After much anticipation, Virgin River Season 4 premiered on the Netflix platform on July 20 and it is currently topping viewers’ charts all over the world. According to Zibby Allen, who plays Jack’s sister Brie, Virgin River Season 4 features relatable and well-shaped characters, topical issues, but it’s also very fun, satifying and steamy!
We at Survived The Shows had the pleasure of chatting with Zibby Allen about her character’s growth throughout the seasons of Virgin River and what’s next in Season 5. Check out full interview in the video below!
What is the main element of Brie’s character and the show in general that fascinates you the most and drew you to join Virgin River?
ZIBBY ALLEN: Well, I mean. Virgin River is just a wonderful show, so I was drawn to it, you know, because I loved watching it already. I think that this show really embodies a kind of idyllic way of life that a lot of us fantasize about: Living in a smaller town with a community that’s there for each other where love is available to you or you’re in nature. And so for all those reasons I was drawn to the show because I liked the tone and the feeling, and I thought the cast before I joined was already. Such a talented group of actors – you know I was already a fan of Martin Henderson and Alexandra Breckenridge and their work – So the idea of working that with them, is what had high appeal to me.
And then the character of Brie, who plays, as you know, Jack’s sister.
Jack is the other half of the main duo on the show. She’s a really cool, complex character. You know she’s hard charging ballsy, really smart, a lawyer, and at the same time when we meet her and when she comes to Virgin River, she’s kind of running away from a really painful event. She, I don’t think it’s any mystery now. She was sexually assaulted by her boyfriend back home in Sacramento, and so she’s really running from that pain. And trying to avoid that part of her life and she’s in a little bit of an identity crisis and she’s fighting hard for a sense of empowerment to get that back and a sense of normality on the heels of being so rocked by that.
So I love that that Bree is equally independent and sort of fiercely determined, but also really vulnerable and craving love and connection and healing and doesn’t fully know how to get it. So as an actor, that’s a really fun sort of dichotomy to to play with.
Considering how Virgin River characters are always so believable and realistic, is there anything in Brie’s character that you see in yourself? Where are you two most similar and where different?
ZA: Bree and I have a lot of differences in that. I think she is. Umm? Kind of stronger in a way than I am like. I’m far more sensitive. I’m a sensitive little vessel, you know, as is she and that’s where we really intercept, but she’s really good at compartmentalizing. She is very. Ambitious and I am, but not in a traditional sense. You know, she went to law school. She’s kind of an overachiever.
I probably wear my heart on my sleeve a lot more where she’s got a little bit more grit and she’s tough and she doesn’t suffer fools and she knows how to front like if you know me I I can’t hide like how I’m actually feeling but Bree’s really good at that. So it’s fun to step into her shoes. She teaches me a lot about my own self and I like to always borrow from my characters so maybe I’m getting better at keeping a poker face. Yeah.
Yes, that’s the best part of what we do.
I always say that a character chooses me in some way, not me choosing them. Whenever I get a role, I feel like that role chooses me to bring me to know aspects of myself that I didn’t know were there or that I can exploit more and use in my everyday life. So, in a way, I feel like I got very close to Brie. She is very important to me and I trust her….
What was the biggest challenge for you in playing her?
ZA: Well, I think the sexual assault component to the story is just emotionally challenging to visit and find inside of me and to really go there. And it feels really important to carry that part of the story, because it’s a universal kind of pain and the statistics are pretty staggering in terms of sexual assault, and so I have a real strong sense of responsibility around that. So it’s a challenge -a worthy challenge, and I’m really proud to be able to take it on. Yeah, but it’s not fun. You know, it’s heavy.
If you had to describe Virgin River Season 4 in three adjectives, which ones would you choose?
ZA: Criminal. Satisfying and Steamy. In no particular order.
A fun question that I think all Virgin River fans are asking theirselves: Are you team Mike and Brie or team Brady and Brie?
ZA: This is my favorite question. I don’t know, on my social media, it’s probably still there in one of the highlight stories, fans were asking me to ask my husband that question and his answer actually shocked me. I- here’s what I am I’m going to – I’m going to be a little neutral, but it’s genuine. I am team whatever is best for Bree. And I think she and Brady have a real sparkly fiery electric, whatever you want to call it, chemistry that is, I think, very fun for the audience to watch. And I think really exciting for the two of them.
But as you know, Brady and Brie come from very different walks of life.
And so there’s a big question mark about whether or not they can actually be in a sustainable, healthy, balanced relationship, or if they’re just too different and what they ultimately didn’t need in life. It’s not something they can find in each other. But I don’t know.
Maybe they can do it. I am rooting for Brady to sort of evolve out of the life that he’s been sort of living in as this consummate bachelor, bad boy. And I think that Brie really inspires this desire in him to do better and be better and be what Bree needs.
So in a way I’m rooting for them, but also Mike Venezuela. He’s very attractive and cool and down to Earth and what what Mike and Brie have in common is that they both work to some degree in the justice system, right? They both have this penchant for justice and they have their act together in a way that, you know, Brady just doesn’t yet. I think that there’s some stability there that Mike can offer and so, you know, they’ll figure it out, and I think we’ll have fun watching them figure it out.
How was it like for you to build these relationships with both Marco and Benjamin on set?
ZA: They’re both wonderful and you know , Marco and I. Here’s a fun fact, Marco and I actually played love interests on a movie years ago. A hallmark movie. I can’t even remember what it’s called, it’s off the top of my head. There’s a Valentine’s Hallmark movie, so that’s actually we actually have a history of working together in the romantic realm before, so we’ve been friends for a lot longer than I’ve been on the show, and I love him. I mean, his sense of humor is a riot. I love teasing him on set. We kind of have this great report that was pre-established before the show, so that’s fine.
But Ben is a great scene partner. From day one, you know, he’s really committed to the storyline of Brady and Brie. And as a result we found a really great rhythm on camera together and I really appreciate that because, you know, it’s weird to like go to set and suddenly start making out with somebody that you’ve met like an hour ago. But he made it completely comfortable and easy and I think that’s rare, you know. So I appreciate them both equally.
One thing that fans really loved was also the amount of Brie and Mel moments in season 4. It was great to see them like being there for each other and be like real sisters even if they they don’t, they aren’t. And to have that included is something that you and Alexandra fought for and how is it like for you to play this dynamic between Brie and Mel?
ZA: Yeah, I mean, we really, really like each other. She is an extraordinary human and I admire her as a creative, certainly, and then also just as a friend and a person. So, getting to work together is such a treat and super fun also. And I think we both were hoping Mel and Bree would get a chance to play off of each other more because we already have that rapport. But also, it’s good for Mel to have a girl friendship. It’s good, it’s good for all of us, for all these characters have good girl friendships too.
Yes, it’s a romantic show, but there’s something so grounding about the families, like the family ties and the good friendships that are formed in Virgin River too. Because, you know, it’s all about community at the end of the day, and so I’m excited for them. I’m excited that they get to be sister-in-laws.
Talking a little about what’s next – considering you’ve come out of a table read for the first two episodes of Season 5 – what can you tease to Virgin River fans about it? Where do we start off at the beginning of Season 5?
ZA: We start off almost right, I mean, I think it’s the next day from where Season 4 left off. So we’re not skipping in time and I think I can say – I hope I can say that, If not, you know, this is going to fire me, and this was a nice career. It was great talking to you, but no – we start like almost right away and we continue on and I think is good because as you know there were a lot of cliffhangers in season 4. And so we get to those pretty quickly because there’s a lot of ground to cover this coming season. A lot happens and it’s important stuff, stuff the audience wants to see, and then some unexpected as well. You know, because it’s still a drama, but yeah, I mean, all I can say is it’s going to be awesome.
And my first day filming, because we’re back filming, was in one of the most beautiful locations in the entire world. And so, I know that Virgin River is known for its scenery, and we are not skimping on the beautiful landscapes this season. I mean, I was like at the top of the mountain, looking practically at the top of the world like it was.
One of the main question that arises at the end of season 4 for Brie, is whether will she like call Dawn to account for what he did in court, what do you think about it? Will we see this kind of this kind of dynamics in season 5?
ZA: Yeah, if you’ve read the books and, if you don’t know, there are 20 books and they’re wonderful by Robin Carr. So, she’s the one who’s penned those books which the series is based on, though the series, you know, diverges quite a bit from the books, but in the books, Brie does go to trial and she testifies against her ex, so, you know, as you saw at the end of season 4, she says ‘You better lawyer up and I’m going to press charges’. So the most I can say is that she definitely follows through on trying to stand up to Donne, which I think is so important again for the viewers and for tackling the subject.
The one thing I’ll say about that, though, is that just because Brie is so strong-headed and determined to take him on, what I hope is that audience members all over the world don’t feel like that’s the only way to do it. Because what I’ve loved so far, you know, to deal with something that’s happened to you because it’s different for everybody, is that Brie has been dealing with her PTSD from that event very imperfectly. You know, a lot of times she’s not dealing with it, and I think that’s really human and really relatable.
So whatever happens with Brie in terms of the trial and taking on her ex, I think it’ll be really valuable to see.
My hope, though, is that people can also keep that imperfect peace. So that, as we’re all watching, we can see a part of ourselves in it and not try and hold ourselves to an impossible standard, but really understand it’s so personal and individual and no one can tell you how to deal with it, you know? That’s my little two cents, but yes, she’s going to. They’ll be more of the John Grey piece.
If you had to choose one character, besides Brie, that you would have liked to play in Virgin River, which would it be?
ZA: Connie. Connie was just at the top of my head. She’s the best, like she’s so funny. Oh my God, I just absolutely love her. I think she’d be a ball to play. Umm, yeah, I think she would be really really fun. Any of those women in the sewing circle. I just love them so much. They’re so, you know, Aunt Liddy absolutely kills me. She killed me this last season. Last night I was just like crying at her performance. I’ve got to write her. But yeah, I mean one of those ladies because I just think it’d be so fun. They all have such a ball together anytime they film – you, like, just hear laughter and cackles from across the sound stage because they all have such a good time. So I think that would be fun.
The interview has been edited for clarity and lenght. Check out the full interview with Zibby Allen, one of the stars of Netflix’s hit Virgin River, in the video above!
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