As a certified comic-book nerd, Cristin Milioti has always wanted to take on the role of a Batmanvillain. (“This is not hyperbole,” she assures The A.V. Club.) The actor has been in a range of—wait for it—legendary shows like The Sopranos, How I Met Your Mother, Fargo, and Black Mirror. (She reprised her “USS Callister” role in the latter’s seventh season earlier this year.) But it’s the DC Universe-set crime dramaThe Penguin that notonly fulfilled her longtime goal but also secured her an Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category.
The show’s title might be The Penguin, but it’s as much about the revenge-seeking, sultry, and cunning Sofia Falcone, who goes toe-to-toe with Colin Farrell’s shrewd Oswald “Oz” Cobb. Sofia is a menace, but Milioti imbues the character with a level of sensitivity that makes it easy to root for her, particularly after witnessing Sofia’s isolating, turbulent journey in “Cent’anni.” Milioti, who is protective of her acting process, says she’s proudest of that episode.
The A.V. Club spoke to her about the daunting task of joining the franchise, how she found Sofia’s pathos along the way, and collaborating with series creator Lauren LeFranc and co-star Farrell.
The A.V. Club: Do you have a routine to get into your characters’ mindsets? What was it like to get into Sofia’s headspace, as she’s one of the more intense roles of your career so far?
Cristin Milioti: What’s funny is that I have done some intense work in theater throughout my 20s. I’ve done darker indie films here and there, but it’s stuff that hasn’t been seen on a wide scale like The Penguin. I had been wanting to get back into that world for a while. So I was excited to have this opportunity to explore that side again. Deirdre O’Connell and I talked about this a lot while filming, that The Penguin felt like doing a play sometimes in ways that are rare to find in TV shows. I was given the scripts four episodes ahead of time and knew the embarrassment of riches that this role was. The writing already had such a beautiful balance of Sofia’s vulnerabilities and a desire for vengeance. I felt empowered by our showrunner, Lauren LeFranc, and our directors throughout, especially Helen Shaver and Craig Zobel, to go even further to find those elements in her. That’s what makes the best villains, right? It’s not only their unpredictability, but also their vulnerability and heartbreak. That’s what gets them to where they are, and I focused on how I could explore those things over eight episodes. That’s the beauty of a longform series. I knew I could take advantage of the time I had to do this.
AVC: How did the knowledge of Sofia’s backstory, as revealed in episode four, change the way you viewed her or wanted to play her?
CM: I was so grateful I could have lengthy chats with Lauren before we started shooting episode four. I wanted to weave a lot of it into those first three episodes, even if the audience doesn’t know her backstory yet. I wanted everyone to feel unsure about who she is and why she is the way she is at that point, but I also wanted to show that something is roiling beneath the surface, especially because I knew I would get to show what that something was. I also think the decision to put “Cent’anni” halfway through the show was a stroke of brilliance on Lauren’s part.
AVC: In our interview last year, Lauren said she pursued you for the role partly because she could trust you would bring an edge and dark humor to Sofia. How much of this stuff did you both discuss and what was it like to collaborate with her?
CM: I would highly recommend working with Lauren. She’s a true collaborator. We felt like we were kindred spirits. We were and are equally protective of Sofia, so she made me feel emboldened while I was playing the character. Working for a giant franchise can be intimidating, especially because I’m also a fan of the DC stuff. So I have my own set of expectations going into it already. There are a lot of cooks in this franchise’s kitchen and a lot of things have to come together that are not in our control. But Lauren just made me feel like I could reach a level that’s 12 out of 10. I do think it’s because we share a deep love for the character, but it’s also because she’s just such a ball. This was a tough shoot, by the way. We were outside at night during the New York City winter, the hours were grueling, and the subject matter was dark. But it was such a fabulous group of people to go through it with. I think it always starts at the top and trickles down. Lauren set a beautiful tone for our cast and crew.
AVC: Was it daunting to establish this character we’ve never seen to such a degree in live-action before?
CM: Oh, it was front and center on my mind because I’ve been wanting to play a Batman villain like her my entire life. That is not hyperbole. I’ve dreamt of this since I was a kid, and I knew what this role meant. I was lucky to have such open collaborators even in the hair, makeup, and costume departments. It’s the first time I was vocal about how I wanted to look. We all dove in together. That was such a surprise to me, the fact that we were given the leeway to get so creative when establishing a TV show and a character like this.
AVC: Do you recall a moment on set or filming a particular scene when Sofia snapped into place for you as a character?
CM: For some reason, I’m thinking back to the scene in episode three where, right before Oz’s betrayal becomes clear to Sofia, we’re sharing a cigarette and he says, “I’m so sorry for what happened to you.” It’s this moment of incredible connection between the two of them, where they’ve both let their guard down and align. You see both of them in a different way. Working with Colin Farrell, who is one of my favorite actors, was fabulous. He’s a generous human and performer. We both talk about how much fun it was for us to have this scene where Oz and Sofia are partners, and in another world, it could’ve made for a demented buddy-cop film. We have this delightfully deranged chemistry that The Penguin needs, and then of course it all goes to hell. The chemistry between them is something you can’t define. It was fun to figure out this mercurial relationship because they’re family, nemeses, partners, and so on.
AVC: There still aren’t a lot of comic-book adaptations with women as flawed, villainous main characters. How do you think Sofia adds to that conversation? Do you have any favorites you looked at for inspiration?
CM: Lauren and I actually talk about it a lot. Sofia is the type of villain I’ve dreamed of being able to see as a comic-book fan. We certainly have had some before, and I always think of Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns, who was given a meaty story and moments throughout the film. So I understand the significance of having someone like Sofia as part of this universe. I believe that I’ll feel the ripples of playing her for the rest of my life.
AVC: “Cent’anni” takes us through some of the darkest moments of Sofia’s life. What was the process of stepping into that zone and the Arkham material in particular while filming?
CM: I get squirrelly about the acting process stuff for this because I think it’s better to have some mystery to it. I’m protective of it, I guess. Maybe because that’s what I’m like as an audience member. I like notknowing. Certainly, The Penguin is a very dark show, and my goal was to put my head down and do this intense shoot. Episode four, specifically, we had the same amount of time that we shot all the other episodes, but this one spanned over 15 years and had several more locations. There would be a day when I would be shooting a scene when I was 15 years younger, then a current-day scene where I’m in a race car. A team of people would constantly be applying scars or taking off my makeup. I was wearing a new wig each time. It was an intense two weeks. It’s a testament to our crew and cast, including everyone who played the women trapped in Arkham. Everyone was in the zone, which is required when you’re filming something of this nature. We all have to be in it together.
AVC: This earned you your first Emmy nomination. As someone who’s worked in TV for almost two decades, how do you view the recognition coming your way right now?
CM: I’m so moved. I think awards are such a crapshoot. [Laughs] As I was saying earlier, I’ve worked on so many things that I’ve loved so much that have not been received well, so heartbreak is a huge part of what we do. So I won’t lie that to finally be recognized in this way and to have the show recognized is deeply meaningful. I’m thankful for it. I was feeling like that already, just based on the experience of making The Penguin, even if the nomination hadn’t come. It was a galvanizing experience to play a woman whom I can take to so many different places. I remember feeling that throughout filming episode four, especially, with going from the dinner speech with the family to skipping through the halls in that yellow dress and gas mask. I was especially excited to play that scene with her niece, Gia, because I could show yet another different side to Sofia. That scene was important to me, and it was briefly on the chopping block. Lauren fought for it, as did I, in my powerless capacity.
AVC: Do you feel drawn to more genre-driven shows like The Penguin, Made For Love, The Resort, and also Black Mirror, since you reprised your role for the “USS Callister” sequel this year as well?
CM: I’ve tried as best I can, with as little as you have as an actor, to do as many different genres as possible. Even as a consumer of film, television, and theater, I love watching different types of people and worlds. So to get to dive into it throughout my career with these shows is rewarding. With something like Black Mirror, there was a weird déjà vu element to all of us being back together on the same set in ways that were both thrilling and trippy. I love that group of actors; Charlie Brooker; and our director, Toby Haynes. I definitely had anxiety about it because I was a very different person now than I was eight years ago. I was trying to keep that frame of mind for Nanette because she’s also different, having been trapped in this world for a long time. Although I’ve never experienced something like this before in terms of going back to a role after so long. It was very cool.
