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Her initial frame of reference for Jones was late-night talk shows.
Most of all, I remember how brutally made fun of she was.
She was very excited to hear what Jones herself had to say about watchingAmerican Crime Story: Impeachment.
I know you did a lot of preparation to play Paula.
That was really important.
But really the most important thing in any character youre working on is figuring out what they want.
Finding their objective is finding the core of the human.
For Paula Jones, it was surprising to me that her super-objective was to hey her husband.
That was really her main goal.
[Creator] Sarah Burgess did such a beautiful job of writing this piece, and specifically Paula.
It was all on the page for me.
Paula obviously wanted an apology from the president.
She wanted to be exonerated.
But Steve, her husband,really wanted that too.
The two things are intertwined, right?Absolutely.
Any woman who feels compromised sexually or feels like theyve been sexually harassed obviously would want an apology.
I dont think she would have actually gone to a lawyer about it if it hadnt been for Steve.
First, its the one lawyer and her husband.
Then, at the CPAC press conference, she faces all those male reporters.
Then its two more male lawyers.
As an actor, sometimes, youre just listening and responding the best you’re free to.
Sometimes you’re free to just listen and respond in the moment.
I could just listen and respond.
Because it felt a little bit uncomfortable?Yeah.
Theres still an inherent gender division.
Especially the deposition I have with Bill Clinton.
When he walked in the room, I didnt have to do any work.
It was very useful as an actor.
Im sure Paula would have felt that.I often felt very childlike playing her.
It was something I observed in my research.
Especially at the beginning of her public life, she was sort of closed down.
I noticed she was often protecting her heart; her heart chakra was unconsciously being protected.
Paula immediately goes, What?
How did you figure out how to play moments like that?
I felt like you were trying to keep that in check.Yes, you are right.
I had to confirm that the stakes were extremely high and that it was dead honest.
Then Susan says, Yes, shes very sweet, but shes dumb as a box of rocks.
Im so relieved you feel that way because that was our intention the day we shot that.
I think she was misunderstood.
I dont think she is dumb as a box of rocks.
And I certainly could never play her like that.
I dont know if you saw that Paula Jones wasinterviewed onInside Editionrecently.How recently?
Was it in the last month?
She had seen the first episode ofImpeachment.Shehad?I have not seen this.
What did she say?
It was really brief.
She thought it wasnt accurate.Of course.
And she was upset that nobody talked to her about the portrayal.
I think were giving voice to her piece of this puzzle in a way that hasnt been done before.
I think its hard for her to pass judgment on one episode.
You clearly were curious about what she had to say, though.How could I not be?
Ive spent so much time with her.
Id put on my wig and my magical 90s garments and my nose.
It was like I was saying hello to an old friend.
She feels like an old friend to me.
I have to remind myself I havent met her.
But I certainly know her well.
I guess the costume department found it on eBay?Yes.
At some point, she must have auctioned it, and it ended up on eBay.
And it was advertised as such, like, This is Paula Joness outfit?Yes.
I believe there was a card authenticating it.
To a lot of people, its a lot of money, honestly.
But because of Susan and her husband, Paula decided not to take the deal.
In that final moment, she does what she doesnt want to do and says no to the deal.
I dont think its because of Susan.
I think its more because of Steve.
Oh really?Yeah.
She grew up in a really religious family.
Her daddy was the preacher of a Church of the Nazarene.
And I chose to look at Steve in that last beat as, like, the final notch.
I always listened to Susan, but I wouldnt even be here if it werent for Steve.
And premeditated on Susans behalf to manipulate Steve.
When you want somebody to make a decision, you want them to make it quick.
When youre pushing someone, you dont want them to have too much time to think.
After having worked on this project, Im sure you think differently about this whole episode in American history.
Even as a preteen, I was still a member of culture and society at that point.
But most of all, I think it has made me heartbroken about how far we havent come.
I think thats a problem.
Monica Lewinsky was the first person bullied on the internet.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
