‘The Killing’s’ dead girl: The actress who plays Rosie Larsen talks about her murder and more
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Despite all the advertisements showcasing large black-and-white photos of her large, dark eyes and a coy smirk under a suggestively scrawled red headline daring the audience to guess “Who Killed Rosie Larsen?,” it usually takes a while before Katie Findlay, the actress who plays the murder victim of “The Killing,” is recognized.
“They stare at me for a while across the bus and are suddenly like, ‘Oh my God,’ ” Findlay said.
“Dead girl?,” she’ll respond.
“Yeah …”
The AMC procedural drama, which has its season finale on Sunday, stars Mireille Enos as a Seattle police officer determined to find out who sent a seemingly innocent, normal girl to her watery grave. But before this case is (possibly?) solved, Show Tracker chats with Findlay about what it’s like to play the “dead girl.”
So, we’ve reached the last episode of the season. Do you even know who killed you? How long into filming was it before they told you who killed Rosie Larsen?
Everybody had their theories they were bouncing around set.... AMC has been really good about having us run around like chickens with our head cut off. I had some ideas but they ruined them all in the last episode. I thought it was Terry, my mom’s sister, (Jamie Anne Allman), except then we started seeing more of her.
How much did you know about the part going into it?
I actually had no idea. I had no clue. I was told there’s a pilot and the part’s kinda fun. The audition was so strange. I was running through the “woods” screaming and being chased. I had all these things I had to do, but I was doing them in a postage stamp room.
That scene in the pilot looks like it’s right out of a horror movie. Do you like horror movies? Are you one of those actresses who is dying to die in a horror movie? I didn’t until now and I think it was just so much fun. I always wanted to be evil and kill people and be scary, but then I did that in “Fringe.” The idea was cool, but it wasn’t truly awesome until I got there and my stunt double was like, teaching me how to fall down. I had an awesome time.
You’re the face and name of the marketing campaign, but you’re not really in the show that much. That’s got to be unusual.
I had no idea that I was going to be the marketing campaign. I was making jokes that there must have been a fire in the marketing office and I was the only one left. I had no idea what was happening until someone called me and was like “I’m in New York and you’re on a bus.” I felt involved in the show even though the actual screen time didn’t pan out in the same way. I feel that people went really out of their way to make sure I was really involved.
There are many scenes now, say in like, City Hall with Billy Campbell and Kristin Lehman and Eric Ladin, and I laugh watching them talk about my murder because I was sitting by the monitors watching them [film that scene].
What kind of relationship did you have with Brent Sexton and Michelle Forbes, the actors who play your grieving parents?
I didn’t spend as much time with my ‘parents.’ It wasn’t really a question of choice, it was just our filming days were separate. They’re both wonderful people.
How many of these stunts did you do and how often were they using a dummy?
I was for real in the trunk [of the car when they discover Rosie’s body]. It wasn’t me fully under the water because they wanted to be careful -- which I appreciate. It was definitely me under the water halfway up. Any time they could use a body double they did. They took really good care of me.
We know this has been brought up a lot, but what do you think of the “Twin Peaks” comparisons?
My family loves “Twin Peaks.” I do think it’s a really fun story. It’s kind of like a little bit of a retro throwback to Laura Palmer. I’m a big nerd and was like “Oh my God. I’m Laura Palmer.”
Any secrets you want to share about the finale?
I found it very haunting and when I read it, I happened to be in the makeup trailer with someone involved who had a really big thing going on. I finished it and looked at them and was like “Oh, oh my God, I can’t be in the trailer with you.” I think everyone was running around and talking to each other and no one trusted each other.
“The Killing” just got picked up for a second season. We’re guessing you’re not in it ...
It’s unclear. I don’t know if Rosie is going to be in Season 2. I would like to be. I might just like to hang around the studio and make ghost appearances.
RELATED:
Recaps and full Show Tracker coverage of ‘The Killing’
AMC orders a second season of ‘The Killing’
-- Whitney Friedlander