Making The Sinner was cathartic for Biel

NEW YORK (AP) — As a kid, like a lot of us, Jessica Biel practiced giving a speech in front of a mirror for that fairytale moment when she won a top award.

But unlike most of us, Biel’s moment has a chance to come true – she’s nominated for an Emmy Award for best lead actress in a limited series for her role in The Sinner, the USA Network series that she stars in – and helped bring about as its executive producer.

Her acting path has taken her far. She started out as a teen in the TV series 7th Heaven and has starred in numerous TV and film roles since then. But her biggest role has been as a mom to son Silas with husband Justin Timberlake.

In a recent interview, Biel talked about the satisfaction of bringing The Sinner to the small screen, its dark nature, and escaping with her husband and three-year-old son.

Associated Press: This was your project, you’re the show’s executive producer, so was it extra-sweet?

Biel: I think when you put so much heart and blood, sweat and tears, and you’re there at the beginning and you know you have no idea if this thing’s going to even work, and then it works and it really works. And then not only do you have a great audience response, but your community really loves it and specifically your performance, it’s awesome.

AP: The show is dark. How did you get to those places and sustain it?

Biel: It was definitely the most challenging creative experience – emotional experience – I’ve had at work ever because it was relentless. Honestly it’s hard to describe in words how you get into a place like that. But what I know for sure is that I just felt great compassion for this woman, even though she did something so horrific. I somehow connected with her and related to her

AP: How did you compartmentalize it and go home to your son?

Biel: I thought it was going to be really hard, and it was like my sanctuary, you know? At the end of the day, I could throw it all off on the floor and leave it at work and go home to something very simple. You know what it’s like when you have a two- or three-year-old: food, play, water, change the diaper, take a nap. Things need to be done. There’s no complicated mind games, there’s no complicated emotions . ... And there was something freeing about that.