"I've just been super happy and feel very lucky to be a part of This Is Us," Jennifer Morrison tells Newsweek Conversations' Maria Vultaggio.
Primetime TV viewers have likely seen Morrison in one of her previous roles, as a doctor on Fox's House or a princess on ABC's Once Upon a Time. Now, on Season 4 of NBC's This Is Us, Morrison is portraying Cassidy Sharp, an Afghanistan war veteran grappling with civilian life after returning home and struggling with PTSD and alcoholism.
Created by Dan Fogelman, This Is Us has become one of the most-watched shows on television, bringing in 7.7 million total viewers for the Season 4 premiere. If she weren't on the show, Morrison might have been one of those viewers. She especially loves how the show plays with time.
"The way the stories are told, you feel so close to all these characters and you feel so invested in their lives and the ups and downs," says Morrison. "It's such a beautiful tool to be able to feel even closer to them."
Morrison talks not sharing spoilers and acting on a show you were once a fan of.
Is it hard not to talk about the show?
There are so many tricky questions I get asked that I still can't answer. It's like constantly having to think many layers deeper. There are things I can't answer because of what it might imply.
Were you a fan of the show before?
I've always really loved it. I watched the first two seasons as they aired, which was a huge feat for me because I was still working on Once Upon a Time.
What do you think about how the show time hops?
Specifically with This Is Us, it's really effective because it's such an intimate show. It almost feels like memories. Like the way we remember things that happened in our own lives.
What was it like to work with Dan Fogelman?
I cannot say enough good things. I feel like I'm running out of adjectives. He's an unbelievable talent, so supportive, so thoughtful. It has been an example of what I wish every set could be.
Did you work with Omar Epps again [since House] on This Is Us?
I'm not allowed to answer that [laughs]. It brought me so much joy when I found out that he was also joining the cast at the same time.
How would you sum up this season?
Unexpected strangers. There's this idea of never knowing that a stranger could really change the course of your life.
