#INTERVIEW: DEBORAH ANN WOLL ON “MARVEL’S DAREDEVIL”

Deborah Ann Woll gained wide recognition on HBO‘s popular Series TRUE BLOOD as seductive Vampire Jessica Hamby, but her Fanbase is about to multiply exponentially.  Netflix has just released Marvel‘s Daredevil and the feedback from Franchise Fans and Critics alike have  overwhelmingly been positive, praising it for its unflinching grittiness, making many forget a certain 2003 Film Adaptation. Think more The Dark Knight than… Batman & Robin.

Woll was in Toronto recently to promote the new Series and although we always say  that the Talent are nice, she was another level of giving,  providing genuine, articulate answers and still delivering a bright energy despite it having been a long day and our being the last Outlet of the day.  As an example how grounded the New York-born Actress is, she opted to live at home with her Parents instead of on her own while filming Daredevil in her native City.

Woll admittedly isn’t a huge Comic Book Fanatic, although her Boyfriend EJ Scott, played a big part in helping her prepare for her role as Karen Page,  a  kind Woman with a mysterious past who wakes-up to find herself in a pool of blood, framed for murder.  This is where she requires the expertise of Lawyers Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Foggy Nelson (Eldon Henson), who enlist her help as a Secretary. We wonder what it is that drew her to the Role. She says, “Actors are Storytellers at heart. This initially was someone I feel I could stick my tentacles into.” .

She dishes on the  secretive casting process with a notoriously-protective Marvel Entertainment, stating  “We were given sides, not written for the audition process initially”.  “I had an idea but didn’t want to commit too much to it.  I then got called back for a real audition with actual sides, still not being really sure what it really was.”.  She explains,  “As a Woman coming into a Superhero Show, I spoke with the Producers to ensure that Karen will be taken care of in a respectful way.”.

Woll describes her greatest challenge getting into Karen‘s mindspace.  “‘Challenge’ is a good word for Actors. Karen is one big contradiction in that she is very sweet, but likes trouble, running from a mysterious past”, she says. “She’ll be running for a while and with what happens at the end of the first Season, she will have to keep running.”. “Even with People she trusts the most, she can’t tell them what’s true about her. Karen is hiding a ton.”.

On what makes a scene truly magical, she feels “Acting moments that are rich are ones where you play the opposite of something the same time you play something – when you can believe simultaneously that things will never get better and hope at the same time they will get better.”.

Although we don’t know much about the Series’ titular Star Charlie Cox, Woll does shed some light on her Co-Star. “Charlie is a ridiculously wonderful Human Being”, Woll admits. “You sign-on and hope the People you work with will be easy, talented and respectful.”. “From the first day I came in, we were Best Friends right away. He thinks deeply about the part and wants to do something that is great, not just to become a Star.”. She adds, “He already is a Star because he gives it his all.”.

The Actress recalls a recent visit to Australia where  Cox and she made a day of Coffee and the Art Gallery. She said to him, “If we are lucky enough to do this again,  anytime you want to talk about a scene or wanna try anything a little different, I am there.”.  “It is rare to find people that committed.”.

I ask Woll after her turn as Jessica on True Blood whether or not there is any carryover from that Character at all in this new Role.  “If there is any carryover, it is as an Actor what I am working on for myself”, she says. “I think when you take on a Role, you become defensive about them. With Jessica, I was forced to accept her failings. I did not want her to have any failings. I came to Karen wanting to lean into those things. I commit to her not being perfect. I wanted her to be outspoken, determined, pushy – almost to a fault”, explains Woll. “The thing that made her strongest is also her biggest difficulty. I continue work as an Actor and practice that with Karen.”.

Marvel’s DAREDEVIL streams now on Netflix Canada.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)