Becki Newton gives us the scoop on The Lincoln Lawyer

This past weekend, Netflix released the first season of The Lincoln Lawyer, based on the best-selling crime novels by Michael Connolly, specifically the second book in the series, The Brass Verdict. Within just a few days of launch, the first season has soared to the top of the Netflix charts.

There is no denying that Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is a big part of the show’s magic thanks to his charismatic turn as criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller, but the entire cast is excellent. Part of what makes The Lincoln Lawyer work so well is its lovable characters, including Mickey’s ex-wife and co-worker Lorna, played by Becki Newton.

You probably know her best from Ugly Betty, but Newton gets to show us a whole new side of herself in this role as the ambitious and outgoing Lorna. Netflix Life spoke with Becki Newton about her work on the series.

The Lincoln Lawyer chat with star Becki Newton (Lorna)

Netflix Life: This show is so addicting. I binged most of it one sitting. There’s something so nostalgic about it. It reminded me of some of the older shows, like a few that used to air on the USA Network.

Becki Newton: That was exactly my response. There is something familiar about it, in its storytelling, but also new as well, especially in the way it looked. So, it was this combination of a warm blanket and then something really exciting that you can’t stop watching.

NL: And this show is so character-driven, which I loved. Were you familiar with the books, or even the 2011 movie, before you accepted this project?

BN: I had seen the movie and I watched it again once I knew I was signing on just to sort of remember. I loved it. I thought like what a great premise for a TV show. I couldn’t believe I got to be part of a TV show that was based on these popular characters that existed already.

The icing on the cake is that the producers and Ted Humphrey, our showrunner, allowed us to put our own spin on these characters. It would have been easy for them to say, do it like this, this is how it’s written, but they gave us free rein to figure out how our characters might walk and talk and how I could add to it what I like to bring to a part and to Lorna.

NL: Another thing that really appealed to me about The Lincoln Lawyer was the connection between Mickey, Maggie and Lorna. It wasn’t the stereotypical bickering ex-wives, there was this interesting dynamic between Lorna and Maggie and I’m interested in your take on that relationship.

BN: I have to give Neve Campbell all the credit for that. My first day of shooting was actually a scene between our two characters, where Maggie shows up at the office and Lorna greets her. In the script it was like, they’re both uncomfortable, it’s a little awkward, they were both married to the same man. And Neve right away said, I want to tell a different story. I don’t want this to be about two women who are bickering, who are catty with each other. Let’s tell a new version of this story.

We made it about, yes, it’s awkward because we were both married to Mickey, but we made it really about wanting what’s best for him and wanting to support him the best way we could. I was so impressed with Neve, she’s someone I’ve looked up to for a really long time. It was such a thoughtful way to begin.

A lot of times in a show, you’re filming these scenes and you don’t have a lot of time to work on the backstory and just right away that note, that was important to her, I felt really informed on how we played the rest of the scenes over the ten episodes. Like yes there is awkwardness, but it’s not the most important thing. These are two women who are helping Mickey and helping through a really hard time and wanting to see him succeed.

NL: Lorna ends up playing such a vital part this season in helping unravel the mystery and working closely with Mickey to solve the case. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but where would you like to see Lorna’s arc go in the future?

BN: I think what I loved right away about Lorna is she clearly is a key part of the office, she helps run things and keep everyone on track, but she also has ambitions for herself and I have to give the writers credit because it would be really easy for Lorna just to be a part of telling Mickey’s story, but they make it clear that Lorna has her own history and her own goals that have to do with loving the law, and how great is that, that she also loves the law?

She’s incredibly smart, she’s ambitious, she’s helpful in Mickey’s practice that he’s building, but doesn’t lose sight of the fact that she also wants more for herself. To establish that so soon, I was so grateful. On the first day of shooting, Ted pulled me aside and said, I want you to know, Lorna has goals of her own, Lorna loves the law. She wants to be a lawyer. We find out more about her past and where she might be going. It was so valuable to know that and incorporate it into the character right away.

NL: Lorna and Cisco’s relationship is so sweet and unexpected, but it also makes sense. You guys have great chemistry together, what was it like working together?

BN: I love Angus [Sampson], who plays Cisco, he’s gotta be 6’3″, he’s this big, intimidating presence. I’m 5’2″, you have to put me on stilts to even to look sort of average size. And the characters on paper are so opposite. He doesn’t talk much, Lorna never stops talking. He doesn’t necessarily like getting dressed up, he likes to be in the shadows and Lorna can’t help but be bright.

Yet together, these characters are such a cool combination and that’s what I really appreciate about this show. It does stay away from stereotypes. It does surprise you, the way characters are put together. As you mentioned, the stereotype of two ex-wives working together. It sounds like a catfight waiting to happen, but it’s not.

They’re this interesting team. So I think that’s one of the things I liked so much about this show. Nothing is what you would guess based on some of the archetypes we’ve seen before on TV.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Lincoln Lawyer is streaming on Netflix.