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Q&A - Krysten Ritter (Jane Margolis)
The actress discusses falling in love in real life and on television, going to heroin school and witnessing her own death in AMCtv.com's exclusive interview.
Q: Did you know your character would die when you signed onto the show?
A: Yes. I didn't know beat for beat what was going to go down, I just knew it was going to be good! People were like, "Oh my God they killed you!" But I feel like if you're going to go out, you should go out with a bang.
Q: You recently played an addict in The Last International Playboy (Frost). How did that character compare to Jane?
A: It's so funny, I'm either doing comedy or playing heroin addicts! I think people think of me for these kinds of roles because I'm pale and I'm naturally thin and I have black hair. With Last International, my character was very young and in the party scene, just dabbling and falling off a little bit. She gets help right away. Dealing with somebody who's been battling this for ten years is so much different. And as soon as Jane starts doing heroin the monster is unleashed, and you see why she stopped doing it. It's like Jekyll and Hyde. I wanted to bring a sense of tragedy and real life to Jane.
Q: We see Jane go to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Did you ever visit a real meeting to prepare?
A: I went back and forth with that, and asked some opinions from friends. My plan was to go, and I found a meeting that my friend had gone to, but I felt like it was going to be disrespectful. Like, "Oh, I'm an actress, I'm going to show up and observe you people." I felt it was a little sh--ty. I've had some people in my life that have had problems with drugs, and we had a former addict who was there to help us and show us the steps. He also taught us how to cook heroin, because I had to cook it like I was surgeon. So I was cooking heroin between every single take -- we'd cut and it would be like, "OK Krysten, go back to heroin school!"
Q: You've starred in several romantic comedies. Did your experience playing a character that falls in love on Breaking Bad differ from those movies?
A: This character arc was so much more real than the romantic comedies. They show the little intimate moments where people are getting to know each other, and falling in love and sharing things about each other. And then getting to the point where you don't know if you're in a relationship or not, and how do you know to still be cool. This part came to me in a really perfect time when I was falling in love in my real life, and I was bringing a lot of that to Jane. So I was getting to play real love with Aaron Paul.
Q: You get the sense that Jane had a fairly rebellious youth. Is that something you went through?
A: Absolutely. Growing up in a small town, I was really bored and I didn't have anything that was just mine -- something that I could be proud of for myself. Then, luckily, I was scouted at the mall and I got to travel the world. But before that I was bored. And that's a dangerous thing for young people. And I could see how easy turning to drugs or anything out of boredom can be.
Q: Was it difficult for you to film your own death scene?
A: Playing dead and hearing peoples' reactions around you is really f---ed up. There were a few takes where I had to stop because it was too overwhelming. A lot of the crew weren't able to watch the choking scene, just because it's a person and you're watching it happen and it's just so real and authentic. It was very technical as well -- I couldn't tell when Bryan Cranston was doing his thing, so it was like, "OK, you're going to count this many beats, then do this, then do this." When I first saw it, I had a hysterical laughter fit because it made me so uncomfortable. My baby sister is 12 and I didn't want her to see it, but she did. She said, "Kryssy, it made me really uncomfortable, but I know it's not real." My mom, on the other hand, won't talk about it. She's like, "You were great, you were really good; I can't talk about it any more." And then you hear her getting really choked up.
Q: Well maybe you can come back and haunt Walt.
A: [Laughs] I wouldn't be surprised.
Be sure to also check out the interview with the actor who plays Jane's boyfriend: Aaron Paul.
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Express-News Calls Breaking Bad Best TV Show Ever; Cranston Walks Globes Red Carpet
Plus, Wired chooses Walter White as one of the best fictional scientists, and Cranston talks to Access Hollywood about working with Tom Cruise.
Video - Sneak Peek of Bryan Cranston's Appearance on The Mortified Sessions
Bryan Cranston's episode premieres Mon., Jan. 30 at 8PM | 7C on Sundance Channel.
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Hello ms Ritter, I would like to congratulate you for your wonderful performance, when your character first came on, I was'nt sure it would lead to a romantic involment with Jesse as you're way too beautiful to fall for the looser he plays, you remind me of Betty Page with your stunning looks, never the less the chemistry worked quite good, I kept saying to my self , look at that lucky bastard, any ways hope to see you back on the big or small screen again , best of luck to you
hi Jane im not trying to hate on your character, but Jane was a bad inffluence on Jesse, yo his my boy lol, but Jane you fine and your character was well played, i like the gothic look u have.peace.gurl
Bummer I loved your addition to the cast....oh yeah did I mention you are super HOT!!!
I forgot to mention your pale skin and black hair....yeah I love that!
I loved your character, of Jane & was sorry to see, her die...it seemed so real... =(
Really wanted to see more, of Jane & Jesse, as you & Aaron made their relationship, convincingly heart-warming & sweet!
Superb acting!!! Hope to see more roles, for you, in the future...and, God Bless!
Whoa...wait!!! =O
Are you saying, that you & Aaron, are together in real life?!? =)
Awwwww!!! I'm so happy for ya'll!
(Sorry, if that's a misunderstanding, on my part...
Still hope you have a happy life, with whoever you're with!)
I hope Jesse kicks Walt's ass for letting you die ;)
The intro of your character, Jane, was a happy day for a lot of Jesse fans. You were qutie controversial - a real love/hate for Jane on the forum. Sorry you weren't meant to last, but enjoyed Jane immensely even when she went bad under the drugs. Nice acting. RIP Jane Margolis.
Wow. When Walt asked Jesse "how can I know she will keep quiet", Jane didn't let Jesse answer and she unleashed a line that, prophetically, and tragically, sealed her fate. No thank you. No acknowledgement that Walter "did Jesse right".
Krysten Ritter, that was awesome! Along with the other scenes with Jane, the script gave you little time to draw us into the dark relationshps that form in the drug world. But you did it!!!!
Even though I never cared for the character, Krysten played her to perfection. I loved the little stare-down with Walt at her moment of death. It just made it seem all the more real and haunting and was a final screw with his head. WTG!
Also, I'm glad to hear of Krysten's respectful treatment of the members of NA. That sets her apart from many others, I think.
In my next life, I want my landlady to be Krysten Ritter! You are a living doll and I will miss you. Were you really a farm girl and then a model? You have the longest legs! Good luck with whatever comes next.
You performed the part of Jane very well. I didn't turn on the character until she got Jesse using the needle. Again great performance and I wish you the best in your career...
Ms. Ritter-
Thank you for this interview, and for your exceptional contribution to 'Breaking Bad'. Your performance, especially in the final scene of 'Phoenix', was incredible. I'm sorry that your run was so short here, and wish you much success in your blossoming career!
Ray
Krysten Ritter will get oscars some day. I hope her career explodes and we get to see more of her amazing talent.
thank you
i didnt trust jane at all i thought she was goin to eff jesse up big time. Take the money and run and shit so it was good news that she died.
btw what a hottie
I hope Walt uses Jane's death as a wake up call to get Jesse cleaned up. The finale is going to be tough on everyone I think. It would be interesting if Jesse get's himself in shape for season three and lays off the Funyun's.
Hopefully, your character will save real lives by portraying the horrible waste of beauty, youth and intelligence ("...mind is a terrible thing to...") caused by drug abuse in our society. The character's father, Donald, should have really laid down the law on Jane going to rehab TODAY!
"Jane was a bad inffluence on Jesse"? Jane was clean until she met Jesse.
I'm watching this one over right now. Walt with his baby. "Not on her tummy, lay her on her side. In case she want's to do a little spit up." (So tender.) Walt is dead to me now.
Jane was laying on her side until Walt came in and started shaking the bed, making everyone nauseous. I hope Q finds out about it and kills Walt, shoot him up and make him OD.
I love this show.
Man Janes death realy touched home I had a aunt die the same way from herion. This show is spot on at portraying the underworld of drugs. I've seen alot of the stuff from breaking bad first hand in real life. Hard to belive but this stuff actualy happens.
Man Janes death realy touched home I had a aunt die the same way from herion. This show is spot on at portraying the underworld of drugs. I've seen alot of the stuff from breaking bad first hand in real life. Hard to belive but this stuff actualy happens.
Excellent work, Krysten. Very convincing! The "heroin school" paid off :) Shame they killed of Jane so quick though.
Jane quickly became my favorite part of the show. Yeah Walt, you're going to die, break bad, screw it all. But letting this pretty little thing die was unforgetable. I hope she does come back to haunt Walt until he's crazy (just to keep her on the show).
I actually was reading something on Lucy Gordon and came accross a clip of the Last International Playboy and reconized Krysten Ritter. That brought me back here.
It looks like it will be a good movie.
Yeah you are TOTALLY HOT!! I fell in love with your character and I thought to myself man this bitch is really good and then she starts going down the drain. And then last episode I saw you choking to death very dramatic end for such an evil hottie! =( I hope to see more of you in the future Kyrsten good luck with your acting!
skank!
jk.
beautiful and deadly, always a catch 22.
couldnt help but love you and hate you at the same time......so i guess that means .....mission accomplished.
infinitegurl
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I was pissed when they killed you but your character was a ho, just using Jesse for the money. Can't have snitches in the ranks, so it was better that you died on your own without making someone kill you.
Anway, you got a great ass, and its sad to see your ass go. I mean your character, yeah, your character...
helicopter bitch!
would be nice if ms Ritter would stick her nose in from time to time and just say hi, because i for one, miss her
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jesse could kill walt
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