“The thing we’re struggling with is not a big bad on the outside; it’s our own suppression and denial”: Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara on Imperfect Women

A thrilling murder mystery featuring complex characters and nuanced depictions of female friendship, Imperfect Women boasts a star-studded line-up, with Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara at the helm. It follows three lifelong friends whose worlds are shattered when one of them dies. The Apple TV+ series rotates among the three main characters, starting with Eleanor’s perspective, then Nancy’s, and finally Mary’s. This constant shift in narrative heightens the show’s tension, with its puzzle-like structure giving the audience ample opportunity to engage with every twist and turn that unfolds with each new episode.

The three leads took time during their press run to participate in a Q&A following a screening of the first episode at Everyman Cinema. They opened the discussion by reflecting on their fascination with the source material, a novel of the same name by Araminta Hall. Moss, who spearheaded the project, spoke about her appreciation for the characters and the shifting perspectives, a structure that originated in the book. Her sentiment was echoed by Washington, who connected that understanding of multiple perspectives to real life. “I do think we are living in a time when it is a really important practice to pause and realise that you may not understand the full picture until you allow yourself the opportunity to see something from somebody else’s perspective.”

The actors also spoke about the specific elements of the story and production process that drew them in. For Moss, the biggest pull was the depiction of motherhood and building a home through her character, Mary. “What I responded to and fell in love with was this everyday heroine that I saw in Araminta’s book. She was in the background of this novel for most of it, and then all of a sudden, her story comes to life. You find out there’s a whole person there with dreams, hopes and desires,” she said. “The mums, dads, caretakers, grandparents, and everyone who’s trying to create that happy home – I wanted to honour those people. That’s what struck me in my heart when I got to Mary’s part in Araminta’s book.”

Mara, on the other hand, spoke about the unusual rhythm of playing a leading role without constant pressure. “Granted, the weeks where we were leading our own episodes are very intense – it’s like any other show. But then having the experience of coming in and supporting the others makes it more fun, because it feels like less pressure.”

One aspect of Imperfect Women that particularly resonated with Washington was its exploration of internal conflict. “The three of us have been really lucky to take on powerful women who have had to face very powerful institutions. Whether it’s the government, the army, journalism or advertising – we’ve all taken on these bigger power structures. But the force that we’re up against in this series is really internal. The thing we’re struggling with is not a big bad on the outside; it’s our own suppression and denial, and coming to terms with who we are. That was really inviting to me as an actor.”

This theme is especially prominent in Mara’s character, Nancy. For Moss and Washington, casting her had once felt like an impossible task. “In the book, she’s written to be extraordinarily beautiful and perfect in all ways. Yet, because of the title, she’s imperfect on the inside; she has a secret. It had to be an actress who was gorgeous but could carry the dark undercurrents of what this character was hiding,” Washington said. For the two executive producers, only one name came to mind: Kate Mara.

Mara appreciated the character’s complexity and found herself surprised by Nancy’s past. “I think she does a really good job of blending in, even though she never quite figures it out internally. She has a lot of demons there and never feels like she fits in.” Nancy’s relatability lies in that sense of pretence and outsiderhood. The series, as a whole, dissects these familiar interpersonal struggles, particularly within long-term female friendships and their ability to find common ground despite diverging paths. More importantly, Imperfect Women speaks to secrecy in these relationships, the fear of being judged, and the challenge of navigating these multifaceted connections.

For Washington, Moss and Mara, Imperfect Women also offered space to be more adventurous in their performances. Washington explained how her choices are driven by curiosity. “Sometimes, the choice to play a character or dive into a piece of work is that 50% of it already lives in me – something I know exactly how to do. The other 50% terrifies me, so I think I need to do it,” she said. Moss similarly highlighted her affinity for complex female characters, having built much of her career around them. “I find it fun, and it’s what I like to do. I take the work seriously, but maybe not myself too seriously. It’s not that it’s not challenging sometimes, but I enjoy the challenge.”

Mara also emphasised the lack of control actors often have over the roles that come their way. “Unless we are producing our own shows or movies, a lot of it comes down to what’s available and what’s brought to us at the time. Some of that is based on what people have seen us do before, and sometimes you’re surprised when someone sends you something different. There’s still that lack of control that I find exciting as an actor, because you never know who’s going to think of you,” she said. “Other times, if you’re not developing something yourself, it can be frustrating.”

With Washington and Moss collaborating on Imperfect Women through their production companies, Simpson Street and Love & Squalor Pictures, and all three having taken on producing roles in previous projects, there’s a clear sense of solidarity among them. It ties back to the idea of control over the work they choose to do. Washington reflected on this with a simple metaphor: “Earlier in my career, I often felt like I was sitting at home waiting for somebody to invite me to a party. You’re just a pawn in somebody else’s game. I decided I wanted to throw the party – I want it to be my party. That way I can make sure I like the music and the food is what I want.”

Moss added that this control extends to how they treat the people they work with. “I’ve never had another actress partner on something who has also been an executive producer. That was very cool for me – not only to learn from her, but to share the same values and not be the only one saying, ‘I think we should let the crew go home. It’s too long, and they’re getting tired.’ That’s really important to us as producers,” she said. “It was wonderful to have somebody say, ‘She says it too! Now you have to listen to us!’”

Washington emphasised that it’s not just about creating great work, but about how that work is made. “It’s about creating an environment where people have the opportunity to chase excellence, and building spaces where they can do that at their best. We want to be doing work that we love in ways that we love.”

Mae Trumata

Imperfect Women is released nationwide on 18^th March 2026.

Watch the trailer for Imperfect Women here: