Audrey Wasilewski plays Anita Olson Respola, a devout Catholic who both supports and resents her sister Peggy's efforts to get her life back on track after a fateful mistake. She talks to AMCtv.com about her own Catholicism, costume constrictions, and getting an earful from angry viewers.

Q: Anita's Catholicism is a major part of her character. Have you drawn on your own religious upbringing for this role?

A: I am indeed the product of a Catholic upbringing, and it helps to get inside Anita. There are so many deep flashbacks, the minute you start the act of contrition or any of the prayers, a whole bunch of stuff comes flooding back. My Catholic education, the early years of my upbringing, were close to post-Vatican II when things got a little more progressive, a little more Father Gil.

Q: There was a lot of buzz online about whether the baby in Episode 1 is Peggy's or not. When did you know?

A: I knew as much as any fan of the show and couldn't wait for the next episode so I could find out what was going on! It wasn't just the Internet, people would come up to me, friends and strangers, and share with me their very intricate theories as to whose baby it really is and how that all happened. So I had no inside scoop! All the details of that were delivered to me the same way as anybody else -- my living room.

Q: You and Myra Turley, who plays your mom, have done a ton of TV work. Have you ever worked with her -- or any of the other cast members -- before?

A: I had never worked with her before, but she was one of the first people I met when I moved to LA years ago. I've always kept an eye on her work and been such a fan. So when I walked into the room for the table reading and saw she was there, it was just such a great feeling, like, "OK, I've never worked with anybody else, but I know you and at least I have a crutch here to hang onto." It's frightening how much she embodies my grandmother as I remember her: The beehive hairdo, and she was a tough cookie.

A: What's it like acting alongside Elisabeth Moss?

Q: She is so special. She has this wonderful, indescribable quality that makes her different than any other actresses in her age range. She's so accessible, just a sweetheart, and I was so thrilled that when I was in New York, I got to see her in Speed-the-Plow. She was fantastic, and that was great casting that brought her magical essence to the story.

Q: Your look on the show isn't exactly the glamour of Joan or Betty. Is there any costume envy going on?

A: [Feigned gasp] OK, I personally don't have the glamour that either January or Christina naturally have. But I love my costumes. The suit I wear on Palm Sunday, and my little Easter dress, what I love is that whatever I wear to church, I don't wear for Sunday. Like, I go home and get changed when the priest comes over, which is such a wonderful detail. The clothes are like a time machine that sends you back the minute you put on the girdle and the garter and the stockings and getting hoisted in this crazy bra. I have this whole new appreciation for my mom, and for the phrase, "I'm going to slip into something more comfortable."

Q: Your character is shocked by Peggy's behavior. Is there anything that shocked you while watching the series?

A: It's so well written that there are at least two or three good shocks per episode. The ones that stay with me are Duck and Chauncey. No, don't take it out on the dog! Every time Don and Bobbie get together, something shocking happens. I loved being shocked by Betty and her shotgun. That was a lasting image.

Q: You've had a recurring role in Big Love that also features another AMC regular, Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad. Have you had any scenes with Paul?

A: I have never worked with Paul, but he is crazy talented, and unrecognizable from one show to the other. Once I figured that out and shared that with other people everyone would say, "No, that's not the same guy!" And Breaking Bad is so good!

Q: You've got a pretty fancy website (audreywasilewski.com). Do fans of the show ever contact you online?

A: I'm a little bit technology challenged and new to the whole website thing, but I built that because I do a lot of voiceover work and use it as the place to post my demo reels. So I haven't really used it to its full potential, and I don't have anything for people to leave messages. But I do get stopped on the street and gotten hugged and cursed at by strangers.

Q: Cursed at?

I love the people who say, "Oh, you betrayed your sister! You're such a bitch!" Then there are other people who are like, "Oh, you broke my heart, I could see you were just torn up about this." I love that people are watching and are moved to talk about it.