SECRETS & LIES
Elizabeth Perkins plays the woman who knows too much on ‘Sharp Objects’
SHARP OBJECTS Sunday, 9 p.m., HBO
WHEN newspaper reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) returns home to report on a double murder in Wind Gap, Mo., in the HBO limited series “Sharp Objects,” she meets a lot of people who have known her since she was a child. One old friend, Jackie (Elizabeth Perkins), becomes her confidante. She weaves in and out of the story, intimating that she knows everything about how Camille’s sister Marian (Lulu Wilson) died so young. Seeing how she is also the town drunk, Jackie doesn’t present the most respectable image. As we get closer to realizing that Camille’s mother, the high-fashion monster Adora (Patricia Clarkson), has been plagued by an illness that fatally affected her judgment, all of Jackie’s secrets spill out.
Elizabeth Perkins, 57, who memorably played Mary-Louise Parker’s neighbor on “Weeds” for many seasons, spoke to The Post from LA, where she is filming her new Apple TV series, “Are You Sleeping.” This is a pivotal role in a very disturbing story. Why did you want to play Jackie? Because it was Patricia Clarkson and Amy Adams. I would have played the gardener to share the screen with them. And the whole project was female-centric. [Author] Gillian Flynn. [Screenwriter] Marti Noxon. We’re showing a lead character who’s deeply flawed. The [movie] studios will only make films where the female is heroic or totally positive. The good side of the female psyche. It’s rare to be involved in something that goes into the underbelly. What time of the day does Jackie start drinking? Is she soused all day?
Mornings. She’s an alcoholic and a pill popper. I don’t think she walks very much. She squashing a lot of pain and knowledge. And a lot of secrets. Which may or may not be answered in Episode 8. What is Jackie’s exact relationship to Adora? Are they friends?
They are frenemies. They grew up together. Adora has a lot of money. Adora has children. Jackie has been in Camille’s life since the day she was born. She was at Marian’s funeral. She’s been on the scene for a very long time. She was probably closer with Adora in the past until a lot of stuff went down. If Jackie could, she would expose everything. Why did Jackie stay in Wind Gap, Mo.?
Jackie lives alone. Jackie has no husband. No children. She’s sort of alone in her pain. Adora has such a hold over her. She’s kind of trapped there. Jackie played a part in Marian’s demise or merely covered it up. She knows everything. What would propel somebody not to reveal it? Psychological blackmail.