Pop-Culturalist.com

Jill Morrison solidified her place in pop culture history as the iconic “She doesn’t even go here” girl in a small film you may have heard of called Mean Girls. Since then, she’s continued to strike gold with credits in The L Word, Psych, When Calls the Heart, iZombie, Van Helsing, and Supergirl, to name a few. Currently, she can be seen in the female-driven narrative Motherland: Fort Salem, airing now on Freeform. Pop Culturalist caught up with Jill to chat about her latest role and her journey as an artist.

PC: You’re starring in the new sci-fi drama/thriller Motherland: Fort Salem. Tell us about the series, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Jill: I love saying that I am in a female-empowering show. When I first read my audition lines—one of the scenes where Berryessa Tansey is instructing the girls on obtaining pleasure for power—I loved it. It was so juicy and tantalizing. The show has many layers. It dives into long-standing rivalry and competition, the aftermath of war, the fear of war, friendship, loyalty, and strength. Berryessa is strong because she has been there before. She’s battled and worked her way to where she is. I really relate to that as a woman and a teacher when I’m trying to help guide young actors.

PC: Motherland: Fort Salem follows three powerful women who are coming into their own. What was your journey like becoming an artist?
Jill: My journey as an artist is continuous. What fascinates me about the craft of acting is how I can keep learning and growing in it and discovering new sides of myself. I take acting classes once a week, always, to keep progressing as an artist. My journey really has corresponded with my life journey—building my self-esteem, figuring out how I might tick so that I can bring my best self into the audition room. I have really had to learn to trust my work and to keep trying for excellence. I have made a lot of mistakes, and I really learned from them.

PC: Who or what has been the biggest influence on your career?
Jill: I would say the movie Mean Girls because it has opened many doors for me. I would also say my theatrical training has given me a strong voice and sense of storytelling and spontaneity. And thirdly, I would say my family. In the early years, they helped me a lot so I could be truly dedicated to my auditions.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Jill: I think when I was working on the sitcom Package Deal. It was always surreal when we would be in front of a live audience and they would say my name and I would come out and they would cheer. It was my dream come true. And it was weird and also wonderful.

PC: Berryessa is very much a mentor to the three main protagonists in the series. She’s there to guide and nurture them. Who was that person in your career?
Jill: That is the part I love so much about Berryessa. I wish I had someone older guiding me, but not really. But I have had people in my life who have helped me immensely. My dear friend Judy Lee—a casting director—helped me many times try to figure it out, and she’s also been my cheerleader. And when I have questions about the business, she has always been there for me. I teach acting as well, and a big part of what I teach is the mistakes I made—and the mistakes I didn’t make. I really learned a lot through trial and error.

PC: Eliot Laurence has been developing this world for over a decade. What was it like working alongside him? What was that collaboration like?
Jill: Eliot was extremely warm to me right from the beginning. I know they had spent quite a bit of time trying to cast Berryessa. I think he was excited about me because I brought a sense of humor to Berryessa. The show has a lot of serious topics, so this was needed, I believe. I think because I was able to stay realistic in that comedy and not overdo it, he was happy. Berryessa is very important to Eliot. He would talk extensively to me about her but would not micromanage my performance or anything but allowed me to be free within the understanding of Berryessa. He was very interactive with everybody—always very kind and fun. And I think that will show with the production.

PC: With the show tackling so many timely and relevant themes, which one resonated with you the most?
Jill: How often the world has to turn to violence. How it’s the last thing the witches want but have little choice. How entitled we are and how that entitlement can be our greatest enemy. And how we must face this as a unit. If one falls, we all fall. How relevant in our current environment. Everything is being ripped up from under us, and we have to be ready.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Jill: Little Women: L.A.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Jill: Legally Blonde

PC: Favorite book?
Jill: Little Women

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Jill: Les Misérables and Romeo and Juliet

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jill: The Beatles. I have loved them since I was wee.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Jill: Patricia Arquette

To keep up with Jill, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch new episodes of Motherland: Fort Salem every Wednesday at 8/7c on Freeform.