Exclusive: Paige Hurd on her character Lauren’s comeback in Power Book II: Ghost Season 3
As Power Book II: Ghost enters the halfway mark in Season 3, there’s still a lot of mystery as to who will make it out alive. In Episode 6 “Land of Lies,” Tariq demands answers after a startling revelation shakes up the relationships in his life — both business and personal. Tragedy brings the Tejadas to the brink of war as they work with the Castillos to enact revenge.
Spoiler alert: That revelation turned out that Tariq now knows that Lauren is alive and that Effie and Brayden, his best friends, tried to kill her.
For actress Paige Hurd, who plays Lauren and who we saw at the end of Episode 1 of this season, it was a challenge keeping this secret from her friends and going about her business as if her run on the series had ended.
Blackfilmandtv.com caught up with Hurd as she spoke about Lauren’s comeback and what to expect going forward.
The world now knows that Lauren is alive. How long did you know you'd be coming back?
Paige Hurd: Oh my gosh. Too long. I have known for a while and it was so hard to keep the secret. I knew when we were filming our finale for season two. So yeah, it's been quite a while.
What has Lauren been up to throughout that whole time?
Paige Hurd: It's so weird because technically it’s only been summer. So she's just been in WITSEC, and she’s at her wit’s end being in the program in which she hasn't really been doing anything while she's been in hiding.
There’s a scene where she talks about she's had no Wi-Fi. So in today's world, for a person that young, how do they manage and cope with being in a house with no Wi-Fi and they can't get on the computer?
Paige Hurd: I don't know. When I read that. I was like, “Wait, hold on.” I get it. It’s for her safety. But like, no Wi-Fi is crazy. I hope she had some TV of the movie. There's books she can read when you're in a position like that. I did see like a tweet where people were like, if she's in WITSEC, how does she have fresh nails? I'm like, well, she's doing her nails because what else is she gonna be doing? Stuff like that. She's doing her nails. She's figuring out her hair. She's getting creative.
What's her emotional state at this point? Obviously, she survived being killed. She’s in WITSEC. She believed at the time that Tariq is after her along with his cohorts. Is she out for revenge. I don't see her being totally angry to the situation that she's in.
Paige Hurd: I think that she is angry. But I think her anger is not directed in the way that people would think. So you're right, it's not revenge. We keep seeing more of her in these positions where she just keeps getting blamed when she's clearly trying to do the right thing. And she's trying to be a good person. She's exhausted and tired. She just wants to go home. Like, everything else can be what it's going to be. It’s none of her business anymore. She just wanted to go home and eat some good food and be with her family. So yeah, I don't think she wants revenge. I think she just wants to get the hell out of there.
When she goes to her house, but she doesn't see her parents there. Wasn't she risking it all? She's already talked to Tariq. He's told he had nothing to do with the attempt to get her killed. But you still have Effie out there and Brayden, who could still spot her and get her killed?
Paige Hurd: Right. I think because around the first few episodes, we saw Jenny show her the photos of Effie living her life with Tariq and being at Stanfield and stuff, I feel whereas you always try to keep one eye open, I feel like she almost has this thing where she doesn't see Effie looking that hard for her because she thinks she's in the clear. But going home I think Lauren probably wouldn't be thinking; it just was the most comfortable thing for her at that moment. And not having the parents there. I think that probably was the scary part. Or just figuring trying to figure out like where could they be?
Do you see Lauren having a dark side?
Paige Hurd: No, I don't. I really don’t. If Lauren had a dark side we would have seen it by now. I feel like she's been in so many different positions where she could have turned to that person and I just I'm not sure if it’s in Lauren, I'd like it to be. I'd like her to boss up. I'd like her to figure some things out for herself and get a little a little stronger. But I'm not sure if she has a dark side.
As you spend time time of the show, and worked with different directors and writers, how have you grown as an actress?
Paige Hurd: Every every time I'm on a new set, you're always learning something. And like you said, there's different writers and different directors and each person has their own vision. So it's just nice to be open to take that direction and take those visions and bring them to life and having those conversations with those directors. And just, collaborating on a project, and it's just always nice to learn something new from each person that you work with. All our directors and writers are incredible. So I'm really grateful, because they make it really easy for me to do my job.
Being that you had to keep your comeback a secret, how was it when everybody else is promoting the show? Because you can't say anything? People watch your messages and anything you say will get people to assume something.
Paige Hurd: Right? I honestly forgot I was on this season. Because when you have to lie so long, you have to just really believe it. Like I forgot. I was like, "Oh my gosh, wait, I'm actually on this season." Totally forgotten. So it was interesting. It was definitely weird this year, not being able to be a part of any promotions or the photoshoots. I live in California. So driving down Sunset Boulevard and seeing the billboards and I'm like oh, that's so cool. Then I have to remind myself that I’m on the series as well.
Was it hard when you see people and between last season and now you're going places, and everybody's like, "Oh, you had a good run on the show?" And you're like, "Yeah, wait till they see back."
Paige Hurd: Yeah. It’s so funny when people when they would try to convince me that I am alive. And I feel like "I'm not like, I'm really sorry.” Or moments where people would ask me like, "Oh, when is your dream coming up?" And I was like, "Oh, I don't know.” Then they say, "Oh, yeah, that's right. They did kill you. Okay, have a good day.”
Between the show, have you done anything else?
Paige Hurd: I've been working on a few projects. I have one that should be dropping soon. One is a movie I did with Meagan Good and Terrence J. So I'm really excited about that. Not exactly sure on the release data, but that's something that I just finished up a few months ago.
What goes into saying yes to any projects you take?
Paige Hurd: For me, I just like to be very strategic. I like to take roles that I feel like will move the needle forward, that are going to challenge me, and roles that also comfortable. Especially if you're going to be working for years at something, you just want to make sure it's sensible and it's moving you in the right direction and not keeping you from moving you anywhere. So that's always really important for how I choose what I'm going to do.
What can we expect if you can say anything from Lauren coming up?
Paige Hurd: I'm really hoping that she can just take her power back in whichever way that'd be.