Nashville Season 2 Finale Episodic Britton Chase - P 2014
ABC/Mark LevineStarring on ABC’s Nashville — which returns for its third season on Sept. 24 — has not only given star Connie Britton an opportunity to get up close and personal with the country music world, it’s also made Music City her second home.
“All of us on the cast and crew have been here for over two years. After that amount of time, you really start to feel like home in a place,” the actress, who plays country queen Rayna Jaymes on the show, tells Billboard. “Nashville makes it so easy, because this town is so incredibly welcoming and warm. Our show has been so appreciated by everyone here and in the music business in general. People we meet have been so supportive and appreciative of the show, so that helps a lot, too. Everyone in the cast has loved immersing ourselves in this town.”
Since the show premiered in 2012, Britton says the city has embraced the show. “All of the feedback that we get, and the encouragement and support we get helps us to go to work every day and tell these stories so enthusiastically, and in such an inspired way,” Britton says. “It’s a real joy. If we were shooting this thing anywhere else but Nashville, we would not have that — and we would not get the same enjoyment from it.”
Britton is so invested in the role that she often offers her input to the writers, though she’s often surprised by the show’s direction when she gets her script each week. “I try to have conversations with the writers, and I try to collaborate with them,” she says. “In the summertime, we try to sit down and have conversations about how the season is going to be. Even so, I will get a script where I go, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that’s what’s happening!’ It’s always fun to see what is really going to happen.”
And if last season’s cliffhanger is any indication, Rayna will be torn as ever between Luke Wheeler (Will Chase), whom she just agreed to marry, and Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten), the man who proposed to her at the end of the finale. So, just how long will it take before Britton gives the camera one of those famous Rayna Jaymes looks of confusion? “I have a feeling that happens early on and very often,” she jokes. “I’ve done several of those looks. We’re about four episodes in, and I would say there have been close to 50. Confused as ever. Oh, life, the balls you throw in the air to make things complicated.”
This post originally appeared on Billboard.com.
