Bex Taylor-Klaus makes her television debut this weekend on the third season of AMC's murder mystery drama The Killing as Bullett, a "tough scrappy lesbian who's lived on the streets of Seattle since she was 13 years old." GLAAD spoke with Taylor-Klaus this week about Bullett's story and what viewers can expect from this season. Check out what she had to say below and don't miss the special two-hour season premiere of The Killing on AMC this Sunday, June 2 at 8/7c.
GLAAD: How did you land the role of Bullett, and what really drew you to that character?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: I think what really landed me the role of Bullet was the fact that I have a picture of myself wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and the writers like Led Zeppelin a lot. I'm still pretty sure that's the real reason I got the role.
GLAAD: What really drew you to playing Bullett? What was it about her that caught your eye?
BT-K: Oh man, she's so cool! She's complex. She's complicated, there's a lot going on in that girl's mind and in her heart. The girl has got a big heart.
Check out the season trailer of The Killing below.
GLAAD: What can viewers expect from this season of The Killing and her storyline in particular?
BT-K: Well, lots of death in terms of what they can expect from the season as a whole. That whole serial killer thing. [Detectives] Linden and Holder are back together so it's going to be the dynamic duo, which I personally love. It's going to be intense. Street kids, we're awesome. In terms of Bullett, Bullett gets in there. Bullett is the most lovable pain in the butt ever.
GLAAD: How does she relate to the other characters on the show; both the other street kids and outside of that world with Holder and Linden?
BT-K: In terms of the street kids, she is the protector. She's this scrappy little punk and she is the self-proclaimed protector of all the other street girls. She would do anything to keep people from getting hurt; people she cares about, people she enjoys. Her relationships with the other street kids – she's Bullett. She's known on the street. She is a punk, but in the best possible way. You either love her or you hate her, and even if you hate her, you definitely have a little bit of respect for her.
GLAAD: How does she relate to the characters outside of the street kids? Does she have any kind of interaction with Holder and Linden or is she more just contained to the kids' story?
BT-K: No, Bullett will not stay in one place. That's just not how it works, you can't keep the bullet in the chamber forever. She's going to go crazy and bust out of there. She interacts with the street kids, but she is a girl on a mission so she will be causing trouble for everyone if given the chance. She gets in there; she gets to spend time with Holder and Linden, which I personally loved doing.
GLAAD: Obviously Bullett's life is quite different from your own. Were you able to find any kind of common ground with the character and put that into playing her? How so?
BT-K: Yep, a bunch of times. In terms of the protector bit, definitely that. I don't like when people I care about – you can do whatever you want to me, you can say whatever you want about me, to me, whatever, I can take it. But as soon as you take a stab at someone I care about, that is not okay.
GLAAD: Recent studies have estimated that up to 40% of homeless youth are LGBT. Is that issue really addressed in the show through your character?
BT-K: Well, not through Bullett, really. Bullett's reason for being on the street is incredibly unique. Bullett doesn't have to be at all. She didn't get kicked out of her home, she doesn't have family troubles. The reason she's on the street is because she wants to be, because that is where she fits in and that's where she's needed. I'm not sure what I can say without giving things away. [laughs]
GLAAD: Will Bullett have any kind of love interest or is there anything you can tell me about that?
BT-K: Bullett is head over heels in love with Lyric who is of course in love with Twitch [another street kid]. Yay! There's that, but keep watching because you get to see interaction between all the street kids and it's really cool.
GLAAD: What do you hope viewers will take away from this season and Bullett's story in particular?
BT-K: Well, I hope they take away the fact that Bullett's awesome. This season is really about the invisibles, the kids we pretend don't exist because we don't want to think about the trouble and the struggles and what they go through. It's incredibly raw and honest in a way that I'm not sure any other show would do. I love it. I love the fact that we're focusing on something so important, but that gets so overlooked.
The special two-hour season premiere of The Killing airs on AMC this Sunday, June 2 at 8/7c. You can keep up to date with Bex through her twitter at @IBexWeBex.