Exclusive: Justified Star Joelle Carter Talks Ava Crowder, Being Bad-Ass, The Hat, and Previews Season Two

By: Adam Wright

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Have you ever heard about a series, but didn’t get to catch it when it first aired? That’s what happened to me and the FX series Justified.

On one Saturday, I sat down and watch the complete first season, and I have to say it’s one of my personal favorite shows now.

As a new fan, it was especially an honor to talk to one of its stars. Joelle Carter plays the sexy yet badass Ava Crowder on the hit series. More on that during this interview. Enjoy.

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Adam: Justified debuted with an audience of 4.2 million, which was the highest debut on FX since The Shield. That’s pretty impressive for a Cable network. When you first joined the series and read the script, did you know it was going to be this big?

Joelle: I had no idea if the show would be a success or not. I loved Elmore Leonard’s writing and Mr. Yost left the shooting script with a gritty, raw feel and a nice reality.  I knew I was in love with the role of Ava and I was very excited to be playing opposite Timothy Olyphant.

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Adam: The show is described as a modern-day Western, but I think it’s so much more. Really something original about the show. Tell me what do you think makes Justified so original?

Joelle: I guess that goes back to the grit/reality I was talking about. The writers and cast trying to create real, modern day people you can relate to in a kind of Western subliminal setting. Tim does play a loner that wears a hat and wanders into new towns fighting for the justice he’s made for himself. Therefore you can’t deny the modern day Western idea of the show. I mean there are damsels in distress, bad guys and good guys. So, yes it is a modern day western. What makes it stand out is the relationships Timothy’s character has to deal with. The desire to flee and the addiction to stay and play the game by the rules and sometimes, not by the rules. The humor the cast and writers try to keep in all aspects of the show. The environment and the characters that all seem to be multi-dimensional. We have flaws and sometimes you love us and sometimes you hate us and sometimes you aren’t sure how you feel. I love it!

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Adam: You play the role of Ava Crowder. What was your initial reaction to the character?

Joelle: LOVED HER, I still do. A vulnerable victim that becomes a survivor who sets herself free and doesn’t know where to go. Like us all.

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Adam: She’s one the strongest female leads on TV I think. First she kills her husband, and then by the end of the season she’s carrying around a shot-gun (laughs). Ava is pretty bad-ass! Must be fun to play that sort of character is it?

Joelle: It is a hoot. I love that she is so fragile in one moment and a lioness in the next. She has a lot of mystery that has barely been tapped. Thank you to our writers!

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Adam: The whole show is bad-ass, especially Raylan Givens (played by Timothy Olyphant). What is it like to work with Timothy and his character?

Joelle: You know, it’s always hard working with pretty boys… not! (laughs) Seriously, he is one of the nicest leading men I have met in this business. He comes to work ready to play and improve and find the best scene. He is filled with ideas and knowledge from being in the industry so long. Tim is always willing to give ideas and hear input. He definitely wants the show to be the best it can be and it shows. He’s not just a face on the show he really is invested. It puts a standard out there for everyone else to live up to. Don’t tell him I said so though. Let’s keep the ego in check.

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Adam: I call Raylan the “Southern Jack Bauer” (laughs) What do you think?

Joelle: Yes Sir!

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Adam: The show is so well acted, including Walton Goggins’ portrayal of Boyd Crowder. He’s definitely one of the most believable villains on TV. Tell me about your scenes with him. And watching the series again on TV, what did you think of Boyd?

Joelle: I think I might love Boyd’s character as much as I love AVA … maybe? He is given such complex stuff to juggle and performs it with such ease. I feel like Walton finds the deep truth in his characters and plays them full-hearted and it is wonderful to watch and a privilege to be a part of a scene with him. I am a lucky girl.

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Adam: I wanted to bring up one of my favorite characters on the show. It’s been a highlight of the series. Of course, I’m talking about….the hat! (laughs) Tell me about this hat; is it always the same one? Is it sacred on the set? How big is its dressing room? (laughs). Seriously though, the viewers think the hat is awesome.

Joelle: The HAT. Oooh. Well, we have learned that a true cowboy only lays his hat upside down. That keeps its shape. Impressive hmmmmm? It has its very own caretaker and is one of the best looked after hats in the business since Charlie Chaplin. I would like to name it for second season. I meant to get a picture and an autograph but was a little intimidated.

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Adam: Have you ever tried it on? (laughs)

Joelle: No, I will try in the second season when no ones looking. (laughs)  I will send you a picture. Erica Tazel got to try it on in an episode. I think she could pull it off though.

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Adam: In the end of season 1, we saw the showdown between Boyd, his dad, the drug circulations, and Raylan. And you were right in the middle of it. Tell me about the awesomely chaotic season finale.

Joelle: Well, let’s see – there were 15 shootings and 13 deaths.  Don’t quote me, but I know it was something crazy like that. I was very happy not to receive any bullet holes or to have any graves dug for Ava.  I was thrilled to be in the mix. The scene Tim, Walton and I shot when were trapped in the cabin was pretty intense. They rigged the whole cabin with small explosives to make it look like we were being sprayed with bullets. They basically had one take to get the shot. The three of us were told to cover our heads and close our eyes. I must say, there wasn’t a whole lot of acting required. As soon as the director yelled ‘action’, the room was torn apart and I dug my head in deep and didn’t look up till I heard ‘cut’. It was pretty exciting.

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Adam: The last we saw of Ava, she ran in the woods with Boyd. Boyd left you in the woods (so he says) and went after the drug circulators. When Season Two starts, can you tell us where we kick-off?

Joelle: I hope with Ava taking over the whole town. HA!  I really have no clue. I guess I can tell you the ending was shot a few ways. I actually came out of the woods in one take and I am there with Rylan when the screen goes to black. I kind of like the way it actually ended though; much more mysterious.

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Adam: Ava, Raylan, and his ex are in this sort of love-triangle. Will this continue in season two?

Joelle: I think they would be crazy not to continue it. What juicy conflict.

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Adam: What can we expect from Ava in Season Two? And try to use the word “bad-ass” in your answer (laughs).

Joelle: Oh, I really like you. I am voting for some bad-ass loving, serious black mailing, blurry-eyed decision making with a little gun slinging and an unpredictable outcome.

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Adam: To those who haven’t tuned in yet to Justified, give the readers one phrase to convince them why they should tune in to Season two.

Joelle: Sitting on the edge of your seat story telling with gritty real and sometimes sexy characters you love to hate and hate to love, topped with a hat. COME ON PEEPS YOU GOT TO CHECK THAT OUT!

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Adam: Finally, I ask this to all my interviewees. What have you been watching lately?

Joelle: BREAKING BAD and I am in LOVE with the skills of everyone on that show especially Mr. Bryan Cranston.

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Special thanks to Joelle for taking the time to answer these questions. You can catch her and the rest of the very talent cast when season two of Justified premieres this fall on FX.

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Posted by Adam Wright on July 7, 2010. Filed under Features, News, Preview. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry