Molly Parker Embraces Complex Role in Medical Drama DOC's Second Season
Actress Molly Parker has revealed that what initially attracted her to the lead role in the medical drama DOC was precisely how unlikable her character appears at the beginning of the series. The Canadian performer, known for her work in Deadwood and House of Cards, finds the complexity of Dr Amy Larsen to be particularly compelling material for an actor.
The Allure of an Unlikable Female Lead
In a recent interview, Parker explained that it's rare to encounter a female lead character who is permitted to be genuinely mean and unpleasant at times. "It's rare to find a woman in the lead who is allowed to be really mean and awful, you know, is allowed to be unlikable sometimes," Parker stated. She relished exploring the character's darker aspects before a life-altering accident changes everything.
Before the traumatic event, Amy Larsen serves as the tough-talking Chief of Internal Medicine at Westside Hospital. Parker described this version of the character as someone with multiple shades and colors that make the role particularly juicy for an actor. "To be able to have all these different shades of colour in her character as an actor is really juicy," she explained. "I can allow that darkness to exist in her."
Memory Loss and Rebuilding a Life
The second season continues to follow Dr Amy Larsen as she attempts to reconstruct her life after a devastating car crash that erased eight years of her memory, including her entire identity. Following the accident, Amy has no recollection of her former self and must restart her medical career from the beginning as an intern.
Parker finds deep personal connection with her character's journey. "There's probably more me in the character than I ever meant for there to be," she admitted. "I really relate to her as a hard worker. There's no way she got to where she got to without hard work — and I love to work hard."
The actress expressed profound compassion for Amy's situation, noting that everyone experiences moments when their lives seem shattered and they must rebuild from the pieces. "Loss changes us and learning how to carry it, or incorporate it, into who we are is part of life," Parker reflected. "I have so much compassion for this woman because I see her struggle."
Medical Authenticity and New Challenges
While this marks Parker's first appearance in a medical drama, which she described as challenging, she was enthusiastic about the opportunity to learn new skills. The production benefits from having two doctors among the writing staff who ensure medical accuracy throughout each script. "Every script gets filtered through them," Parker noted. "So, you can trust the medicine is correct."
This experience has given Parker a newfound appreciation for medical professionals. She dedicates significant effort to understanding the medical terminology and procedures featured in the show. "I go online, I try to read, I have some textbooks, I always try to understand what it is I'm talking about on the show," she explained.
Season Two Developments and Emotional Depth
In the upcoming season, Amy confronts difficult truths about her missing years while attempting to repair fractured relationships, all while experiencing confronting flashbacks from her former life. The show's structure allows viewers to see multiple dimensions of Amy's character through these flashbacks.
"The audience are given these different pieces of Amy all the time," Parker said. "That's the great thing about the structure of the show and the flashbacks. As season two goes on we really get to see all these other pieces start to fill in that hole."
Dealing with trauma remains a central theme of the series. Parker finds it particularly interesting to explore characters when they've reached their lowest point. "I always think it's really interesting to meet characters when they're just at the bottom, you know where their lives are just totally blown apart," she added.
New Cast Member and On-Set Atmosphere
The new season introduces Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman as a series regular, playing Dr Joan Ridley, the new Chief of Medicine who also served as Amy's medical school professor and early mentor.
Returning for the second season felt like coming home for Parker, who praised the show's crew and their positive working environment. Despite the emotional weight of the medical storylines, which often center around emergencies and death, the cast has developed lighthearted traditions to maintain balance.
"We sing all the time on set," Parker revealed. "We have these little singing breaks, not that I'm a singer, but we mostly just sing happy birthday every day to somebody." She also discovered knitting as an unexpected coping mechanism between scenes.
Parker emphasized that the series doesn't shy away from the emotional realities of hospital life while maintaining a supportive production atmosphere. "The show doesn't shy away from the emotional part of what happens in a hospital," she concluded.
The second season of DOC premieres on Seven and 7plus, offering viewers another chapter in Amy Larsen's complex journey of recovery and self-discovery.
