‘Ginny & Georgia' Season 3: Brianne Howey Discusses Her Character's Mental Health

Forbes

4 hours ago

Brianne Howey in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix.
The Netflix hit Ginny & Georgia is back and better than ever. The ten-episode third season is a rollercoaster ride, and the finale is phenomenal, with two cliffhangers in the last few seconds that will leave fans salivating at the bit for season four.
When the series first premiered in 2021, it appeared to be a light-hearted, fun, sexy binge-watch. Though it is incredibly entertaining, it's so much more than a soapy drama. Despite the show's lighthearted, heartwarming, and humorous moments, it's also brave in how it tackles mental health, and it does so in a way no other television show has in that it is not heavy-handed or preachy in its approach.
Creator/executive producer Sarah Lampert has never shied away from the angst of being a human being, putting her characters through struggles such as depression, addiction, eating disorders, personality disorders, self-harm, and this season, teen pregnancy, to name a few.
The story centers around Brianne Howey's Georgia Miller, a mother who will do anything, moral or not, for her children. As the chaos creator of the story, those around her are left to deal with the fallout of her actions following season two's cliffhanger, which left a shocked Georgia taken away in handcuffs at her wedding to the Mayor when she was arrested for murdering her friend's husband.
Brianne Howey says Georgia Miller has narcissistic tendencies.
By the time we get to season three, which premiered on June 5, Georgia is on house arrest, bound by an ankle bracelet that keeps her caged like a wild animal as she tries to survive the media sensation surrounding her murder trial. Her world spins out of control when it comes out that she may have also killed a few of her husbands, and she's nicknamed the 'Mayoress Murderess.'
When asked what she thinks Georgia's mental health issues might be, Howey replied carefully. 'The show works very closely with Mental Health America to make sure that we aren't glorifying any of the wrong things and that we're handling all of these subjects with the utmost respect and care. I do think Georgia has narcissistic qualities. That being said, I think Georgia is the type of narcissist who is capable of change, and that's what has been really compelling this season to see for Georgia. Every character goes on a mental health journey. But yes, especially Ginny and Georgia.'
Lampert concurred, adding, 'The show's theme is that everyone is fighting a battle you can't see.' Of the new season, she explained that for Georgia to change her ways, the stakes would need to be raised.
'We purposefully exploded our entire world and revealed our main character. I loved it!' exclaimed Lampert. As the media frenzy around her murder trial explodes, Georgia is forced to face herself.
Antonia Gentry talks about her character's journey in season three of 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix.
This season, Georgia's daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) must confront just how similar she is to her mom when her brother Austin (Diesel La Torraca) is sent to live with his abusive father, and she goes to live with her dad. Ginny discovers the lengths she will go to free her mom and get her family back together, and she realizes she's a lot like her mother.
Gentry paused briefly when asked to describe the relationship between Ginny and Georgia. 'It's almost symbiotic…because they're so apart this season, we see them have to come into their own in different ways that they haven't been able to before. Ginny can't rely on Georgia as much as she'd like to. Georgia can't rely on Ginny or do anything at all because she's on house arrest. We see Ginny forced to make decisions for herself and to start creating situations and opportunities for herself instead of reacting to those things.'
Gentry added how much she enjoyed the acting challenges this season. 'It was wonderful to play her, especially towards the end, as someone who is kind of turning into her mom in a sense where she's like, 'Look, I'm not getting the results that I want. My mom is going to jail. My brother is with his abusive father. I don't want any of this. I'm going to make it happen.' And she does, and it's scary for Georgia to witness, but it's fascinating because we see Ginny morphing into the young woman that she's going to become. And you can't come back from that ledge. It's very interesting to see Ginny walk this tightrope of chaos.'
Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix.
This season, Howey pointed out, Ginny and Georgia were forced to question whether or not they should be together. 'Are they better together? Or, are they better apart? Is it them against the world? This season poses so many questions.'
When asked if she thinks her character is a good mom, Howey gave a Georgia-like grin and said, 'I think so.' Georgia, she confirmed, will do anything for her children. 'This season gives her a run for her money. She's seeing the idea the public has about her, and it's starting to hit home like, 'My God, have I made my children's life harder than it needs to be? I think she had to get pushed to these extremes to have that realization. There's going to be a change, but as we see, it's very small and slow, but it's happening.'
Lampert agreed with Howey's comments about Georgia having narcissistic qualities. 'She definitely has a personality disorder that can get better with treatment.' She added that she and her team have worked closely with Mental Health America since season one to craft the characters' mental health journeys.
For seasons one and two, Lampert worked alongside showrunner and executive producer Debra J. Fisher, and for seasons three and four, she teamed up with Sarah Glinski.
Antonia Gentry and Diesel La Torraca in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix.
As to why the fans continue to support Georgia despite her penchant for murder, Glinski thinks it's because, at her core, Georgia is good. 'Georgia believes she's doing everything for her children. All of her actions come out of that place of love. The fact that she's doing things out of love makes us root for her.'
This is the beauty of good writing. Lampert, Glinski, and their team of writers have taken a character with a personality disorder that's very difficult to deal with and made her likable.
Lampert credited those at Mental Health America with helping to write various scenes and morph the mental health journeys of the characters throughout the seasons. When she asked the doctors she was working with what would have to happen for Ginny and Georgia to have a healthy relationship, she was advised that Georgia would have to be broken down.
'She'd have to face something big. She'd have to feel threatened with losing her children to come to an understanding that she has to change and that her actions have consequences. And Ginny would have to set some boundaries," revealed Lampert. "Ultimately, their relationship being healthy isn't on Ginny. She's the child. It's on Georgia. This season, we broke Georgia's soul with the hope to rebuild.'
To the fans anxiously waiting to see what happens next, the writers are back at work. 'The theme of season four is origins and cycles,' Lampert divulged, adding that though the original plan was to end Ginny & Georgia after four seasons, they've realized there's more to tell. 'We're not done yet.'