Jenna Elfman – Fear the Walking Dead

By starrymag | June 6, 2021

By: Kelly Kearney

 

 

Q) The back half of this season has ripped June and John fans heart’s out. What was your reaction to reading those scripts and finding out Garret was leaving the show?

A) I heard Garret [Dillahunt] was leaving back in September 2019, long before I got the script for the episode because they kind of walk us through what the scenes in the first half of the season are going to be. And then when we get kind of to the midway point then we have another conversation and they walk us through the back half, so we have a sense of it before we get the scripts. So, I mean, it’s just one of those realities you just have to roll with; and it’s not like I have a choice in the matter. You just have to adapt. I saw that it could be really potent storytelling opportunity as it changes the characters and moves them forward in new ways, which is always thrilling but heartbreaking same time. That was a hard scene to play.

Q) We have to talk about filming that scene where June put John down on the banks of the river. How difficult was that scene to film and did the two of you rehearse it together?

A) Yeah, so we were filming that episode when COVID struck in 2020, and I was just about to film that scene when we broke for seven months. [laughs] So, I was sitting on the anticipation of getting that scene filmed for seven months, thinking I would have that behind me; so, it was pretty intense. It was like all I could think about the entire quarantine was how I was going to play that scene and the best way to play that scene knowing that the ramifications of it in the story or so important to anyway…We did rehearse it but not motion. It wasn’t a performance rehearsal; it was more of a blocking rehearsal because I had to run through that marsh and so it was more of a technical reversal because I said I didn’t want to have my foot get stuck and hurt myself. So, I did a test run. I then was like, “Oh, guys, this is like…my foot could get stuck, and I don’t want to hurt my knee or anything.” So, they laid down some stuff under the water and where I was going to land so it was less sticky. I did fall, actually. Mikey [Satrazemis] was like, “You know, just charge at him and if you fall I don’t care how messy it is – just like get to him! Whatever happens, happens.” I actually did fall into the water and had to pick myself up and keep going, which they didn’t use that part but where I was going to land and how far his reach was to me and just some technical rehearsals because I wanted to just let it happen when the camera was rolling.

Q) Right, because acting is reacting and sometimes things happen, like when you fell into the water and then you just had to go with it.

A) Oh, yeah, absolutely. And it just gets the heart pumping.

Q) It seems like June traded in her healing skills for those of an executioner, but then she was back to caring for a mentally ill Daniel. Without spoiling anything, what can you tell us about where she is headed?

A) There’s some really good June-story coming. You know there’s uh… hmm…how can I articulate this without saying too much? There’s a good June story coming. [laughs] That’s what I can say. Obviously, there’s tensions with Morgan (Lennie James).

Q) So, does this mean a June vs. Morgan kind of story is coming? Will the two wind up be going head-to-head, because she definitely broke Morgan’s “no killing” rule?

A) Yes, she did. There is that moment when she’s leaving, after having come to see Morgan, and I guess she was going to check on Grace (Karen David) too while she was there. But there’s tension at that doorway between them. It’s complex because she did break it, but it was in honor of John, which is their best friend. Neither of them has mourned John yet at all. Neither of them has discussed it. I mean, they haven’t even had a conversation about it; and then let alone what you did to break the rule hasn’t been talked about. That hasn’t been mentioned. That’s who they had in common. They were like a little trio, so it is heartbreaking to see tension between them and then also to have John gone and to see what that does to them. So, I would imagine that you could expect maybe some exploration of the story there.

Q) John was June’s heart and her hope. Now that he’s dead it seems he took her heart with him. Was her departure from Morgan and the others just a matter of her needing a moment to decompress from losing her husband and killing Virginia or has she completely lost her way?

A) I don’t think she wanted to answer or explain herself. I think that’s what had to be done for her in that moment and she was like, ‘I’ll leave because I know I’m not welcome, but I’m not going to also sit there and apologize or ask forgiveness either. So, I did what I had to do and I’ll remove myself.”

Q) June spoke about her own child before choosing to take Virginia’s life, but Dakota was the one who murdered John. Was the choice to spare her daughter an example of mercy prevailing over June’s vengeance?

A) I think it’s complex. It was Virginia who was the one who facilitated that in Dakota (Zoe Margaret Colletti). She protected her knowing what she was capable of and did nothing about it and…Dakota is a child. She’s still just a child and Virginia (Colby Minifie) could’ve done something about it. Virginia could’ve…She did nothing about it and just covered it up and protected her and lied about it and it just facilitated more death. So, I think June was sort of going in at the source.

Q) Will this new threat bring all the scattered survivors back together?

A) Well, you know, when you have something as potentially dangerous as these people are it’s either going to push people apart or bring them together. It’s like when you have something bigger than yourself. I think we’re going to see, because there’s tensions in the group and there’s now a power vacuum since Virginia was killed. That’s going to inform a lot of motion moving forward on how this bigger threat is handled and dealt with and the approach taken. which is then going to create more…shifts moving forward as a result.

Q) You’ve been on the show for a few years now, what has been the most challenging moment to film for you and what has been the most memorable?

A) Oh my gosh, there’s so many! I mean, there really is just so many. I’m sure there were many that were a challenge for different reasons, whether that was physical or emotional, and then there’s so many happy, pleasurable moments where I’m like, “Oh my God! That’s my favorite. Oh…but that’s my favorite and that’s my favorite, too.” Um, I think that I would have to go by episode rather than by scene.

Q) Like that that moment between you and John Dorie on the riverbank.

A) Yes, exactly.

Q) I also know that when you guys were filming the “Tank town” episode in the first half of the season it was pretty brutal.

A) I think the hardest to film was that “Tank Town” episode, 606, with Jenny when she comes and she’s trying to figure out who the “who” is behind the graffiti of “the end is the beginning.” That’s because there was a breach and the weather we were having. [excited] It was freezing! It was the most challenging. That and I think it was probably in episode 405, “Laurel” when I wash up on his shore. Oh yeah, it was also a night shoot and also something like twenty-six or twenty-three degrees and I was in the water. Then, the “Tank Town” episode, 606, was also in the 20’s and wet. So, I think once you hit twenty degree territory and wet it becomes very challenging!

Q) The fans are obviously all in on this season, but they also have been chomping at the bit for a main show crossover any chance that they’re going to get their wish this season?

A) Oh, hmm…I don’t know?

Q) If there were to be a crossover which character from the main show do you think June would relate to most and which do you think she would butt heads with?

A) I mean, we’ve had three crossovers from the main show already. Morgan, Sherry (Christine Evangelista) and Dwight (Austin Amelio), right? So, I don’t really know that they’re going to bring more crossing over. We have had three.

Q) Well, the timelines of both shows seem to be getting closer to closing their gap and certainly regionally they are closer than they have ever been. I think fans were kind of hoping to see the two converge at some point.

A) Yeah, I don’t know about that, but I think June probably relates the most to Carol (Melissa McBride) because they both lost children. They’re both having to navigate themselves as women and, yeah, they definitely have different backgrounds, for sure. And they come from a completely different launching point, but I think that they both care a lot and they both gained a lot of surviving muscles emotionally and tactically. I think they probably would do well together.

Q) You and Melissa McBride sharing scenes together would be fantastic!

A) Yeah, and their humor too. June’s humor comes out from time to time and I love it when Carol’s does, too.

Q) So what’s next for you, Jenna, besides filming the back end of season six? Do you have any other projects in the works that the fans can keep an eye out for?

A) If they wanted to buy tickets to the new release called “Jenna Homeschooling Her Children Full-time While Filming and Having Moved from L.A. to Austin” it’s an action-packed adventure story. [laughs] I’m sure they’ll love!

Q) That sounds more challenging than filming “Fear the Walking Dead” in freezing weather!

A) [laughs] Oh my God. Talk about FEAR! We had the quarantine, so nothing was filmed and then we started filming this season and it’s been back-to-back, so I’m quite engaged and busy at the moment.

Q) What would you like to say to the fans that have followed and supported your work and obviously love this show?

A) It is so meaningful to me that they invest their time and minds and hearts to watching the show and engaging with the characters and sharing their passions on Twitter and Instagram or whatever. I find it’s just lovely and appreciated. I love hearing their feedback. I love doing this show as an actor. I find it very fulfilling. As an actor, your whole purpose is to move the audience emotionally and they let you know the affect you’re creating on them, so it’s a very live, happening right now kind of experience and I think that it’s really cool and I’m very appreciative of how supportive they’ve been. It means a lot to me to feel welcomed into this big “Walking Dead “universe that was very intimidating to enter. I’m so happy to hear fans reactions. It’s so nice because we work so hard and the crew works so hard; they’re so committed. So, when the fans have such lovely responses, it just makes all that work much more worth it.