Based on the novel by Arafair Burke, The Better Sister, which premiered yesterday on Prime Video, follows Chloe Taylor (Jessica Biel), a high-powered magazine editor whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when her husband Adam (Corey Stoll) is murdered in their Hamptons home. The tragedy forces Chloe to reunite with her estranged sister Nicky (Elizabeth Banks), who is also Adam’s ex-wife and the biological mother of their teenage son, Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan). As suspicion falls on Ethan and the investigation uncovers hidden family secrets, Chloe and Nicky must confront their painful past and work together to protect Ethan. Throughout the ordeal, Catherine Lancaster (Lorraine Toussaint), Chloe’s mentor and friend from her publishing world, provides crucial support and guidance, helping Chloe navigate the media storm and personal crisis that follows Adam’s death.

Recently, stars Stoll and Toussaint spoke with SciFi Vision about working on the eight-part limited series, connecting with their characters, and more.

Watch the interview and read the transcript below. The Better Sister is now available on Prime Video.



SCIFI VISION:   To, start off, why don't you both tell me, what made you want to be a part of it? We'll just go Corey, then Lorraine.

COREY STOLL:   You know, I often play a lot of characters who are incredibly strong and high status and sort of in control. And it was really exciting to get a chance to play a character who is struggling so much, both in the shadow of his more successful wife, and with raising his son, who is sort of floundering. There was just such a rich space to work in with all that, with all these different relationships.

And yeah, it was a really compelling read.

LORRAINE TOUSSAINT:   And Regina Corrado and I worked on a series previously for ABC. So, I dare say she wrote it for me, certainly wrote it with me in mind. And the space opened up where I was actually able to do it, and I've always loved Regina's writing. So, I think I might've said yes to her before even reading it, in theory, but it was also such a terrifically complex character and so many different wonderful layers to play. It was so rich on the page. I also knew the cast that she was bringing together, Corey and Elizabeth and Jessica, who I've fallen in love with. So, it was a perfect storm.

SCIFI VISION:   Did either of you have any trouble connecting with anything with the character? I know Corey, you said that he's obviously different from what you're used to playing, but did you have trouble connecting with that part of it?

COREY STOLL:   No, not at all. You know, everything about this production was easy. It was a really collaborative, uncomplicated presence on set.

You know, we were talking about this before, it's an almost entirely female driven creative team and lead actors, and it's just, it's the way to work. I really, if I could, for the rest of my career, just work with women, I would do that, because there's just so much nonsense that gets out of the way.

Yeah, and the writing was very true, even though this show is sort of - there're a lot of sort of bonkers plot twists and, you know, really, really complicated relationships. There's a very truthful human element that runs through it. And Regina and Olivia Milch, who was also her co-showrunner, really invested in these relationships and then the psychological reality at their core.

SCIFI VISION:   Lorraine, did you find anything difficult or, do you kind of feel the same way, that it went pretty well?

LORRAINE TOUSSAINT:   Oh, gosh, it was lovely. Honestly, I've never felt like I wanted to give more on a project. I just wanted to please them, and I am not a people pleaser in the least, but I just wanted to make Olivia and Regina happy with what I was giving them, because what they had delivered to me was so rich. The world that they created on and off the screen was so true and authentic and genuine and joyous, joyous. It was a terrifically joyous job, and they aren't all that way. But as a result, I kept checking in with them. “Do you like it? Is that good enough? Do you want something else? Is there anything else you want me to do?” I just wanted to give and give and give. So, that's a lovely moment when that happens in the work.