people. My guys. I love them. Love them. My Serenity crew.

Be sure to tune in tonight for an all new episode of Suits at 10 PM on USA!