The TV Chick

Justified is a new western/crime/drama premiering on FX tonight at 10 pm. In my review, I talked about how this genre of television is not usually my favorite but Justified is phenomenal. (And I am hooked). The show centers around Raylan Givens (played by Timothy Olyphant), a U.S. Marshall forced to return to his hometown and face his demons. In this land of men, one of the stand out performances was Joelle Carter, who plays Ava Crowder (Raylan’s old friend and flame). Ava is a take no prisoners kind of girl who shot her abusive husband with his own rifle. I recently had the chance to speak to the lovely and talented Carter, about the role of Ava, working with Olyphant, and what makes Justified so unique.

What originally drew you to the role of Ava?
I love when people ask me that. I’m like what didn’t (laughs) attract me to the character of Ava. I mean, she’s a lovely, delicately flawed character. She’s just recently been put in a crazy circumstance and in some ways, what she’s done is actually freeing her. It was the conflict of the whole character and the deliciousness of the way Elmore Leonard writes these scenarios he puts these characters in that they can act in a completely different way. And just the cast and Michael Dinner directing and Graham Yost. It was like a win, win, win win situation.

Absolutely. And how do you relate to your character? Obviously, you two are very different.
I think mostly that she’s kind of seen in one way, but yet she has a lot living inside that comes out at certain times that might surprise people, what really makes up the core of her. I think through my life and experiences that I have a lot that I carry around that I have inside that people might not necessarily recognize from the outside. You know what I mean?

Yeah, of course.
I liked her unpredictability. I loved that she really is sexual and she loves to use her sexuality almost in an un-subconscious manner. It’s just the way she is, with no excuses and no apologies. So I love that too. She’s really forward and strong. But yet soft and southern.

Ava is such a strong female character in a land of men. What has it been like playing such a powerful female lead?
Oh it’s — especially in Hollywood I think women jump at the chance to play a part like this. It’s interesting because you can really draw off the fact that you’re in an industry that is male-driven and even the show is so — I mean there’s Sarah Timberman [Executive Producer] up at the top there but then it’s like so many men controlling the project and there’s very few women parts anyway in the whole show, so it’s like stand strong and fight for what you want and it’s interesting how it kind of travels beside each other — the reality of the circumstance you’re in and the character’s circumstances.

Justified is incredibly different from any other show out there right now. What do you think makes it so unique?
Well definitely the environment. The fact that it takes place in the south in Kentucky, there’s not a lot going on — I can’t remember I guess Deadwood was the last one that was kind of more of a Western-y feel, southern…I don’t know “Little House on the Prairie?” (laughs)

(laughs)
So — uniquely, the town and the environment is a character in it’s own, and that gives it it’s own uniqueness.

And you have great chemistry with Timothy Olyphant. Was that instant when you started filming? What has it been like working with him?
Actually, I can’t stand him!

(laughs)
No — you know what, I think he jumped on this — it is his show basically so — to say this might sound obvious, but he really has just put his heart and soul in it and he cares about the show. He’ll fight for — if he doesn’t believe something is going the way it should be going for the better of the show, he gets in there and he’ll encourage you to fight for your character and what you believe in, in that scenario. And most of my scenes have been with him, and together we have developed these characters, helping each other, like “Oh, look sort of that way.” He’s really very giving as an actor, and he’s just really fun. He’s always in a good mood. You work some crazy hours and he’s always like “yeah, let’s do this!” He’s like rallying the team. So, it’s been a pleasure.

Do you have a favorite moment from filming the show so far?
Wow, there was a lot. I really do love in the pilot when he first comes my house. It was such a lovely scene to play and she’s so excited about seeing him and yet talking about (laughs) killing my husband, the difference in what was going on and what I was talking about was so Elmore Leonard and so fun to play. So it’s still one of my favorite moments of the whole thing.

Yeah one of my favorite moments of the pilot was when Ava says to Raylan “When you showed up, I knew everything was going to be alright.” That was just such a powerful moment.
Yeah, I love the line. There’s just a line that Timothy actually fought for, for me, which is nice. Lysol’s the best cleaning product you could buy, which is just out of nowhere. (laughs)

And you were talking about how Timothy really fights for his character. Have you and Timothy had any input in the development of these characters and where you want to see them go in the first season?
Yeah, I mean I think as the show goes on, and your character actually starts to develop, you have more opinions and more ideas. And the writers are always interested in hearing that. They’ve been really open in that sense. So as far as pitching stuff, I think they’re very open to it — what happens in the end, they still have control.

Of course.
But they have been amazingly — it’s just a great group of people to work with.

And what has been your biggest challenge in filming the show?
Maybe just trusting that I really own this character and she’s come to me in such a way that I shouldn’t second guess my instincts because I’ve always been kind of right on, to really just to embrace that and go with it, 100 percent.

Has it been hard to speak in an accent? I can hear a little accent in you…
Yeah (laughs) It’s funny…the days I was shooting, I would start using it all day until I started shooting. You know, I’m originally from the south…

Right. Georgia.
Yeah, so it comes back. I could just hear someone say it. I mean, no it’s not difficult. (laughs)

Well, that’s good. You didn’t have to have any sort of training for it?
No, I actually had to train to get rid of it. (laughs) It’s a little different than Georgia southern, but it’s very similar. I watch documentaries, it’s awesome.

One thing I noticed about Ava is that she’s a very complex character, but she wears her heart on her sleeve. Is there more to her character that she hasn’t shared with Raylan yet?
Maybe…

You can’t tell!
You might be surprised! Good question though…

Well, thank you. I know you can’t spoil too much, but can you give us a little teaser of what’s coming up this season especially for Ava?
Oh wow. Ava, she’s sprung her wings, and she does try to fly. I guess I can say that. And then she encounters some stormy weather (laughs).

What would you tell viewers as to why they should tune in to Justified?
It’s gritty, dramatic, exciting television that kind of pushes the envelope. So if you’re interested in all of that, then I think you should stay tuned. And it’s got its own flavor, so it might be something you’re not seeing on every channel.

Well, that’s all I have unless there’s anything you want to add.
No that was great. You had great questions.

Thank you so much. It was a pleasure to talk with you. Best of luck with the first season, and I hope we hear news of a season 2 pick up soon.
Great. We’ll talk about the 2nd season sometime.

Be sure to tune in tonight to FX at 10 pm for the series premiere of Justified!