“Imperfect Women” on Apple TV: Joel Kinnaman & Corey Stoll Discuss Their Characters

Based on Araminta Hall’s 2020 novel of the same name, Imperfect Women examines a crime that irrevocably changes the lives of a decades-long friendship of three women – Eleanor (Kerry Washington), Mary (Elisabeth Moss), and Nancy (Kate Mara). Imperfect Women, streaming on Apple TV is showrun by Annie Weisman (Based on a True Story), who also wrote several episodes. The eight-episode series unfolds in a twisty investigation which reveals the truths about friendships, no matter how long they’ve existed.

Although the series centers around Eleanor, Mary, and Nancy, the supporting male characters also play a crucial role in subverting, revealing, and misdirecting the investigation into what happened. They also reinforce the guilt, shame, secrets, betrayal, and facades the three imperfect women experience.

Robert (Joel Kinnaman) portrays Nancy’s husband and Howard (Corey Stoll) plays Mary’s husband. They share their thoughts on how they approached their characters in the series.

What drew you into the story of Imperfect Women?

Joel: I didn’t read the book or have any previous knowledge of the story. I got sent the script, but I was really drawn into it just hearing about  the people who were involved. But then after reading the script, I was very excited to play the character. I thought Robert was a really fascinating, interesting guy that didn’t remind me of any character that I’d played before.

Corey:  I was sent the first four episodes, and then I understood who the three women would be. It was interesting that my character didn’t really show up so much in those first four episodes. So I asked for some more episodes to read. And then, starting in episodes five, six and seven, it became very clear that Howard was a character that I had never played before. It was scary at how challenging it was and how bold the reversals are. I knew that the female stars would go for it, so it was of a no-brainer to jump in.

What were your initial conversations with Annie Weisman like?

Joel: I knew they were departing significantly from it, so I also made the decision to not focus my prep on reading the book.

Corey: I read the book and I feel that my character is one of the places where it differs more than almost any other character in the show. It was edifying, but it didn’t really affect my performance with the scripts in front of me.

Nancy (Kate Mara) & Robert (Joel Kinnaman) Photo courtesy of Apple TV

How did you navigate your characters as supporting cast?

Joel: Coming into this, it was such an immaculate production and the three women that were starring and producing it, were taking care of the cast and crew in the nicest way. They were doing like the heavy lifting for the show. So it was fun and easy to just cruise into this production and just get to play. They really set the stage. They set the table for us.

Corey: I never consider myself a supporting character in anything I do. Every character, every extra in every movie or  TV series should feel like the protagonist of their own story.

With the way this show is structured, it already has these three perspectives of the three women. But within that, there are certain episodes – five, six and seven, where I’m much more heavily involved. There are some scenes where I’m in the background and part of the ensemble. But when my character comes to the foreground, the writers really gave Howard his due in terms of motivations and character development.

How do you describe your characters?

Joel: Robert is a person who has grown up in this very specific environment. He’s born into a wealthy family that’s operating in the upper echelon of a Pasadena, wealthy community. There’s a lot of expectation on him from his family to behave in a certain way and  choose a mate that fits into this world. Choosing Nancy was Robert’s big rebellion.

He chose this woman that did not come from that world and had a very different point of view. And in some ways, like through his relationship with her, he started to become a real person that wasn’t just a product of his environment’s expectations. It’s fascinating to follow this character after that original person disappears. He’s lost the anchor that made him understand who he was. So now he’s completely lost.

Corey: Howard had great expectations for where his life would lead him. He’s deeply disappointed with where he’s at and deeply embarrassed at his of loss of status. He sees himself as a feminist, but any sense of the power dynamic shifting in Mary’s favor is incredibly frightening to him. Any man can identify with that sense of insecurity where we’re raised to be providers and protectors.

And when you feel like a failure in that way, that can push you off balance. Howard completely looks down his nose at Robert. He thinks Robert is a dilettante, handed everything in his life, and he’s incredibly jealous of him.

Mary (Elisabeth Moss), Eleanor (Kerry Washington) & Nancy (Kate Mara) Photo courtesy of Apple TV

What were some of the more interesting aspects of your characters that transpired as the investigation progressed?

Joel: I really enjoyed this going back and forth in time where, on the one hand, we’re operating in this present day timeline, when the murder has occurred, and who Robert becomes. Then we go back in time and we understand more of his relationship with his father and with Nancy.

Going back and forth between these two timelines, I found that there were a lot of revelations that happened when we went back in time that made me understand Robert better.

Corey: As the show goes on, Robert’s whole view of himself starts to change. He sees himself, even though he’s very disappointed in his life, as having an enormous amount of control within the confines of his life. He’s living a very deliberate life.

And then, once the bad things happen, he really shifts into feral survival mode. Suddenly, he’s using all of his intelligence, all of his skills at manipulating people, and knowing all the buttons that he can press with his wife. It really reveals, not just to the audience, but to himself, the lines that he’s willing to cross. I think he is surprised himself where he ends up at the end of the show.

Which scene(s) mean the most to you?

Joel: I love the scene with Eleanor when we’ve had this little romance, and then I’ve talked to my family and I break up with her

Corey: I love the scene where Mary finds the notebook and confronts me about it. It was really fun to play with getting caught, manipulating and gaslighting her. It was an intricate scene to play.

by Staff Writer

From our in-house editorial team.