Kristen Gutoskie – Containment

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) How will you be celebrating the premiere of “Containment?”

A) We have all chatted about getting together, but we’ll come up with something interesting. Even if we hang together at someone’s house and having a glass of wine to calm the nerves would be just fine for all of us.

Q) Please tell us the premise for “Containment” and about your character Katie.

A) “Containment” is about a virus that breaks out in Atlanta and what they have to do in order to contain the virus before it spreads to far they cordoned off half the city. You have people who are stuck on the inside and people who are stuck on the inside who are sick. You may be going to work that day and you don’t live in the cordoned area, but you may not be going home. So, it kind of becomes this sheltered world and communication issues arise. They have to race to find the cure while they have a bunch of people in the hot zone of the virus that is very lethal. I play Katie Frank who is an elementary school teacher and is a young mother. Her son, Quentin, is actually in her class. She had him as a teenager and she is a single mother battling for custody with her parents. So, she has a lot of responsibility in her home life and with these kids. She really loves her kids so she’ll protect them before herself. She would put herself in the line of fire to save someone else. She is such a generous spirit and is that way because of all the struggles she has been through. She really hasn’t been able to be about herself. She has had to put her son and her students first. She also has a bit of a dark past. She struggled with addiction and some mental instability so she definitely has her many trials and tribulations, but they have made her a better person. She is kind of the moral compass of the show and in crisis we all act toward our true nature. She actually rises in such a heroic way and I really love this character. I feel so honored to play such a strong, complex, vulnerable woman.

Q) Did the role evolve or change in regards to when you received your original breakdown?

A) There have definitely been a few changes, small changes. Her relationship with her ex was kind of described a little differently. It was an abusive relationship in the breakdown and it kind of evolved into something else throughout the series. In the breakdown, you only get so much. There was a thruline of who Katie was, but different scenarios changed.

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

A) I think my goal with Katie was to not make her a victim. Especially because she was listed in the breakdown as being a victim of abuse, I didn’t want to make her weak in any way. I wanted to make her strong because of what she struggled through. So, what I added was the strength and that it is really strong to be vulnerable. At the end of the day, I tried to be a simple human who is an every day person that people can understand. So, I just had to access what was universal inside of me.

Q) How will character dynamics be shifting throughout the season?

A) There is a lot of relationships that turn around. You have people who are split up. You have Jana (Christina Marie Moses) and Alex (David Gyasi). Alex is outside the court and Jana is stuck inside. So, it definitely puts some strain on their relationship and they kind of have to act in heroes in their own way. I think they gain an independence. Jana and Alex’s relationship definitely takes a turn and some conflict arises, but I think a stronger friendship. With Katie, there are relationships that are developed within the hospital that I find really interesting. She develops a friendship with Jake (Chris Wood) and also an interesting love/hate relationship with Dr. Cannerts (George Young). So, there are new relationships formed from the crisis. And the shift of Katie is coming from a place of having to answer to a mother-in-law who is very involved and doesn’t trust her. Then, it’s finding her power. The irony is that she finds her power in a situation where she is locked up.

Q) What was your favorite episode to film and why?

A) I really loved shooting episode nine. I can’t really tell you much without giving away spoilers, but we got to do a lot of fun stuff. My parents were visiting and I got to show them what I do at work. It was just such a really beautiful episode because there were layers to it. There was a lot of action, but some soft romantic moments.

Q) The show is really wonderfully written by Julie Plec. What like working with writers?

A) The writers were fantastic on the show. They were so collaborative and open to who we developed in the characters. So, they were flexible and they were really beautiful in watching what we chose to do with the characters and with the writing they complimented that. So, there were no egos involved and no one was stuck to what they wrote. It was just a collaborate effort. Julie is amazing! She’s so easy to be around. She knows how to write compelling storylines and relationships, but she was also so open to our point-of-view. If we had an idea of a line or what they character was thinking she was very open to collaborating. So, it was a beautiful experience to work with the writers.

Q) What were your favorite parts of filming in Atlanta?

A) I really loved Atlanta! I liked the people the most. I don’t know if they had a Southern charm, but everyone was really friendly and genuine to me. I just liked the people there. Our stomping grounds were in Mid Park so my favorite thing to do was to take a bike down the Belt Line on a weekend and maybe grab a popsicle at King of Pop. The restaurants were really great. Barcelona was one of our favorite’s I really just liked the people there. Everyone was just so kind and friendly.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will be receiving?

A) Of course I’m nervous! Feedback is always a good thing, but everyone’s perception is their perception. At the end of the day, once you give your piece of art into the world you have to just let it go and understand everyone will have different opinions. I’m just excited to see what moves people because I think every storyline and relationship in this project is so moving and really beautiful. I’m excited to see how it effects people and pulls on their heartstring. Of course, I’m nervous, but you have to take it with a grain of salt and try not to let it get into your head too much.

Q) Will you be sharing any pictures or live tweeting during the episodes?

A) I have looked at the Instagram accounts for people on shows like “The Vampire Diaries” that we met when we were shooting and I noticed that they had a lot of behind the scenes photos that they must have saved up to share over time to tweet on the day next airing. So, I have some pictures stocked in my photo bank and I will be happy to share some of those when the time is right.

Q) What do you really hope fans take away from watching “Containment?”

A) I just hope that they love the characters and the relationship as much as we did. I hope it informs something about their own relationships. That’s what we do as artists, you tell stories and those stories inform the stories being human. I just hope watching these people go through this crisis and in the end it teaches people to love each other more and put the humanity first and not necessarily serve yourself first. Serve others and love others. I think that is heartbeat of the show – love. Love your neighbor. So, I really just want to feel something and maybe want to hug their mom tighter after an episode. Hug your loved one and cherish the people around you because you can lose them so quick because anything can happen.