We were recently able to sit down with the actress and gamer, whose past experiences came with Super Mario Bros., Track and Field and Dance Dance Revolution, to talk about Grimm's upcoming season finale. Bree discussed how a very important character's life will "definitely be in the balance" in the season finale, how her pregnancy during the season didn't allow her to perform her own stunts or "get more physically involved" until the season finale and how one of her favorite films growing up was the original Clash of the Titans for its "animatronic" qualities. Read on for our questions from the interview and make sure to check out the season finale of Grimm tonight at 10/9c only on NBC!
Amanda Dyar: What would you say is one of the most challenging aspects of working on Grimm compared to other work you have done?
Bree Turner: Oh, the most challenging. Well, you know, I think I haven't really had much experience in the genre. I did a horror - I did this Masters of Horror for Showtime. I did a one-hour film. That was my only other genre piece that I've done.
I think with this though the - just that you have to really commit to the world that you're imagining because, you know, a lot - what you see on television is not what's happening on the set. You know, we don't look like our creatures when we're acting. It's all CGI. We have little white dots all over our faces when we're, you know, trying to do these serious scenes.
And also just like the language, the German, the Grimmish, the, you know, and the fact that it needs to sound casual. I think all those elements combined are challenging and, you know, unique to any other job I've personally done.
Amanda Dyar: What would you say is the scariest creature so far to appear on the show?
Bree: I think the scariest creature was that Mauvais Dentes that was in our Season 2 premiere with the big saber tooth teeth, you know. He was very scary. And I thought the - both the special effect makeup and the CGI on that creature were really, really one of our best.
For more information on the show and the exciting season finale, check out the official Grimm website.
Conference Call With Bree Turner on 5/17
In what ways did you see Rosalee further grow and develop as a character this season. And what maybe new acting challenges did you find with that growth would you say?
BREE TURNER:Well, I think the biggest evolution for Rosalee between Season 1 and Season 2 is her confidence in the spice shop and being an apothecary and being in this world of Grimm that's in, you know, joint union, you know. And I think when I arrived on the scene I always likened Rosalee as someone who was the most talented with the - with, you know, the biggest gifts in terms of this world in her family but the one that was the most insecure and lost with it all, you know, I think.
And that shows with, you know, admitting that my drug use and, you know, kind of moving away from Portland and isolating myself I think it - my talent scared me so to speak. So I think, you know, I tried to make a focus just for myself whether it was scripted or not to slowly develop the confidence in this world and being the authority in terms of healing and the medicine world.
And now that we're at the end of the second season I think it's been really fun to throw a lot of that away now and just be confident and own my power now. And I think there's been a lot of really wonderful sort of layers of the onion that have been exposed to the fans, you know, that my father was on, you know, the special committee, you know, that keeps everyone in check and that my brother and that I have this, you know, connection to this.
And I have a - basically - I always - when we were doing that natural born Wesen episode that I kind of likened myself like being Colin Powell's daughter or something or, you know, and that was like this surprising reveal to Monroe that I have this like major, major authority really in this world and I don't speak of it, you know. I thought that was pretty cool.
So anyway I think - to answer your question I think her confidence and becoming secure with her powers.
And just as a follow up question, I love the relationship obviously between Monroe and Rosalee. And just wanted a take again on how you sort of see that grow and develop this year and what maybe you enjoy most about the relationship and working with Silas.
BREE TURNER:Well it's been really, really fun season as well to I think to what I was thinking about before. Just sort of embracing Rosalee's light and her, you know, kindness and compassion who I just feel is who she is. I think her past is just, you know, her skeletons, her demons, her path that she was on and I think at her core she's a truly compassionate loving soul and spirit.
So I think it's been really fun to just, you know, not play the dark and play the light this year. And, you know, enjoying the journey with Silas who is just such an incredible actor and person and now friend. And it's just we've had such a good time. I've - we're so relaxed with each other and I feel so comfortable with him that it's just - just all feels very organic which I think is coming through. I think the response has been positive for a combination of all those things.
So when we spoke with David a few weeks ago, he said that it was, you know, a real doozie of a season finale. I'm wondering what was your reaction when you saw the script and what sort of excites you about this final episode of the season?
BREE TURNER:Well, seeing the finale script, it was just truly - I don't know what more they could have put in this script. I mean everyone - every story line gets blown out and exposed, resolved, challenged, you know. And then just the level of production value in this finale I mean it's like feature film quality stuff that we did in terms of effects and story and set and, you know, I don't - environment. I mean it was all just really at the top of our game I felt. And it was - we were all kind of chomping at the bit to start production on this last one.
Great. You know, SciFi is perhaps the most unique genre. I think it probably has the most unique fans. What do you like about being this world?
BREE TURNER:Well the support and love and loyalty from these - the genre fans are like nothing I've ever experienced. I've only done a few other sort of jobs in this world and - but nothing like this. I think at the scale of Grimm. And so I've been blown away with how committed and supportive and protective our fans are over the characters and the show. And it's just been really awesome.
So we heard that a major character might die. Can you tell us a bit more maybe about that and a bit more about the finale?
BREE TURNER:Ooh. Well, yeah. I mean can I tell you specifics? No. But the - is very - someone's life is definitely in balance and it's very, very, very scary to be this person I will say. And I honestly don't know how we're going to resolve it in terms of storyline. It's - I'm nervous and excited about how Season 3 is going to begin with this cliffhanger because it's pretty major.
And then Monroe was saying that he thinks thing are so great. He's not sure - it sounds like a dream come true. He can't almost believe it. Is there strife ahead for Rosalee and Monroe?
BREE TURNER:Oh, I mean I - it's Grimm, you know. People don't stay happy very long on this show. And the Rosalee Monroe romance has been moving in such a beautiful - it's had such a beautiful journey this season that I mean let's be real. Only complications are coming.
You had to film a good portion of I think it was - was it mostly Season 2 the beginning when you were pregnant. What was that like?
BREE TURNER: I - yes, I have been pregnant almost this entire season. And I've had to really - I've had to really check my vanity at the door because it's like been the evolution of my body expanding and then shrinking and being expansive.
It's - yeah. But it was crazy. I mean it's been a really, really wild year for me personally and also just, you know, blending the show in the middle of all this will be something I'll never forget. That's for sure.
Well congratulations again on - I'm sorry, was it a boy or a girl? I forgot.
BREE TURNER: A little boy. Yeah. Thank you. He's definitely - it's so funny to think that he was in my belly during all these crazy episodes, you know. And then I went back to work one month later and, you know, he's just - I feel like he's just - he's so a part of this show. This little baby. It's fun.
The other question I had was you spoke a little bit earlier about the fact that part of Rosalee's legacy from her family is this connection to the Wesen Council. You think we're going to find out more about what that all means and what that could mean for Rosalee?
BREE TURNER:Yeah. I hope so. You know. We don't know where the writers are going to take us but I think that's a pretty juicy storyline to explore for Rosalee in particular.
In Tuesday's finale Juliette will take her first real steps into the Grimm world. Rosalee and Juliette are friends and Rosalee is (electing) herself putting her in a very unique position. What role do you think Rosalee may play in Juliette's introduction to Grimm life in Season 3?
BREE TURNER:Well I think, you know, it's been such a enjoyable relationship to explore, the Juliette Rosalee friendship. You know, I think at the beginning of this relationship I truly felt very, very responsible for her unraveling, you know, considering I gave her the potion that caused her problems.
So I think I felt very responsible and protective over here over these last, you know, handful of episodes were, you know, I'm like basically convincing everyone else to get onboard with her just evolution because the personal responsibility I felt.
And so, you know, now that we're ending the season and she, you know, last episode we (voted) for her in which her reactions I thought were priceless. And then Tuesday night's episode there's, you know, obviously sort of exploring more of that new reveal for her and her involvement in the group will be explored more.
I'm excited about that - I'm happy she's in the know I think is a well deserved, you know, breath of fresh air for everyone just to have her memory back and to have her, you know, in the, you know, involved in this world and also just to - just for another female, you know, energy in the group. I think it will bring some lovely new just sort of dynamic to the scenes and to the show itself. So I'm excited for us to be a little girl power unit.
I do. I love the female dynamic on this show. It's really great to watch. And then just very quickly, what was you favorite episode or season storyline in terms of character development for Rosalee this year?
BREE TURNER:Well I think it's the romance this year. It has been really - it's been really fun and it's been so sweet and it's, you know, it's so enjoyable working with Silas that I think that the payoff the fans will receive next week will be well worth the wait.
I really enjoyed watching Rosalee evolve as sort of a guide to help Nick navigate through this world. And I was just wondering if - when you were first cast did you know sort of the larger story of where Rosalee was going? Has she evolved the way you expected or has there been some surprises?
BREE TURNER: I knew nothing. I knew nothing. (I say) nothing. I got - I was cast very quickly on set within 48 hours so I had very little information on anything. I really had to go off of my instinct and also the very thorough and rich character that Jim and David built right off the bat.
You know, I don't think it would have been as successful if they hadn't have really known who Rosalee was from the beginning allowed me to just really dive in with very few questions. In terms of where she's gone, yeah. I am surprised and pleased because I thought - I sort of anticipated more of an attitude maybe with Rosalee just because the first episode in Island of Dreams was, you know, so much of it was keeping everyone at a distance.
And I think that was a lot of her journey towards, you know, the end of Season 1 was sort of like slowly warming up to this whole idea, you know, of working with the Grimm and being in this - being back in this world and, you know, using my talents. You know, I definitely needed a focus for myself personally just to like not throw it all away so fast. I mean, you know, it wouldn't be hones that way.
So but now that we, you know, ended Season 2 the lightness of Rosalee this season was not maybe what I had seen for her when I auditioned the first day but being in it it's so right really with such a right choice to really not have too many complications for her.
You know, I think this is just an - you know, getting Rosalee established into the group and becoming vulnerable again in her life and really becoming confident with her talents. Now in terms of Season 3, you know, who knows? I think it would be fun to sort of let some skeletons out of the closet a little bit.
That was going to be my next question. You beat me to it. I was going to ask what you're looking forward to assuming you live through the finale.
BREE TURNER:Assuming - hey, yeah, exactly. Exactly. Who knows if I'll be around? Yeah. If I am, that would be what I would - I think would be fun to explore.
The Webisodes over the winter hiatus were a huge hit with the fans. Are there any more plans for you to do some over the summer hiatus?
BREE TURNER:No. Not that have been brought to my attention, no. But it was - they were really fun to do. It was really enjoyable to kind of have this frothier version of the spice shop where there wasn't so much peril involved.
Fabulous. Rosalee is really - she really brings a lot to the Grimm team. She is obviously a good knowledge base. She's the healer. What would you like to see Rosalee's be in the group in the future?
BREE TURNER:I like especially with this finale - these last two episodes that - well as you'll see Tuesday, I become much more the authority in the issue at hand. And I really like that choice like of just - of - there's no more - there's no more bumbling through this now. Now I am the most - I feel the most - one of the most powerful apothecaries in the Wesen community.
I feel like I'm the one that - I think I'm such a - I'm such a research nerd and I think that was exposed to the Endangered episode when I knew everything about the, you know, the - oh, what is - somebody Wesen, our alien creatures -- don't quote me on that -- that I knew everything about who they were.
I think I just love research and history and books. And I think I - I think I know a little bit about everything honestly. And I think that would be, you know, fun to just sort of have kind of complete total world domination in terms of that, you know - in terms of my skill set. I think I am becoming, you know, very powerful that way.
Great. Well I'm looking forward to see that. Maybe not world domination.
BREE TURNER:Not world domination.
We won't say that but in terms of I think I am going to - I'm becoming part of the (BLE) Club of Apothecaries.
Well you mentioned that Rosalee is going to be like kind of the voice of authority in the apothecary world. Is this going to get her in trouble at all in the finale?
BREE TURNER:Oh yes. Yes. You know, it's a lot of pressure. And I think everyone sort of is starting to look to me for the answers and, you know, I only can do what I can do, you know. So I think yes it does get me into trouble with what we're dealing with.
Also how do you handle all the complicated language like the dialog like the - like all the Wesen names and all that?
BREE TURNER:Well I - number one just say it the way Silas says it. I just go to Silas now and I say how do you pronounce this. How would you say it? He's pretty much become the authority on all, you know, German Grimmish words. I just try to do it like he does it.
There's some (unintelligible) that are - were made available online. And it looks like you're maybe going to be fighting some zombies in the finale. And I was wondering, you know, now that you have had the baby and you're, you know, up and around and everything, did you have a chance to do a little bit of action is this episode and is - or is that something you look forward to in the future?
BREE TURNER:Yeah, of for sure. I - that was probably the hardest thing for me when I was pregnant was not being able to do all my own stunts or just being as physical as I like to be. I'm a - I would do all my own stunts but, you know, NBC doesn't want me to do that, so. And in the finale, yes, I - Rosalee gets more physically involved for sure in what we're - in what we're dealing with. And I'm excited about doing a lot more of that in the future for sure.
You talked about not having done a lot of SciFi in your career. I was wondering if - do you watch SciFi, fantasy, any of this kind of stuff and what are some of your favorite shows or movies?
BREE TURNER: I - well growing up I - one of my favorite films that was very influential was Clash of the Titans in terms of fantasy genre piece. My husband - the remake - I don't know. I'm more of the original. I love the animatronic, you know, quality to the original Clash of the Titans.
I definitely more - I feel more excited about SciFi though now than I've been sort of immersed in this world in like Warehouse 13 or, you know, Dr. Who or, you know, all these really cool shows I didn't really - they weren't really on my radar before are now suddenly - now I totally get it. I totally - I get the obsession. Now I'm onboard.
Great. Well welcome to the - just to our side.
BREE TURNER:Yeah, the club. I'm a card-carrying member now. Thank you.
Just had a couple of general questions for you if you don't mind. The first one being I wanted to find out did you always want to work in this industry while you were growing up or did you have other professions in mind?
BREE TURNER:And that was always my - I was dancing from the age of 5. And then when I started working professionally at 18 and came to Los Angeles to go to UCLA and I also realized I could actually make a living as a dancer and I got a dance agent and did a ton of jobs her in Hollywood; file, television, tours, you know, things like that for about seven years. And then at the end of, you know, the last couple years of my dance career I realized that I needed to do something else. And being on set I just fell in love with the whole process of the industry. I mean, you know, everything about it, costumes, set design, makeup, you know, lighting; I just was so thrilled by all of it that it seemed like the natural sort of next step to my life, so.
And then just as a follow up to that, and I hope I phrase this question correctly, also wanted to find out what would you say makes a career in this industry rewarding for you so far?
BREE TURNER:Having an outside life. Yeah. If you - it is everything, you're going to be very, very sad because it's actually very unrewarding most of the time. And moments like being on this show are just - it's like lightning in the bottle. I mean it's - what's happening now is so special honestly. And I mean to be on a show that I sincerely love working with people that I sincerely care about, loving what I do, having fun and it's successful, it's like this doesn't happen, you know.
And so but I feel like it's so much sweeter now because I've been working hard for, you know, over 15 years. I've dealt with a lot of rejection and now to, you know, and success but, you know, it's just - it's a mixed bag. And now to be in this place and I have my family and my children and my husband, I feel like I'm able to really enjoy it in the right way because I also live my life.