Nicole Brydon Bloom Reflects on the Challenge of Judging Jane in ‘Paradise’
Actress Nicole Brydon Bloom of Paradise has found herself captivated by Punch Monkey, a seven-month-old baby macaque at a Japanese zoo who gained internet fame after being seen cuddling an orangutan plushie following his mother’s abandonment. Unlike many who view the situation from a distance, Bloom sees a profound connection between the primate’s quest for love and acceptance and the character she portrays, Jane.
Jane, a key member of the Secret Service in Paradise, embodies cold ruthlessness, stopping at nothing to safeguard her and Sinatra’s (Julianne Nicholson) relentless pursuit of power. The sixth episode of Season 2, titled “Jane,” delves into the complexities of her character, revealing the motivation and backstory that shape her into a formidable force.
In a recent interview, Bloom discussed Jane’s traumatic past, her training with the CIA, and how these elements intertwine with Sinatra’s broader ambitions within the series.
DEADLINE: Some actors have discussed their entryway into a character necessitating a level of empathy and understanding, even when they’re playing an antagonist — the idea that you can’t play someone unless you lack judgment. I’m curious if that’s how you approach Jane.
Bloom expressed her commitment to this empathetic approach: “I think that’s definitely how I wanted to approach it because I think judging her would almost be too easy. It was interesting though, because I think it was easier to play her before the reveal of truly how evil she is. Coming back for Season 2, and having our directors be like, ‘OK, now this is the sweet version of Jane,’ I felt more removed from it because I knew people had such strong opinions. I think there’s humanity in hopefully every character that you play, even if they struggle with severe forms of mental illness, which Jane kind of confirms.”
What was your reaction to the standalone episode when you got that script? Did you know her backstory in Season 1, or was it a shock to you?
“It was a surprise to me. I had always sort of assumed there was some type of abuse in her past that would have led her to either being born a psychopath or forced into that from trauma,” Bloom revealed. She noted that the show’s creator, Dan Fogelman, had mentioned working on an episode that explores Jane’s origins, which heightened her anticipation. “Reading it was one thing, but then I had a chance to watch the episode and see the actors playing my mom and young Jane, and it was just so informative.”
What can you say about the email spam warning about Jane being a killer, and how that’s possible?
“Yes. It’s one of those things that was meant to provide answers, and we’re just left with more questions,” she commented, hinting at the unresolved threads in Jane’s storyline. “It creates this weird thing of like, ‘OK, was Jane destined to be evil? Was she cursed? Or was this traumatizing experience so jarring for her mother that it made her mother reject her?’”
Bloom drew parallels between Jane’s experiences and Punch Monkey’s story, emphasizing the lasting impact of maternal abandonment: “Being abandoned by your mother is so traumatizing… what we see in Jane’s backstory is a deep feeling of rejection.”
To your point, Jane’s always seeking to align herself with the most powerful person, which is usually Sinatra. What drives her to do that?
The actress noted that Jane’s motivations encompass multiple factors: “Partly she’s studying the people around her, particularly those in power… how does this lack of a mother figure play into her desire to please these women in power in her life?” She praised working alongside Nicholson, likening the collaborative interplay to practice in a game of tennis, stating, “You always get better when you’re playing against someone who’s a better player.”
Going back to Sinatra as a symbol of the motherly love Jane never received, there are also parallels with her CIA mentor.
“There’s a telling line in one of the conversations where I asked her why she picked me to champion. I think it speaks to Jane’s desire to be chosen, revealing a crack in her façade.” Bloom reflected on how Jane believes she is acting protectively, despite her lack of emotional depth, and misinterprets others’ reactions to her actions.
Did you draw inspiration from any famous antagonists in media, or is Jane entirely singular to you?
“I don’t know that I directly pulled from anything,” Bloom said, although she mentioned being a fan of The Americans. “Jane is very singular in some ways, but I tried to imagine who I would be in her position. I think being able to tap into psychology helps in understanding that most psychopaths learn to study others very well and often hide behind façades of normalcy.”
This interview has been condensed and edited for concision and clarity.
