By: Mariah Thomas
Q) So, to start off on a light note for you, there is a running joke among your fans online that you’re always at the beach. But so notably in Episode One you guys do film at the beach. What was that experience like?
A) Yeah! Oh, I was like, finally, guys. Although, we could have picked a beach a little closer to my beach. But, hey! We were at the beach, that’s all. I had sand in my toes. It was great.
Q) You have these deeply emotional moments with your kids. You have Michael crying and, of course, you have that scene with Henry in his bedroom at the end. These being your real-life children, too. What was that experience like filming, but also just to watch them act?
A) Oh, well, that episode in particular had some of the most beautiful memories I will carry with me for the rest of my life with my boys. It was such a joy to get to bring them to work with me. We’d be all piling into the car at like 5 AM. In the morning, like driving to work. It was just, oh, memories that I will have forever, and they will as well. So, it was really, really special. I love having them on set. But, yeah, this was heavy, heavy stuff and we did not take that decision lightly. We thought about that a lot. And obviously I talked to my kids and explained the situation. And they’re like, “Are you for real mom? Like, can we handle it? Have you met us?” So, my kids are very intelligent, emotionally secure humans. And they understand that it’s acting. And they know Josh [Stewart] really, really well. I love Josh. My husband’s friends with Josh. They know he’s alive and well. Their dad is alive and well. Everyone is good, but also like as a parent I’m not mad at having children feel big emotion. I think they should. I don’t think we should protect them or shield them from that. I actually think it’s a disservice. I know for me as a kid, I would imagine all of those things, and make up my own little plays with heartbreaking situations. And I think that’s just like a normal part of being a kid. But the boys did great and it’s heartbreaking and I know to everyone from the outside looking in, it looks like it is devastating and possibly child endangerment. But what they don’t see is they say “cut” and the my youngest is getting twirled around by Matthew Gray Gubler and they’re playing tag and like playing games with Adam [Rodriguez] and RJ [Hatanaka] and just having it was one of the most joyful experiences we’ve had on set, I think, maybe ever, or in a really long time which is interesting – considering the subject matter.
Q) There always seems to be that balance for you guys – fun for those really dark moments.
A) It has to be because it’s a survival mechanism.
Q) Obviously, this storyline will make a huge impact on JJ’s character as well as her family, especially as we’ve seen JJ and Will grow this family over the series. How will fans see the growth and evolution in JJ as the season goes on?
A) Well, they’re going to see a lot. It’s going to be messy. It’s not going to be pretty, just as all the levels and layers of grief is – it’s not pretty. So, yeah, it’s gonna be an emotional journey this season. And moving forward. Definitely not having one episode of her being like devastated and then like,” Oh, tie a nice bow on it, and she’s fine forever.” That’s not how it works. So, we’re gonna see all different shades and colors of JJ, which is as an actress, exciting and fun. We don’t always get to play big emotion on this type of a show, but with the streaming side of it we’ve been able to dive more into the characters and we’re going to see wonderful performances by Aisha [Tyler] this year with her character and Paget [Brewster]. I mean, we’ve seen Joe [Mantegna] just do some of the most amazing work up to this point. And I think that’s what makes our show shine is the people really care about these characters in their personal lives.
Q) The friendship between you and the other BAU ladies, both on and off screen, is such a beloved factor of this show. What does it mean for you, for all of you to be positive representation of friendship and supporting women in this industry?
A) Oh, we love it, we love it! There’s not a day that goes by where we’re not voicing how grateful we are for one another. We know that what we have is rare and that’s a bummer. It shouldn’t be rare. It should be women supporting women and lifting each other up. And you know, all the women on our show are so unapologetically themselves and not trying to fit into some kind of label of what a woman should be or look like in Hollywood. And that’s brave. That’s brave because as a woman aging in Hollywood it’s hard. It’s really hard. But I think that’s why people truly look up to us and our characters is that we look like humans. And we’re strong, beautiful creatures and we will always continue to do so.
Q) BAU-gate is such a deep and powerful storyline. What has it been like to portray this complex storyline? And what are you hoping audiences are taking away from that?
A) Well, it’s just so relevant with what is happening in the world today. I mean, there was just something passed that put protections on this, thank God, because it’s ruining lives. Yeah, that was a really dark and kind of scary storyline for me personally just because it can wreak havoc with people’s lives. And we did see that fear in JJ at the end of Episode 2, when she thought like Henry’s friend, was like, “Oh, is this your mom?” She’s like just living in that constant fear of like what are they seeing? What are they seeing online? Is it real? What is this whole AI world? Why is it so unknown? Yeah, and that’s a tough one. But we like to tell the hard stories and what’s kind of happening out there. And sometimes you actually have to sugarcoat it because what’s happening in real life is just too dark.
Q) Yeah, is that a storyline we’ll see more of this season?
A) Yeah, it’s definitely something. BAU-gate I think is now just part of the fabric of the show just because it is such a thing in the world right now. You just see it come up over and over and over again. Yeah, it already came up, I think in Episode 2 because they made this deep fake of the girl that was abducted. Yeah, just stuff like that. It’s definitely going to come up over and over again. I know JJ is not going to forget about it anytime soon.
Q) You’ve directed a few episodes of “Criminal Minds” and did another for this season. What do you take with you as an actor that helps you the most as a director?
A) Oh, my gosh! It’s like, how much time do you have? One of the most valuable things you can do as an actor is direct and vice versa, like you learn so much about the massive machine that it is. It truly takes a village to bring one of these episodes to the people. And everyone has a job, and everyone executes it so well. But, yeah, I think one of the biggest things as a director is like “know your lines, actors! know your lines because we’re losing the light.” So, yeah, I always just want to be super prepared and we can just get through the day.
Q) Is there anything you can tease or talk about the episode you directed this season?
A) Yeah, don’t miss the last two seconds of it because a life altering thing happens. So, there’s a huge, huge thing that happens in this episode. I know that seems cruel. I’m not making it up, though. Something massive happens at the very end of Episode 7.
Q) What would you like to say to the fans and supporters of you on “Criminal Minds?”
A) Oh, my gosh! Again, how much time do you have? No, just thank you. And I know that what just happened is hard and a lot, and I feel it a hundred million times percent more – like having JJ go through what she has just gone through has been one of the hardest things for me as an actress and a fan. I am a fan of JJ. I look up to her and thank you guys for being so supportive and just always being there for the journey and the ride. And this season in particular, I apologize. It’s a tough one. Just have your tissues ready, but I just thank you guys so much for your constant support. It truly does mean so much to me. I’m not a big social person, and I’m not always out there, but just know that you guys make my heart so happy and thank you for your support. I do this for you guys. I do JJ for you guys. So, thank you. And, hopefully, I’ll get to continue playing JJ for a long time.
Q) Oh, yeah, I always say we need twenty more seasons.
A) I know we can go on and on and on so many stories to tell.