In my humble opinion, Camilla Luddington has truly embodied her character Jo Wilson on “Grey’s Anatomy.” The depth and authenticity she brings to the role are astounding. It seems as if Jo is not just a character, but an extension of Camilla herself.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD: This piece discusses key plot points from the season premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC, titled “If Walls Could Talk.
2012 saw Camilla Luddington trying out for an untested ABC series titled “Gilded Lilys,” a soap opera set in the 19th century and produced by Shonda Rhimes. Although she didn’t secure a role, shortly after, Shondaland, Rhimes’ production company, invited her to audition for the ninth season of “Grey’s Anatomy.” This was a show that Luddington made it a point to watch live every Thursday.
The sole problem arose when Luddington was scheduled to audition for “Grey’s” on Friday, but she was already committed to attending San Diego Comic-Con to promote the “Tomb Raider” video game, where she provided the voice for Lara Croft. Once her duties were completed, Luddington discovered that the producers hadn’t yet found a suitable actor for a new intern character who would become Justin Chambers’ Alex Karev’s love interest. She went for the part on Monday and was offered it by Wednesday. By Friday, she was already stepping onto the set of “Grey’s”.
After 12 seasons portraying Dr. Josephine “Jo” Wilson on the esteemed ABC medical drama, Luddington has returned for her 13th season, a relatively swift transition. Notably, the British actress has starred in over 250 episodes, outnumbering original cast members Patrick Dempsey and Sandra Oh in this regard. (Only Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Chambers, Kevin McKidd, and Jesse Williams have spent more time in the operating room than Luddington.)
Throughout this period, the audience has witnessed Luddington’s character evolve from a green intern with a troubled past to a seasoned attending general surgeon who opted to repeat her residency in OB/GYN. Given that “Grey’s” is “Grey’s,” Jo has faced more than enough hardships for several lifetimes: She was born of rape, abandoned at a fire station as a baby and raised within the foster care system; she bravely extricated herself from an abusive relationship and later watched her former husband expire before her eyes; she struggled with depression; and she married Karev, but he eventually left her for his ex-wife Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) without so much as a face-to-face conversation.
Luddington shared with EbMaster that he didn’t find out about the character’s past as a foster child and homeless person until halfway through the first season. He went on to say that this is what makes the show great – new details are constantly being revealed in each season. Even now, he’s still discovering more about her, which he found enjoyable.
For eight seasons, Jo’s life at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital was predominantly linked to Alex. However, recently, she has branched out independently. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she adopted a daughter named Luna. Last season saw her relationship with her long-time friend Atticus Lincoln (Chris Carmack) evolve from friendship to something more romantic. In the latest episode of this season, Jo reveals to Link that she’s expecting their baby together.
Luddington recently attended a gathering where opinions about Jo and Link’s relationship were heavily split. As someone who found her own husband in an unexpected way – they met while working together, became friends, then got married with kids – she admits to having a partial perspective. She appreciates their on-screen chemistry and believes their communication is the strongest any character has had in a relationship for Jo.
Luddington expresses uncertainty about whether Jo and Link will ultimately end up together, stating, “On ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ things are always shifting, so it’s hard to tell, but I truly hope they make it as an endgame couple.
On a recent afternoon drive home from school with her children, Luddington shares insights on the development of her beloved character, expresses personal thoughts regarding the manner “Grey’s” handled the exit of Karev, and explains why she believes Jo’s narrative still has much more to unfold.
You’ve now played Dr. Jo Wilson for over a dozen years. How would you say she has evolved in the time that you’ve spent walking in her shoes, and how has your understanding of her changed over time?
At first, she was extremely guarded and didn’t trust easily with anyone, keeping her secrets tightly hidden. It’s wonderful to see her now embracing openness and vulnerability – something we hadn’t witnessed much in the early episodes. This change was something she initially resisted greatly. As time passed, I began to comprehend more about the extent of her past traumas and pains. Initially, she appeared quite combative on numerous issues. However, as time went by, I believe I started to grasp why she had such defensive responses to certain triggers.
I’ve found it incredibly significant to discuss the mental health journey of this individual. At a certain point during several seasons, she acknowledged the need for assistance, marking the first time she sought help. This moment was truly transformative, paving the way for her current state.
So much of what we knew about Jo was tied to her relationship with Alex, and it has been fascinating to see her pick up the pieces and figure out how to move on with her life on her own terms. How did you personally feel about the way “Grey’s” chose to write out Alex, and have Jo learn that he’s left her for Izzie through a letter?
It’s intriguing how many TV shows portray heated arguments or the chance to exclaim “Screw you!” during a breakup, but in reality, many people don’t get such dramatic closure. I appreciate that our show tackled a breakup where one party doesn’t get that final confrontation with the other. So, what does this mean for the character involved? Essentially, they must find their own way to achieve closure.
When the episode where Alex said goodbye was broadcasted, many viewers reached out to me on social media, sharing their feelings by saying, “I can relate. I too have experienced not being able to argue our differences or have that final word,” and finding closure on their own terms. It’s uncommon to witness such a breakup portrayed on television, but I appreciated it and thought it was well-executed. I admired how her character had to find her own way forward, which is undeniably difficult. However, I believed she became stronger because of it.
How do you feel about Jo and Alex’s relationship now? Has Justin’s absence from the show given you an opportunity to see your characters’ dynamic in a different light, or do you still have a special affection for that relationship?
It’s funny. It changes now to me that she’s with Link, because when I look back on their relationship or think back on their relationship, I realized their communication was horrible. There were so many things about her that she didn’t feel comfortable saying to him, even when they’d been together for a really long time. I feel like if you don’t have that communication, if you can’t be honest and vulnerable and you’re concealing things, it’s never going to work. What I love now is that she’s in a relationship where I feel like she can be open, things can be hard, and she can have those tough conversations. So, I feel differently playing this character in a new relationship. That’s how I reflect on the past for her.
But do you still have any favorite moments from Jo and Alex’s relationship, despite the way they ended things?
The wedding was absolutely hilarious, if a bit chaotic. To be honest, it was such a fiasco for those characters that I still chuckle when I think back on it, despite their subsequent breakup. The humor in the situation comes from its disarray, yet it somehow fit perfectly for those two individuals.
What are some of the new layers that you have been able to find in Jo in recent years, particularly as she has evolved away from Alex and into the woman she is now?
Over time, it seems as if her character struggled with finding her life’s purpose. However, as the storyline progressed, it became evident that she began to understand her worth and desires in life. It’s amusing because when I revisited earlier seasons, it was clear that she was somewhat aimless, even in her professional pursuits. A memorable moment during the pandemic really stood out to me – she expressed a need for happiness and acknowledged that her current job no longer fulfilled her. As an actress, I’ve noticed that her character consistently encounters critical turning points in her life, which can be likened to a fork in the road. Although I wouldn’t say she was able to make those decisions confidently in earlier seasons, now she seems more capable of doing so from a healthier perspective for herself.
Let’s talk about one of those life-changing, fork-in-the-road moments: Jo is pregnant with Link’s baby! How did you personally react to this storyline at the end of last season, and how will Jo’s pregnancy affect her relationship with Link going forward?
I can’t disclose the direction of the plot since a pregnancy storyline can take various paths. You’ll find out the twist in our first episode and subsequent ones. I’ve always dreamed of Jo having a large family, as I believe she desires the same. So, when I learned it would be with Link, who is her best friend, I was thrilled. Their relationship felt very romantic to me, and I adore them together. They seem to have a strong, healthy bond, so I was ready to go along as long as they were on board. So far, their relationship has been smooth, but this season will introduce more turbulence to their journey together.
There was recently a story about how one of the ways the “Grey’s” producers are handling a reduced budget for Season 21 is by not having all the actors in every episode. For instance, Owen (McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver) don’t appear in the premiere. Is that the case for you as well? Will we not see Jo in every episode this season?
This season, Jo won’t appear in every episode, but you’ll notice that the episodes we do have are jam-packed with a lot of story developments happening at once. I want to assure fans that even though Jo might not be there as often, other characters’ stories will still be well-represented. After a table read, everyone was raving about how amazing this season is, with each character having a rich and fulfilling storyline. So rest assured, no one’s story will feel secondary or incomplete this season.
One of the key tenets of being an actor is you want to be able to play as many different kinds of characters as possible, but you have the distinct privilege of being able to play a character all the way through — to the point where she does start to feel like a real person, like she’s a part of you. What has it been like for you to grow with your character, and why have you chosen to stay on “Grey’s” when a lot of your co-stars have left to seek out different opportunities?
If the creative drive isn’t stimulated, I might contemplate departing, but each new season brings such intriguing content that I find myself believing there’s still untold stories for her character. It’s indeed surprising, playing a role for so many years, as it feels like growing up alongside your character and experiencing similar moments where our lives mirror each other. For instance, during the same period on the show when Jo had a one-year-old keeping her awake all night, I too was dealing with a restless toddler at home, which made our behind-the-scenes lives somewhat synchronous. This unique occurrence arises when playing characters for an extended period, where sometimes your personal life intertwines and aligns with the character’s journey. However, I view this opportunity as a great honor, as it allows me to bring such a role to life over such an extended time.
How long do you hope to stay on “Grey’s”? Are you the kind of person who wants to ride it out until the end, or do you think there will come a time when you feel you’re ready to say goodbye?
As I reflect upon this captivating series, I find myself standing at a crossroads with some of the characters, where it’s evident they’re embarking on fresh beginnings. Being privileged to be part of this production for so long, I can’t help but yearn to accompany them further on their journey.
Looking back, is there an episode or a storyline that you still find people wanting to talk to you about when they meet you on the street?
In my opinion, the standout episode from “My So-Called Life” is undoubtedly “Silent All These Years,” where Jo encounters her mother. This episode delves into sensitive topics like sexual assault and consent, which resonated deeply with many viewers. What’s striking about this episode is that it showcases the immediate impact of such events on individuals, a rarity in television shows. The influx of calls to RAINN reporting abuse significantly increased in the days following its airing.
You and your former co-star Jessica Capshaw, who played Dr. Arizona Robbins, recently launched a new iHeart podcast, “Call It What It Is.” What have you made of that experience thus far? Has it changed your relationship at all?
Initially, we’re quite close, almost like sisters, which means our closeness hasn’t significantly changed due to this situation. However, it has led us to expand our friendship circle in a way we often discuss. Being part of a podcast has made us realize that there’s a certain etiquette when doing interviews, but with a podcast, you need to let go of that formal feeling and become more open and vulnerable, as we delve into personal topics. At the moment, we’re discussing Jo Wilson’s story, but this experience also requires me, Camilla, to share more about myself, which is something Jessica and I are learning to do together. This journey has been quite fascinating for us.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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2024-09-27 06:17