Archived Q&A with Kim Dickens

• Q

  

  HBO

  Please welcome Treme's Kim Dickens. Kim, what was your favorite part of filming Season 3?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I really liked Mardi Gras this year. We haven't gotten there on-air yet, but I had a fun time in those scenes.

• Q

  

  YoriEric

  what kind of music do you listen to?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I'm a country girl, I like country music. That's what my car radio is on. But I do like all kinds - R&B, contemporary, but I'm a country girl at heart.

• Q

  

  beckyayay

  What is most challenging about your role on Treme?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I think the cooking scene are the most challenging, but they're also the most fun. They end up being action scenes, where there is a lot of choreography. They are painstaking to execute, but they end up being the most fun.

• Q

  

  Mizpeabody

  How has your perception of New Orleans changed since working on this series?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  Honestly, I've fallen more in love with it and feel like it's more my own in a way. I miss it when I'm back home. The best thing is that the cast just sort of dropped into the life there and became a part of the culture. It's grabbed a hold of my heart and I've really fallen in love with it.

• Q

  

  Kim Warner

  How did you feel when you heard your character in Treme was going to spend a season in NY instead of NOLA?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I thought that my job was over. My agent had to call and ask if that was it for my character. Then when I realized they were keeping me around, I knew it would get more interesting. A lot of people left NOLA after Katrina, some returned, but a whole sub culture stayed in NY city.

• Q

  

  Benaiah Koskovich

  Your character is one of my favorites on the show. They have done a great job of creating unique characters across the board. Which is your favorite?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  First of all, thank you. I agree, I think all the characters are wonderful. My favorite to watch is Antoine Batiste. He's such a teddy bear. He's just so bad, but you root for him. I also love watching Davis McAlary - he makes me laugh.

• Q

  

  Nkfotakis

  You're doing a terrific job portraying Janette. How do you relate to her? Do you have similarities? Differences?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  Thank you! I was drawn to the character immediately because she's so passionate about life. Cooking, eating,drinking, dancing, loving - all very relatable characteristics. She feels like a whole person on the page, that's what makes her relatable. I think they've done a wonderful job of drawing this character. My language isn't as salty as hers and she's a better cook than me though.

• Q

  

  Danny Jones

  Which was/is the most fun to portray...Janette or Joanie Stubbs?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I have to say, not a day goes by when I don't think fondly about Deadwood and miss things about it. They were a family and I have great fondness for that experience. I'm sad we didn't get to have a fourth season, and not a day goes by when someone doesn't ask about it. Still, I'm always happy to move on and grow, and Janette has been this gift of a character to play. It's so rewarding to play a real woman who is drinking, eating and screwing as well as laughing and loving. She's a well-rounded woman and I love her.

• Q

  

  dow005

  You are my favorite character! When will we learn more about your background, family, etc.?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  You got me! I only know when I get the scripts. You'll see a little bit of my family this season, but we'll see what next season holds.

• Q

  

  LeftyKoski

  Chef Desautel's new plates are terrific. Any new discovered ingredients for cooking in your life? Cane syrup, Grits, Frogmore Stew, greens?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  You know, I didn't take home any of those dishes this year. I like the shrimp and grits idea, that's one of my favorite dishes. I didn't try the Frogmore stew.

• Q

  

  Benaiah Koskovich

  It would be a lot of fun if next season they jumped ahead in time to see where the characters end up. What would you like to see in the final season?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  It's come around so quickly that I'm just waiting to be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if we went forward or back in time. I'm curious myself. Hopefully we'll have a script soon!

• Q

  

  Julia Snider

  What is your most memorable character moment throughout the Series?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I think first season, the first Mardi Gras that people had post Katrina. My character is a little inebriated and possibly tripping on something and she just lets go. People rejoiced in that first Mardi Gras.

• Q

  

  Kim Warner

  Do you know your way around the kitchen or is it all in the character?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  That's a nice way of asking if I'm really a cook. I was a waitress years ago when I was first trying to become an actress, waiting tables in New Yrk city. I feel like I did a lot of research and became more comfortable in the kitchen and with its rhythms. I've gotten better and have been learning with the best in the kitchens of Susan Spicer at Bayonna, Tom Colicchio's Craft and more, but I'm always learning.

• Q

  

  Rosa Oh

  Do you have a favorite chef?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I can't answer that, I have so many chef friends now! I've probably gotten closest to David Chang because I've spent so much time with him. Steve Zahn and I like to go to dinner and we love to go to Chef Donald Link's Herb Saint. Khandi sometimes joins as well. We make the rounds to a lot of restaurants down there. Sylvain is another favorite.

• Q

  

  beckyayay

  How does working with David Simon differ from working with David Milch?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  Every job ends up being completely different, from my experience and the way that show runners and sets run. Both Simon and Milch were amazing creators and storytellers that I can't believe my luck, The difference is when I did Deadwood, we never got a full script. We would spend our days on the ranch, figuring it out, and we would just have to lift up our skirts and jump. It was so rewarding - a really beautiful experience. In New Orleans, we have the full script and you can see the arc and where it is going and it is a little more structured, which is great when you're on location. At the end of the day, both shows had amazing stories to tell though.

• Q

  

  RootsyPeter

  Hi Kim! I like seeing all the good food around you, but how about whisky. Any favorite? Love good single malt myself.

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  Kim Dickens says:

  I like Basil Hayden's. I first became aware of it on Deadwood. We had it in a scene and since then I have enjoyed it.

• Q

  

  Benaiah Koskovich

  The cast members on "Treme" are outstanding! I have not seen a better ensemble. We are never left wondering what a character's motive or emotional process is. Do the writers work closely with the actors?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  Actually, on Treme, I feel like they've just given us the script and trusted us with it, let us go. They have the right cast to do that with. Just sort of hired the right people. We never really experienced any one-on-one meetings about the characters. They just let you run with it, but it starts there on the page, beautifully drawn out.

• Q

  

  Larry Liebman

  Hi Kim Love all of your work!! 1. do you think they will ever give a proper ending to deadwood?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  Thank you! Like I said before, not a day goes by when I don't think about it or miss it. The experience is something I'll treasure forever. I felt as an artist or actor that it was left so unfinished. It was a sad thing to happen to such a passionate fan base. I think for a while David Milch and Ian McShane were trying to make it happen, and I imagine every cast member would try to fit it into their schedule, but I don't know if it will ever happen. I've sort of let go of the idea myself.

• Q

  

  HBO

  That's all the time we have for today's Q&A. Thanks for joining us, Kim. Any parting words?

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  Kim Dickens says:

  Thank you so much for watching us and it was great chatting with everybody.