What’s it like to have an icon like Robin Givens playing Josie’s mother?
Having Robin Givens playing my mom — I didn’t think I was going to have so many dreams come true in a year. I grew up on Robin Givens. I’ve always wanted to work with a lot of people, and she is one of those people, and being able to absorb all of this wisdom that she has to offer and playing with her on screen is so easy. She’s so much fun. She is meticulous about her work in the same way that I am, so being able to have that mother and daughter dynamic is instant. As soon as I saw her, I was like “that’s my mom.” That’s my mama! Mama McCoy!
Are there any expectations made of Josie because her mother is the Mayor of Riverdale?
Yes. I think moreso from her mother rather than everyone else. She has created this elitism through her own right because of her mom, but all of the people — all of the “kids” if I can use that, in Riverdale, know Josie because of her talent. Her mom kind of helps showcase that moreso outside of the high school. Josie has a reputation as an artist because of her performances and who she is, and then the widespread knowing of that reputation is because of her mother. It’s a hand in hand kind of thing.
Is Josie going to be expected to perform in the 75th anniversary jubilee?
I don’t know! I hope so. I’m not really sure; there’s a lot of focus surrounding the murder, and even I want to know who did it! It’s interesting, and I hope that we’re able to see more of Josie as the show evolves.
Once you get to the point of filming the finale, are you going to read the pages to find out who killed Jason Blossom, assuming it’s not Josie?
Assuming it’s not me! I haven’t. We just play Mafia. I’m almost positive it’s not me. I don’t know! I don’t know if I want to read it and find out who did it. I’m not sure if I want to find out.
Do you think they might hide it from all of you?
They might, because Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa, showrunner] has been very good about keeping it under wraps. Madelaine [Petsch] will e-mail him and text and be like “oh, I think it’s this person!” after we’ve read a new script, and he’ll be like “yeah, that sounds… maybe!” [Laughs] We can never get a straight answer! It’s to the point where we will be in hair and makeup at six o’clock in the morning, being like “oh, well I just read 6 and I’m not sure if that’s who did it!”
I thought it could have been Miss Grundy, and I was like “oh, maybe it is! She’s just out here messin’ with kids and then she’s killing ’em!” But then once we got to 6 and 7, I was like “maybe it’s the Coopers!” I don’t know, and I’m nervous to find out who it is!
You mentioned that Archie might have something going on with Valerie at some point. Could there be a romantic future for Josie and Archie?
You know what’s funny is that KJ [Apa] seems to think that there will be, and I’m just like “that’s because you’re having a romantic situation with everybody! Calm down.” But I don’t know! I definitely could see it maybe being one of those things where it could work, where the dynamic between the two of them could be so powerful, but it’s almost too powerful. It’s kind of like Hancock with Will Smith and Charlize. They can’t be together because if they do they will literally be their downfall. So, I’m cool to Kate and Leo it. We might have a little moment for a minute, but I don’t think so.
Have Josie and Kevin Keller interacted at all, and do they have any kind of dynamic?
We see each other in the hallway. [Laughs] That’s about it. We don’t have a dynamic. I know there’s only so much we can flesh out in one season, so right now, there is a lot of focus on the Coopers and the Blossoms, and we have our happenings outside of that. Even if I don’t get to have that interaction with Kevin on screen, Casey [Cott] is the bomb-dig. We both live in New York, so I get Casey whether we’re on screen or not!
Is there any actor that you wish you could work with more on the show?
I would love to work with Madelaine and Cami a lot more. I think there might be a developing friendship between Josie and Veronica, but there has kind of been a bit of a verbal establishment of a connection between Josie and Cheryl, so I’m hoping to be able to do that.
Josie and Cheryl both have positions of power but in different areas. Can you talk about that?
That is exactly what it is. We are in different positions of power, but we have a mutual respect for one another. We’re that type of best friendship where we’re not at each other’s houses all the time, but if one of us ever needed anything, the other would do it.
So are you suggesting that your characters might actually let their guards down for each other?
Yes. I would definitely suggest that. I feel like Josie knows Cheryl in a way that a lot of people don’t. She keeps it private, because it’s not her business to talk about, but I feel like with this death of Jason, it’s caused her to unravel, so everybody is seeing all types of things, and maybe one day Josie will come and comfort her. We’ll see. I think the dynamic between the two of them could be very strong.
Do the Blossoms have history with Josie’s mother?
I definitely do think so. It is a small town and there are various lineages within this town, so having the McCoys be there, and the Blossoms, and the Coopers, I absolutely do think that there is a connection between the two, especially because my mother is the Mayor and oversees law enforcement. There is a push for answers, so, yeah.
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Why should people be watching the show?
People should tune in because what we’re bringing to television is something that’s been long awaited but also never before seen. It’s got this dynamic not just between the kids, but the families too, so we’re covering so many demographics, and on top of that, we’re taking something that people loved since childhood, and are putting this really fun, juicy, dark taste on it. Nobody’s flying around; nobody’s blowing things up from a fireball in their palm… we are taking these iconic characters and putting flesh and blood on their bones and watching them live and walk through this life as we know it today, in 2017, and it is such a ride. You’re not going to want to miss it! It would be a shame to miss it.
Our thanks to Ashleigh Murray for taking the time to talk with us! Riverdale airs Thursdays at 9PM ET/PT on The CW.
