Exclusive Interview: Martha Millan and Sean Lew Talk The Cleaning Lady Season 2

Martha Millan and Sean Lew are two of the stars of Fox’s hit television series, The Cleaning Lady.

The crime drama follows a whip-smart Cambodian doctor who comes to the U.S. for a medical treatment to save her son, but when the system fails and pushes her into hiding, she uses her cunning and intelligence to fight back, breaking the law for all the right reasons.

Pop Culturalist was lucky to speak with Martha and Sean about Season 2 of The Cleaning Lady, what’s ahead for their characters, and how the show is even darker and more explosive in Season 2!

PC: During the final moments of Season 1, we learned that Marco has taken Luca, which is where we find these characters in Season 2. Martha, for you in particular, Fiona is caught in the middle of this feud between her brother and sister-in-law. You’ve brought so much depth to Fiona as she tries to balance those two relationships. How much fun has it been for you to explore those dynamics? How will they be tested in Season 2?
Martha: For me, it’s emotional bliss whenever you get the script and you see those ups and downs. But yeah, the conflict between my brother and my best friend is a great challenge to explore. Emotionally, you’re being pulled back and forth. It’s a joy to come in every day and pour our hearts into these characters and relationships. This season is going to be even more of a darker, deeper roller coaster for everybody. I’m up for that challenge, and I’m excited.

PC: One of the beautiful things about art, when it’s done right, is its ability to truly depict the world that we live in. The Cleaning Lady has never shied away from tackling timely and relevant themes. And looking at the responses from audiences on social media, this show is bringing families together and creating much-needed visibility. What has it meant for each of you to be a part of a project of this magnitude? Did that bring any pressure heading into Season 2?
Sean: There aren’t enough words to truly explain the feeling that I get knowing that it’s impacting families. Usually with a project, it’s great to watch, and it’s always nice to know that it’s funny, intense, or scary. But to know that it’s impacting lives, that’s why I started to do this in the first place. To know that that is happening is the biggest reward of all. It motivates me to want to continue to do this for my entire life. I get to do it with such great people. I feel like I’m dreaming while awake. It’s crazy.

Martha: I’m on the same page as Sean. This show is unapologetic in terms of the authenticity, representation, and diversity that it showcases. These days we’re exposed to so many different cultures. Because of different mediums and social media, people understand that they want that authenticity. It’s like when you travel. People want to dive in and deeply explore a particular culture because these days we’re all more educated and more worldly in terms of the content that’s needed. That’s what this show really brings out.

Sean: I feel like we’re in a moment of saturation where everything feels similar.

Martha: Formulaic.

Sean: The Cleaning Lady goes against any formula. It’s unexpected. As extreme as it is, it’s what’s needed. It’s also what’s refreshing to watch.

PC: One of the great things about television as a medium is this opportunity to continue to flesh out these characters. For each of you, what’s one thing that you’re really excited about further diving into with your character as you head into Season 2?
Martha: Definitely the relationship between Chris and Fiona. Obviously, with the incident that happens, it’s going to go into a darker world. I think what I’m most interested in is crossing over to the other side of this world.

Sean: Me too.

Martha: You’re going to see how these worlds start to collide—and do collide. That was another challenge, and it was exciting because in real life I don’t get to see these other actors. Now everything is crossing over, and I’m getting to meet all of them and build new dynamics. It’s a whole new world that you’re going to see. It’s a darker world.

Sean: It’s so much darker. I’ve been itching and dying to step into that world. When I do start to meet the other cast members, I acted as if I’ve never seen them before. [laughs] I’m literally like, “Hi.” It’s like meeting a celebrity. But I did meet them in the first season because I was cooking for them. It was so casual. I’m pretty sure they looked at me like I wasn’t part of the show. [laughs] This time, I’m not wearing my chef’s hat. I’m next to my trailer and I’m like, “Hi!” They’re like, “Oh, hi!” I’m like, “This is cool.”

PC: The show continues to shock and surprise fans. Without giving any spoilers, what was your initial reaction when you read the twist that happens at the end of 201?
Sean: I actually read the script while on a set for a different show. I was sitting down, and I read all the lines. I stood up, and there was definitely a lot of heavy dog panting and then just silence. My heart was beating faster than I could imagine.

Martha: Oh my God. I had the same reaction except I vocalized it. I was like, “No way. What?” I knew that was going to be the tone for the whole season. It’s going to be a lot darker, but we’re still highlighting the issues that we explored in Season 1 and the difficulties that undocumented people face in terms of getting what they need and the bare necessities, but it’s encapsulated with that entertainment value as well.

PC: Sean, the last time we spoke, you said that you were really excited by the endless possibilities of where your character could go, but I can’t imagine you could have predicted what the writers and showrunners had planned for Chris. How rewarding is it for you as an actor to know that the team behind the show trusts you with this delicate storyline? How’s playing Chris pushed you as an artist?
Sean: When I tell you that anytime I go onto set and I run through a scene, the first thing that I immediately do is eye the writers. I can’t tell you how much I truly care about and respect the writers in a way that I want them to feel proud of their work. They’re giving me such a strong role this season. I care so much about making sure that I’m portraying it in the way that they had envisioned. When I said endless possibilities, I truly meant endless because this was one of the possibilities that I would never have expected.

To know that everyone that’s a part of the team has contributed to this storyline and looked deeper into Chris’ life, as well as his relationship with his mom, it’s really a dream. It sounds cheesy, but every day I wake up and I think about it in a way where I’m like, “What can I do to learn more about Chris? What more can I do to make sure that I’m doing justice to the way that Chris is in the show as well as the way that he is with his mom?” My relationship with Martha is so natural. It’s not even something I have to think too much about because that’s the one thing I can always depend on.

Make sure to follow Martha (Twitter/Instagram) and Sean (Instagram). Season 2 of The Cleaning Lady premieres on September 19 at 9/8c on Fox.

Photo Credit: Kurt Iswarienko/FOX