Jennifer Ferrin – The Knick

By starrymag | October 31, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on? 

 

A) I just wrapped the final season of AMC’s “Hell on Wheels” and currently shooting a top secret film project.

 

Q) What is new this season on “The Knick” and with your character Abigail? 

 

A) Season 2 gets a lot grittier (if you can imagine) both in the physical realm of the time period and medicine and the personal lives of the characters. We get to see a lot more of Abigail and John (Clive Owen), their history and how they are navigating his addiction, her affliction and their past.

 

Q) How was Abigail originally described to you? 

 

A) Fairly straight-forward. She was the former love of John Thackery who contracted syphilis from her husband and has lost her nose. I had no idea; however, the extent of what she would have to go through and the delicate balance she plays between suffering and strength.

 

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you? 

 

A) Well, I was told that originally they had only planned on only having Abigail around for a couple episodes. So, I would like to think her return has something to do with what I brought to the character – though she was already so wonderfully written by Jack [Amiel] and Michael [Begler] that I didn’t have to invent too much.

 

Q) What did you learn about The Knickerbocker Hospital that you were not aware of when you first started working on the show? 

 

A) I was most shocked by the methods of treatment used back then, i.e. cocaine as a pain reliever, mercury for headaches, heroine to treat cocaine addiction and so on.  Quite horrifying! It makes me wonder what we will discover in the next one hundred years!

 

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming? 

 

A) Oh, well I got to spend a lot of time with the special effects makeup department because of the whole nose thing. So, some days I’d go in there and there would be a life size pig with its guts hanging out or a man’s head with his skull exposed – all beyond realistic down to the tiniest hairs and freckles. I’d think, “I do this for a living!?!”  Also, one of my last days we shot on this beautiful old sailboat and when we wrapped, it was just a few of us – Steven [Soderbergh], Clive and a few crew guys – we took it all the way back to shore (about a forty-five minute ride) while just swapping stories and enjoying the sunshine. It was a great way to end the season.

 

Q) What have you taken away from your time working on the show?  

 

A) Well, I’m spoiled for life after working with Steven.  He is super efficient and there is little to no time wasted on set.  He doesn’t like doing a lot of coverage or many takes so, as an actor, you really have to learn to trust yourself and make your choices right out of the gate. I think it’s made my work a lot stronger because there is no time to second guess. You just have to go for it and usually your first instincts are the best ones.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive? 

 

A) I’ve had such a great time hearing from the fans. They are really supportive and its such fun to see them get so excited about the work we do.  They really get invested in the characters, which is exactly what we hope for!

 

Q) Fans also recognize you from your work on “Hell On Wheels.” There was such great chemistry between you and Jake Weber. Talk about your time working with him.

 

A) I adore Jake. He is such an inventive actor – always trying new things and certainly kept me on my toes. We were very fortunate to have some great scenes together and finding our way through them was pure actor play.

 

Q) What do you think it is about “Hell On Wheels” that has made it such a fan favorite show? 

 

A) I think it’s the characters. Our writers really worked hard to give each character a fully realized arch, which is nearly impossible when you have such a large cast. But I think they fell in love with each one and wanted to give the audience the opportunity to do the same. And, also, it’s a really beautifully shot show.  The word “cinematic” is being thrown around a lot to describe television these days and I think that has a variety of meanings. But for “Hell On Wheels,” we truly had a built in cinematic feeling being out in the vast wilderness of Alberta, Canada. Every day was epic. Every sunrise and sunset more glorious than the one before. It was Big Sky country and our Director of Photography and camera crew made sure it played a vibrant part in the show.

 

Q) Is there anything else you want fans to know about this finale season of HOW or about this season of The Knick? 

 

A) Oh my, I’m so jealous that you will all get to watch both shows with fresh eyes! I almost wish I didn’t know what was coming because they’re both going to blow your mind…

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?  

 

A) Thank you! Truly, as storytellers and artists, we couldn’t do what we do without an audience. And being a fan myself, I know I appreciate the artists who keep telling exciting and interesting stories in new and inventive ways. So, I have lots of gratitude for the folks who hang in there and watch us all play!