- Jennifer Holland has lifted the lid on playing two versions of Emilia Harcourt in Peacemaker season 2
- Viewers were finally introduced to Harcourt 2 in this season’s third episode
- Holland used a funny nickname to help her differentiate between the pair
Peacemaker season 2 actor Jennifer Holland has opened up on her process for playing two versions of the same character in the hit HBO Max show.
Speaking to TechRadar, Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt in the DC Universe (DCU), was tasked with portraying two iterations as part of this season’s plot. And, apart from some key differences that make each Harcourt feel unique, Holland admits portraying two versions of the same character wasn’t as challenging as she first feared. Full spoilers immediately follow for season 2 episode 3, so turn back now if you haven’t seen it yet.
Peacemaker‘s latest chapter, titled ‘Another Rick Up My Sleeve’, finally introduces us to Harcourt 2, aka the version who exists in the parallel world that the eponymous anti-hero, real name Chris Smith, discovers in this season’s premiere.
Before episode 1’s end credits roll, Smith learns this parallel dimension is not only home to another Harcourt (i.e. Harcourt 2), but also that she’d dated his alternate self by way of a framed photograph in the latter’s bedroom. However, before he can process everything, this universe’s Peacemaker ambushes him, a fight ensues, and Smith unintentionally kills his multiversal doppelganger.
Before he fully disposes of his multiversal variant’s body in season 2 chapter 2, Smith swipes his parallel self’s phone. Via a series of photos and videos on said device, he soon realizes Harcourt 2 acts and sounds completely different to Harcourt 1, too.
After his romantic advances are rejected by Harcourt 1 once more in his own universe, an inebriated Smith travels to the parallel world again, with episode 2 ending with him drunkenly texting Harcourt 2, who responds before the screen cuts to black.
With the Smith portion of the DCU Chapter One TV series’ latest episode primarily taking place in the alternate dimension, it isn’t long before we actually meet Harcourt 2 – and, based on the videos and pictures we saw in Peacemaker 2’s phone, she’s exactly what we expected. Warm, engaging, occasionally funny and, most importantly, outwardly concerned for Smith’s well-being and emotionally available, she appears to be everything Harcourt 1 isn’t.
Well, on the surface, anyway. Holland told me it was vital there were clear similarities between Harcourts 1 and 2, such as their physical appearance, which is why she was tasked with playing both versions. In order to make each iteration as distinct as possible, then, Holland’s approach to crafting Harcourt 2 came through the latter’s upbringing and personality. Oh, and a funny nickname that Holland and Peacemaker writer/director (and Holland’s husband) James Gunn came up with to refer to Harcourt 2 as.
“For a while, we referred to Harcourt 2 as Thirst-court,” Holland says with a laugh. “She [Harcourt 2] was really hurt by him [Smith 2], but sometimes she doesn’t help herself. She wears her heart on her sleeve and communicates her emotions – sometimes a little too much, so she comes across as being quite needy.
“But, she’s different from Harcourt 1, whose relationship with Chris is very complicated – it’s way more complex than the dynamic between Harcourt 2 and the Chris Smith who used to exist in this parallel world,” Holland continued. “The way I approached them was… I wanted them to feel like the same person with the same genetic makeup, but they’re individuals who had different childhoods and paths through life. Harcourt 1 has a lot of trauma that we haven’t fully explored yet. Harcourt 2 doesn’t have any of that, so how does that change a person through that ‘nature versus nurture’ debate? Hopefully, you’ll get to see how that plays out.”
Peacemaker season 2 episodes 1 through 3 are out now on HBO Max and other streaming platforms globally. New chapters air weekly.
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