INTERVIEW: ‘The Purge’ offers social commentary amidst harsh violence
Photo: From left, Hannah Anderson stars as Jenna, and Colin Woodell stars as Rick in The Purge, the new TV series on USA Network. Photo courtesy of Patti Perret/USA Network / Provided by NBC Media Village with permission.
The Purge continues to gather audiences for its biting social commentary about violence in United States society. The successful movie franchise had a recent summer hit at the movie theaters, and now a new TV show adaptation has debuted on USA Network.
The premise for the TV show is similar to the movies: On one night per year, for exactly 12 hours, all crime in the United States becomes legal. That means folks can head to the street and steal goods, beat up foes and even kill enemies. Families typically stay indoors and lock up the house (of course, those locks never seem to work!), and other curious onlookers head out in groups and gangs to see what all the fuss is about.
On the new TV show, which premieres new episodes Tuesdays at 10 p.m., Hannah Anderson plays the character of Jenna. She is billed as an anti-Purger devoted to charitable causes. On Purge Night, she normally locks down, but this year is a little different.
Anderson is an accomplished actor who will soon be seen in the new X-Men movie, New Mutants. Other credits include Jigsaw, What Keeps You Alive and The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Anderson about her new role on the TV adaptation. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How did you become attached to The Purge TV series?
I was in L.A. throwing my hat in the ring for pilot season, and it was one of my first auditions. I had a callback the next day and then tested for it a month and a half later. The waiting was agony, but it was all worth it.
Were you a fan of the movies before signing up for the role?
Apparently I was living under a rock because I had no idea the movies even existed. Horror is not usually my thing. Jump scares? Forget about it. Reading the pilot, however, without any preconceived notions, made the concept really stand out for me. It’s just a little too close to reality.
How would you describe your character of Jenna?
Jenna is altruistic and pure of heart. That’s not to say she doesn’t have her own downfalls. She’s tough when she needs to be, and she loves hard, at times to her own detriment. But ultimately, I think her anti-Purge sensibilities are a breath of fresh air in this Purge-driven world.
There are many societal and political metaphors found in The Purge franchise. What do you think this story says about the United States in 2018?
I think it says we have a lonnnnnng way to go, and we better hurry up.
How difficult was the production process on season one?
This is the hardest and most rewarding job I’ve ever done — physically, mentally, and emotionally. I started to take on what was happening to my character, which I’ve never really experienced before. I feel like I started this series as one person and ended it as another. And so did Jenna.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Purge continues with new episodes Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on USA Network. Click here for more information.
