We had plenty of questions about who Drew was throughout Based on a True Story. Melissa Fumero talks all things twists and turns in this exclusive interview.
Based on a True Story season 2 sent us on another wild ride. Part of that ride involved Fumero’s Drew, who was thought to be the Copycay Killer at one point. Well, it turned out that while she wasn’t squeaky clean, she wasn’t a murderer.
If this was a decade ago, we wouldn’t have had a TV show like this. It’s something Fumero and I discussed while we talked about the development of Drew’s character and what could be in Based on a True Story season 3.
How much Melissa Fumero knew going into Based on a True Story season 2
Precinct TV: Let’s just straight into Drew and those twists. How much did you know going into the series?
Melissa Fumero: I knew everything. Annie Weisman and Jaclyn Moore were really generous. I had a meeting with them before I started so they could tell me about this character and what they were thinking, and they let me in on all the twists and turns.
It was really great to have that knowledge. Sometimes that doesn’t always happen; they like to keep us in the dark until the very last minute. I think to have those secrets close to my belt and be able to choose moments when it play the secret a little bit here and there was very valuable, and I’m really grateful to them that they were so generous with being like “here’s the whole arc of Drew.”
PTV: What was it about Drew that, well, drew you into the character?
MF: I was already a fan of the show. I think it’s such an amazing cast, and it’s a great premise. So, Iw as really excited to be asked to join them for season 2. It felt tonally different from other things I’ve done.
And also, this character felt very different. I felt like my role was king of to be a bit more of a straight man for Kaley. She felt a bit more grounded and gritty and has a mystery, all these secrets. That was really appealing to me,and it seemed like it would be really fun to explore and play.
PTV: So, I’m never convinced of character deaths, and there’s always ways to bring characters back. Would you come back if you could?
MF: Absolutely! 100%! I had such a great time with that group of people. I would 100% come back. There’s maybe a flashback of her and Matt’s earlier relationship, right?
PTV: What was it like playing all the twists and turns out with everyone else around? Did everyone know all the twists?
MF: I think Kaley did, but I don’t think everyone else knew until the wedding episode until they got that script. I’d had my scene with Liana , and I’d met Chris back in the day when The Mindy Project and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were on FOX at the same time, but I’d never met Tom ! But that was the first time I was with all four of them for those scenes, for that monologue, for that sequence.
There were a lot of squished down nerves and just like “go for it, do the work.” It was a little intimidating to be doing all of that in front of that cast, but they were wonderful and really supportive and made it fun.
A move forward for women in TV
PTV: I love that Drew is this realistic mom, and it’s so refreshing to see on screen. You’ve also had the chance to do that with Amy on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. What’s that like for you to bring the realities of motherhood to the screen?
MF: I so appreciated those scenes, because I’m a little bit like that mom. Motherhood is great, but sometimes it’s a racket and you feel like you’ve been scammed into something. It was really fun to read those scenes and see a little bit of that.
I also think showing that dynamic when you’re a new mom and you make that mom friend that already has a couple of kids and is like a little bit more seasoned can sometimes be your most important friend that you make, because they keep you grounded and they just remind you that this is not a big deal. This phase is going to be over in like a month, and just hang in there. So, I really felt that was like the energy she was kind of coming from.
PTV: If this was 10 years ago, we wouldn’t have a show like this. We wouldn’t have these women all pushing forward with careers or have these multi-layered women we could empathize with. What’s that like now being a part of the move forward?
MF: Personally, I’m extremely grateful for it, because, especially as IU get older, I start to have those thoughts where I’m like “a decade ago, my career would be over.” I’d have aged out. I’m extremely grateful to the actresses that have led to this like the Reese Witherspoons and the Kerry Washingtons who have produced great work for women over 30 and just telling more stories of womein in different phases of their life and motherhood.
I think it’s an exciting time too because those stories are so underrepresented that there’s really like a plethora of stories that we haven’t even seen yet. There’s still so much to explore. I hope it keeps pushing forward. So, I’m grateful and excited.
PTV: So, to end this. How would you describe Drew in three words or phrases?
MF: I would describe Drew as strong, mysterious, and a woman who takes no s**t.”
Based on a True Story is available to stream on Peacock.
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