Mary-Louise Parker on the Joy of Weeds
The Actress Tells Us What It's Like Being Nancy Botwin
by Eric Goldman, IGN, August 8, 2008



If you run through all of the crimes she's committed, the danger she's exposed her children to, and the continually dubious decisions she continues to make, it would be easy to damn Nancy Botwin, the lead character on Showtime's hit comedy Weeds. That's why it's all the more impressive that as played by Mary-Louise Parker, we still like Nancy and can enjoy watching her actions, even as we think, "I can't believe she's doing this¡¦"

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Parker, to find out how she perceives Nancy and also what she thought about the big changes the series has gone through this season.


IGN TV: The show really reinvented itself this year. What did you think when you heard the plan to completely change the location and dynamic?

Mary-Louise Parker: I thought it was kind of brilliant. [Weeds creator] Jenji Kohan came to me and she was like, "How would you feel if we burnt down Agrestic?" I said, "I think that's awesome! Burn it down!" I think that's her genius. I think that's characteristic about what's brilliant about her and what's perverse and awesome about her, is that she's willing to take that kind of chance, you know? And I was just like, "Burn it down!" [Laughs] I love that she did that. I love that about her. And I think it changed everything and gave us our best season yet.

IGN: When she told you that idea, did she have in mind yet where she wanted to take this season?

Parker: Kind of. She knew some of it. But I didn't think it was going to be our best season!

IGN: The audience for the show has gotten bigger each season. How do you think it's been able to keep drawing a larger audience?

Parker: I don't know! I guess they watched it on DVD or something. What do you think?

IGN: Well, I was one of those people who discovered it on DVD after Season 1 and watched them all very quickly, so I definitely think that helps. What's been interesting is watching your character start out just dealing pot, but then her criminal activities have kept growing.

Parker: It gets uglier and uglier.

IGN: When you began the show, did you know that's where it would go?

Parker: No, but I love it, the darker and crazier it gets. I just want it to get uglier and uglier and weirder and nastier.

IGN: Do you think Nancy thinks her actions are justified?

Parker: Oh yeah. I think she justifies all day long and I think everything makes sense in her head, you know?

IGN: At first she tried to keep it from her kids, but now it's all in the open.

Parker: Yeah, because I think to her, she's done the best that she could and she made the decisions that made sense to her in the moment and she just always feels justified. She's one of those people who feels justified in everything that she does. She doesn't have a whole lot of guilt, you know? She's not going to bed at night and going, "F**k, why did I do that?!" I don't think she's like that.

IGN: Do you think it will all catch up to her one day and she'll realize, "Oh my god, I did all this insane stuff"?

Parker: A little, yeah.

IGN: Is the season fairly mapped out when you begin filming?

Parker: Yeah, to some degree. Certain things change, but generally, [Jenji] knows where she's going and where we are heading. She'll let me know the direction of things.

IGN: How was it working with Albert Brooks?

Parker: Amazing. I would just beg him to come back if he would come back. He was so wonderful and everyone loved having him there. I loved him.

IGN: Would you like it if the show could also revisit Heylia and Conrad at some point?

Parker: I would hope so. Romany has a big movie career happening, so it was hard for him to do both. It's okay and it worked for him to not be here. We understand that he needed to go do that, but if he would ever come back, I would just be the happiest person in the world, because I love him with my whole heart. I love Romany, just to the bottom of my soul, I love him.

IGN: It was an interesting dynamic with your characters' relationship. Do you think they had a true emotional bond?

Parker: I think he was the only person she could kind of be herself around and be real with and honest with.

IGN: You've been renewed through Season 6. Is it easier to have that long term commitment with a cable series, because of the shorter schedule?

Parker: > Yeah, it is. It's good to know that I can do both and I can [continue to do] theater.

IGN: Are you still filming Season 4?

Parker: we finished. I'm not working right now. I'm just going to go home and be with my kids.

IGN: Nothing wrong with taking the summer to relax.

Parker: Seriously!