Us Musts

Connie Britton reveals why she fell for her chilling new role

After friends told her about the LA Times’ hit truecrime podcast “Dirty John,” Connie Britton “was immediately pulled in.” But she never imagined she’d be a part of it. Now, in Bravo’s limited-series adaptation (premiering

Nov. 25, 10 p.m.), the Nashville alum, 51, plays Debra Newell, a single mother of two who meets con man John Meehan (portrayed by Eric Bana) and falls head over heels — despite creepy clues that he may be too good to be true: “She’s really relatable — she’s a wonderful human being who sees the best in people” even when those people turn out to be bad. Here, the mom of one shares more about her role with Us.

Q: Why were you drawn to the part?

I always want to play characters that show a different facet of womanhood. This one felt like a departure from a lot of what I’ve done. I was also really interested in what makes her tick.

Q: Have you met the real Debra? I’ve actually spoken to her quite a bit, which was so helpful and important for me to really understand her. She was extremely generous with her time and sharing her experiences.

Q: Do you relate to her at all? I do. She’s nurturing and supportive, and makes sure everybody else is OK.

Q: Why do you think this story works right now? In light of the #MeToo movement, we’re all really looking at how women are treated. And we’re living in a culture where it’s harder and harder to know what the truth is and easier and easier to be conned.