It’s almost like Jennifer Irwin was born to play the role of Marilyn in Grosse Pointe Garden Society. She embodies it so well, while bringing layers to the character that a lot of supporting roles in other shows wouldn’t get the chance to offer. The development of all characters is something that Grosse Pointe Garden Society has done so well already.
We sat down with Irwin to talk about her character, especially with some big moments coming in the new episode airing on Friday, April 18. The gardening competition is almost here, and Marily learns that her competition has an ace down their gloves.
Jennifer Irwin talks the loneliness Marilyn feels in Grosse Pointe Garden Society
Precinct TV: What was it about Marilyn that made you jump to this role?
Jennifer Irwin: She’s a character. There are a lot of layers to her. We’ve seen these kinds of characters before in comedies, and they step in and are a little judgy. You know all about their persona in town, but with this show, you get a glimpse behind why she is the way she is, and a little more empathy about why she’s behaving this way.
That was the beauty that comes up in Jenn and Bill’s writing. As the season goes on, you get more hints into what is happening behind the scenes as they jump in the future, the present, and the past.
This episode [Grosse Pointe Garden Society season 1, episode 9] is the evening of the garden cup, which has been her sole focus for the last couple years of her life, to the detriment of her marriage, maybe. She has learned that Bloomfield Hills, their main rival, has a surprise, like a secret weapon. This knocks her off her feet a little bit, so she’s trying to look for a way to gain an advantage, and people aren’t too pleased with her in this episode.
PTV: I want to go back to the comment about “to the detriment of her marriage.” Her husband isn’t that great or nice!
JI: That’s a good catch! That is true. I think maybe her loneliness is motivating her to throw everything into the sole desire to get her cup.
PTV: There’s a lot of focus on portraying that what people show on the outside isn’t necessarily what is going on inside. She’s trying to portray this perfect marriage, but it’s anything but. What is that like for you to bring that to screen when it’s so true in today’s world, especially with social media?
JI: That’s right. No one is ever what they portray themselves to be. I think that is probably what the whole theme of this episode, and maybe even the show, is. I don’t want to speak for the writers, but it seems to be that we present what’s above the ground, which is this perfect flower, but then there is all the real stuff, reality and faults, underground that we try to hide. I think Marilyn thinks she does it better than she may do it, because it’s pretty clear to a lot of people in town that she’s taking this too seriously, but it’s her identity and how she sees herself.
PTV: That’s the thing; we all take some sort of identity whether it’s from a hobby or work or being a wife and mother. What’s it like to show that we can all get lost in it sometimes?
JI: Absolutely. I try not to place judgment on her or what her priorities are, because for her, it’s everything. Maybe it’s not necessarily where I would put my energies, but for Marilyn, how others see her is how she’s seeing herself. We’ll reveal more as the season goes on, but there isn’t much in her home life that’s giving her comfort.
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PTV: We saw in a flash forward that Marilyn called Alice when Mr. Fingers was hurt. Can you tease anything about the development of that relationship?
JI: I mean, Mr. Fingers is her life right now. Mr. Fingers and the Garden Club. I think she sees in Alice, they both share this understanding and this love for their animals, their pests, which are like children to them. I think she sees that there’s a kind of person there, something that she can confide in and maybe drop the persona a little bit. I don’t want to give anything awa.
PTV: I know! It’s so good because I’m struggling to tell where it’s going, and I’m usually pretty good at guessing a storyline.
JI: That’s why I love the show. We’re all sort of savvy viewers. We understand how plot is structured, and you think you know it’s going to go one way and then it doesn’t. So, as actors, when we were reading the scripts every week, we’re just so excited to be constantly surprised by the twists and turns.
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PTV: I was going to ask if there was anything about Marilyn that surprised you, and following that seems like a good time to ask.
JI: That I think she’s fiercely loyal. She’s someone you want on your side. She’s one of those people in life that you don’t want to wrong. You want to be on their good side, because they could make your life hell or they could enrich your life. She’s fiercely loyal once she likes you.
PTV: What’s it’s been like for you moving away from the traditional “whodunit” and bring a “who is it” storyline? At what point did you find out in the scripts who Quiche was?
JI: Very late in the process. We were all taking bets over who it was going to be from the pilot, and a bunch of us were wrong. We have access to these scripts and we’re reading them every day, so it was really to Jenn and Bill’s credit that they crafted a really complex murder mystery, and they’ve made it sort of funny and cheeky at the same time.
I had a top three of who I thought were the victims, and I would bounce back and forward. I think you’re going to be surprised.
PTV: I am hoping for a second season. What would you like to see for Marilyn if Grosse Pointe Garden Society season 2 happens?
JI: I would like to see her live, for sure. I’d like to see her get some other interests than just the Garden Club and Mr. Fingers. I’d like to see her in marriage counseling or end this unhappy marriage.
Grosse Pointe Garden Society airs on Fridays at 8/7c on NBC. Catch up the following day on Peacock.
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