Jessica Biel spoke with USA Today about “The Sinner” and husband Justin Timberlake, check out the excerpts below!
Jessica Biel is taking a stab at her most dramatic role yet.
After 11 seasons on The WB’s 7th Heaven and an ample film career, the actress is returning to TV as executive producer and star of USA’s new thriller The Sinner (Wednesday, 10 ET/PT), an eight-episode adaptation of Petra Hammesfahr’s bestseller.
The mystery centers on troubled young mother Cora Tannetti (Biel), who violently kills a man, seemingly at random, while at the beach with her family one afternoon. Facing life in prison, well-meaning detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) attempts to unravel her murderous motivations, only to discover unsettling details about her past that raise more questions than answers.
Biel, 35, caught up with USA TODAY to chat about The Sinner and son Silas, 2, with husband Justin Timberlake.
In what ways could you relate to Cora, or at the very least, sympathize with her?
The thing about Cora that I hope a lot of people relate to is that everybody struggles with things in their past or things about them that they’d like to change. At times, we all put on a mask to present a way you are to the world that maybe isn’t 100% true.
For most of the show, Cora wears a prison jumpsuit with messy hair and no makeup. Was that a refreshing change?
It’s very freeing, because you don’t have to spend a long time in the morning focusing on (your appearance). It’s very much a part of the experience she’s having and who she is as a character to not rely on those tools. To look in the mirror and see myself looking a particular way helps me even more to step into her shoes. It’s wonderful, actually. I’m loving it.
“The Sinner” premieres on August 2nd on USA at 10/9c
