‘Tell Me Lies’ Star Cat Missal on ‘Damage’ of Tom Ellis’ Relationship and Season 2

[This story contains spoilers from season two, episode six of Tell Me Lies, “Do Your Dirty Words Come Out to Play?”]

Cat Missal is fully aware of what her character has to endure this season, especially in episode six, where Bree is “just ruined” at the end.

Throughout Meaghan Oppenheimer’s second season Tell me liesIn the film, in which Grace Van Patten, Jackson White and the rest of the cast are caught in their own chaotic situations, Bree becomes romantically involved with married Professor Oliver (Tom Ellis) after learning that her boyfriend Evan (Branden Cook) cheated on her, back in the show’s college timeline.

“In this new situation that she finds herself in this season, I see the kind of desperation and motivation that attracts and guides her, even though I don’t necessarily agree with most of the decisions she makes,” Missal says The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s definitely not the best angel-devil shoulder situation.”

But as the situation between Bree and Oliver “kind of spirals and grows,” it only complicates things, especially when there are so many hearts at stake. And viewers are also wondering what impact it will have on Bree and Evan in the future, as their characters will get married in the 2015 flash-forward timeline.

Missal speaks to us below THR about what it was like working with Ellis, that chaotic Friendsgiving that included an “intense” slapshot game, and where her character stands with Evan. She also teases “how much damage” is to come in the final two episodes.

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What was it like working with everyone again after such a successful first season?

We are all very excited to be able to work on a show as dynamic and captivating as this one. There is so much drama and outside of work we are all really good friends. Coming off a break and returning to work, it was really exciting to show up with that energy and excitement.

Her character seems much more naive and impressionable this season. How did you cope with this change compared to the first season?

We see some of these personality traits come through in the first season. But it’s interesting to play a character like her with her background. I think she’s smarter than people might realize. And often I approach the material with this kind of knowledge of the character, which is that she is a kind of chameleon and can easily manipulate herself into being what other people need at the moment, whether to her friends, to her boyfriend. And I think that’s why she’s so disappointed, because she tries so often to live up to these expectations or this view of her. And it doesn’t produce the desired results. But she does her best.

Do you think Bree was looking for a connection when she pursued Oliver after she was hurt by Evan?

I think if you look at what I said before about her just being abandoned most of the time, this is just another example of that. I think she feels hurt, but it’s happened to her so many times that she might try something different. She says, “Okay, I need something for myself.” So she goes and looks for it, and that’s not to say Oliver isn’t manipulating her and taking advantage of her naivety – the dynamic is clearly there. It’s such a power game. But as much as that’s the key dynamic there, I think there’s an undercurrent – particularly later, towards the end of the season – that she’s just trying to manipulate the situation to get him to stay in some capacity.

We see Bree go through all the emotions this season, especially when she starts comparing herself to Oliver’s wife Marianne (Gabriella Pession). As an actor, how do you deal with taking all this on yourself?

I just stay on the ground. I had great castmates to turn to and we all have the same deal, you know, we’re doing this show that deals with a lot of traumatic situations. I was really lucky too. As an actor, it’s amazing to immerse yourself in this type of material and really get into it.

Her character has much more intimate scenes than in the first season. How did you prepare for this?

Having intimacy coordinators on set is a must. It helps a lot because it’s such a technical thing. And so rehearsals for such scenes can even become mechanical. And the intimacy coordinator is not only there to help us deal with difficult situations, but also to make sure everything looks passionate, real and sensual. It’s so helpful. As an actor, it’s something that comes with the job, especially on this show. It’s such a big part of the show. But I think it’s also an essential part of storytelling.

What was it like working with Ellis so much this season, knowing he’s also showrunner Oppenheimer’s husband? And did you learn anything from him as an actor?

It’s definitely an unprecedented situation, but I was happy and grateful to work with such a great actor who, again, approached the material with caution and care. We both really just wanted to do a great job. And for the audience to come along with us on this journey and see not only the toll that this relationship takes, but also that these two people have a connection that maybe wasn’t expected. I think Bree is obviously doing everything she can to make this situation possible, but as she turns and grows, so does the affection and care.

Can we also talk about that messy Friendsgiving? What first went through your mind when you read in the script that you were going to be playing slap shots?

We were so excited! We were like, “Oh my God, we get to slap each other,” and then of course we went on set and it’s very technical too. But it was so much fun! We shot for a very long time, it took about two days. It was intense, but it was a great time.

In episode six, Evan also learns that Bree is dating an older man and he is very worried. How much do you think seeing his reaction to that had an impact on her?

I think Bree is smarter than you might realize from the outside. Especially because she is so internal. Her point of view is very secretive, she is not open-hearted. I think about the other characters and how they lead with their defensiveness, and Bree leads with her heart and that kind of defensiveness lives underneath, and it’s kind of repressed. And I think Evan is saying something that she knows to be true and that’s why it hurts her so much, especially when it comes from the person who she believes put her in this position. It definitely affects them. At the beginning of the episode you see she starts out so confident and feeling this new version of herself, and by the end of the episode she’s just devastated. And then as the season progresses, I think in the next two episodes you’ll really see how much damage has been done and can’t be undone.

Is there anything you personally took away from your character this season?

In any case, she is a great friend. I would say there is also a time to forgive and forget, and there is a time to accept certain behavior from the people around you. If you’re truly loyal, you’ll get through tough times but know when it’s time to go. I would say that if any of your friends in your real life act like any of these characters on this show, run away as quickly as possible.

The first six episodes of Tell me lies The second season is currently streaming on Hulu, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday. To read THR‘s interviews with Grace Van PattenCo-stars Sonia Mena and Alicia Crowder, And Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimerwhich teases an important moment from season two here.