Girlfriend and Boyfriend: An interview with OITNB’s Laura Prepon and Jason Biggs
have fans that support these [questionable] decisions is great — because Alex is a character who is a badass, sometimes you love to hate and other times you’re like, “Whoa, she’s so cool.” But they’re just supportive. They support the show. They love the show. It’s a great acknowledgement.
BIGGS: Just that relationship [between Piper and Alex] and the way it’s portrayed on screen is exciting for a lot of people because it’s unique. It’s
real and there’s not a lot like it on television. So people that have similar relationships I think are that much more invested in it — and therefore in you [Laura]. People have become quite fanatical about [Alex and Piper] and what it represents.
PREPON: Well, that’s the thing, it’s really relevant right now, portraying a same-sex relationship on camera. I love when people come up to me and say, “Thank you for being a voice and portraying a same-sex relationship on camera.” That makes me feel good — not only are we actors, but we’re also creating these awesome effects on people. And when you’re on a project that can do that and give people something to really relate to, it’s a big deal. This show is very, very special.
PRESS: We were talking to Natasha and Yael about the sex scenes and how explicit they are, but that they’re also very realistic in a lot of ways, awkward and kind of funny. I was wondering if both of you could talk about your experiences and maybe the importance of creating those kind of sex scenes for television, where we don’t often see things like that.
PREPON: The first scene I ever did on the show was when Taylor [Schilling] and I were in the shower in the pilot. That was our first scene together. And it’s like “Okay, cool.” Luckily, we were totally comfortable with each other and had chemistry right away. We literally did one take of that, and she looked at me and was like, “Thank god it’s you.” I’m like, “Girl, thank god it’s you.” Because we were so comfortable.
It was funny because when the first season started out, my character was usually the aggressor in the sex scenes. It started out like, “Okay, Taylor, my hands are going to be here and my hands are going to be up on here,” and she’s like, “Okay, cool.” And then as the season went by, I’m like, “Okay, my hands are going to be like here” and she’s like, “Put your hands wherever you want. I trust you, it doesn’t matter.” [Laughs.]
BIGGS: She never got to that place with me! She needed my hands inside [my pockets] at all times.
PREPON: Now, we’re both so comfortable. But also our directors are really great. You try to get as comfortable as you can be in front of crew people looking at you and not getting into someone’s light when you’re trying to be with them on camera, so it’s a lot of technical stuff. It gets to a certain point, especially this show, since all these women are such different shapes and sizes and color and creed and it’s so awesome, and everyone owns it. And on this show, it’s the most confident I’ve ever felt in my body.
The show really pushes you out of your comfort zone, which makes you grow as an actress, it’s that much more amazing that you feel comfortable with your fellow actresses, and it makes you want to just go all out and it’s awesome, actually. It’s really cool. And it’s funny because when Jenji and I first talked about the sex scenes and showing nudity, she’s like, “Look, it’s not gratuitous. You’re in a female prison. And if you’re in the bathroom hiding behind a towel, you’re the one who’s going to stand out.” She was saying that to all the girls. “In a women’s prison you all got the same parts, and you walk around and it happens and when you have sex it actually looks weird if you’re always covered up. Because in real life you’re not.” And one thing about the show was that we definitely try to be as authentic as we can be.
Orange is the New Black, Season 2, is streaming exclusively on Netflix. Season 1 is available on Netflix and on Blu-Ray and DVD at Amazon.com.
More interviews from “Orange Is the New Black” by Metro Weekly:
- Danielle Brooks and Samira Wiley (“Tasha ‘Taystee’ Jefferson” & “Poussey Washington”)
- Kate Mulgrew and Lorraine Toussant (“Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov” & “Yvonne ‘Vee’ Parker”)
- Laura Prepon & Jason Biggs (“Alex Vause” & “Larry Bloom”)
- Laverne Cox (“Sophia Burset”)
- Selenis Leyva (“Gloria Mendoza”)
- Yael Stone & Natasha Lyonne (“Lorna Morello” & “Nicky Nichols”)
- Piper Kerman (author of the original book)
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