Jessica Parker Kennedy – Black Sails

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) When we pick up with “Black Sails,” where do we find Max and in what mindset is she?

A) There has been such a giant arch for her in Season One. By the end of the season she is basically the madam of a brothel. So, I think she is still dealing emotionally with the portrayal of Eleanor (Hannah New) and is kind of jaded now because of that. Any kind of mysterious secrecy that she had before has another wall, another layer that has been put up there now. So, she isn’t much for divulging secrets of how she feels emotionally about things, but there is definitely a sense that she is on her own and she is going to do everything within her power to create a stable, comfortable environment for herself. She’ll kind of do just about anything to make that happen.

Q) She is certainly a strong, wonderful and independent character. How do you feel portraying such a dynamic and deeply rooted character?

A) I love that the women on the show are as powerful as the men are and they are really essential to the politics that are happening on Nasau. If Eleanor and Max weren’t there the island wouldn’t be functioning the way that it is and as successfully as it is. They are very much needed in the politics happening there. I feel tremendously privileged to play a character like this. I think I love her so much because she is an incredibly powerful strong woman. She’s almost powerful and strong to a fault in a way. She is a bit stubborn. So, as strong as she is I think she has her flaws as well. Maggie Gyllenhaal made such a good point in her speech at the Golden Globes saying she is enjoying playing women who are very complicated and very real. I think Max is a very complicated character and real. I find her to be someone who can be incredibly tender and incredibly vicious all at the same time. I think she questions that in herself with her relationships with Bonnie and what happened, wanting Bonny (Clare Paget) to rescue her and reaching out to Bonny with her not knowing what she wants. I think there is a really interesting polar dynamic there with her being very strong and tender while being very, very complicated.

Q) Where do you draw from for your portrayal?

A) I’m not really someone who tries to look for too many similarities between myself and the character. I think about what would I do because what I would do would be completely different. I just try to get to know the character as well as I possibly can and a lot of that is in the writing and talking to the creators. We talk a little bit about choices. I make the choices for the character, but when I have questions I run them by them. I just try to draw from a place of as much honesty as I can because she is very, very different than me.

Q) You talked a bit about what is happening with Max and Eleanor and their chemistry. Did that chemistry come naturally and developed now you’re in Season Two?

A) I felt it with Hannah when I was doing the chemistry read with her. I had booked Max and they brought Hannah in for Eleanor and I kind of felt it really instantly because Hannah is a really open actor and a really raw actor. She feels so much of what she is portraying and I felt that instantly with her. I think that Hannah and I are really, really dear friends. I think she always gives me one hundred and fifty percent and I always give her one hundred and fifty percent. And within that there is a huge kind of blanket of safety so we’re able to definitely become these people and interact with each other because we are both really, really in the moment working together. I trust her choices and vice versa. So, for us, it’s a lot of fun working together.

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

A) I like to think there are a lot of things that I added that weren’t necessarily scripted. I think they are sort of difficult to pinpoint. There is mannerisms that I give her all the time. Her way of standing. To me there are so many things that I can’t pinpoint all of the things I do. What I have noticed with all of the characters is that we are at a place where the writers are writing for us and to our strengths, which is really wonderful. I think they see the different things we brought to the character and write specifically to that. I definitely feel that when I read each script.

Q) The show was an instant fan favorite and seemly drew people in right away form the start. Was that something you expected when you began working on the show?

A) Because I have been doing this for a while I am very aware of not getting your hopes too high about anything. So, I go into everything (no matter how much I believe in the project) and do the work for myself and hope that the fans like it. I love the show and am a massive fan of the show. It’s something that if I wasn’t in I would be watching. I think it is a great show and all the positive feedback we have received has just been icing on the cake for me because I have done so many pilots that have not gone anywhere or TV shows that have just had one season and disappeared. So, I just go in with really reasonable expectations. It’s been really overwhelming to be on a show where after Season One a couple months went by and we were picked up for Season Two. Season Two hasn’t even come out yet and we’re shooting Season Three. To be an actor and have this secure job year after year has been a huge blessing. I’m thrilled people are enjoying it because it is a show I am really proud of. I think it is really special.

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

A) I’m the worst tweeter and Instagramer on the face of the Earth. It is not something that has come naturally to me. I really have to force myself to tweet and go online. My favorite place to interact with fans is Comic-Con. We’ve been to Comic-Con twice now and the enthusiasm of the fans is just the coolest thing. When anyone is stopping us in the street and saying they are loving the show it feels so good. It makes you even more enthusiastic when you go back to shoot. I’m really lucky because everything I’ve read online has just been incredibly positive. Fans are so supportive and excited. I love it! I wish I was a little better about writing back. I am reading all of the tweets and appreciative of it!

Q) What have you taken away from your experiences working on “Black Sails?”

A) I think more than anything the comradery. We’re kind of on an island just the ten of us down there because we’re so incredibly far away from home being in Capetown, South Africa. We’re each other’s family when we are there. I have never worked with actors who were so enthusiastic to be doing their jobs and so incredibly supportive of one another. Not every day is a good day and whether we have a good day or a bad day, the support is exceptional and it comes all the way from the producers. I have never worked with producers who are so easy to work with and so easy to call and easy to get a hold of. It’s just an incredible really strong family. We protect each other and love each other. The biggest thing is just the sense that we are kind of pirates stranded on a deserted island in a lot of ways. It’s a really kind of comfortable place to be.

Q) What else can you tease about what is to come in Season Two?

A) All I can say is that the stakes are so much higher in Season Two! If you liked Season One, you will love Season Two! I have seen all of it and I just think it is so strong and so wonderful. A lot of history for characters gets revealed. So definitely watch for that! I think, for me, my favorite thing about Season Two is this partnership between Silver (Luke Arnold) and Flint (Toby Stephens)  which to me is the most hilarious dynamic of two characters on television. They hate each other, but they need each other. So, for me, there is a lot of that to be watched in Season Two which is really entertaining. If you have questions, they will be answered!