Paget Brewster is a fixture on Criminal Minds. The actor has played FBI agent Emily Prentiss for over a decade, and as Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 comes to a close, she’s continuing to find new directions to take her character in. The season has seen Prentiss get into some very intense situations, while also briefly wanting to leave the BAU again — although thankfully she didn’t.
In an interview with CBR, Brewster discusses why she still loves playing the character of Emily Prentiss. She also talks about working with her Criminal Minds co-stars both in front of and behind the camera. Plus, Brewster reflects on playing the memorable scenes in which Prentiss and Jennifer “JJ” Jareau opened up to each other while high.
CBR: You’ve played the character of Emily Prentiss for longer than some entire TV shows have lasted. Why have you wanted to keep going with her into Criminal Minds: Evolution? What still excites you about the series?
Paget Brewster: It’s longer than a decade, because I started on Criminal Minds in 2006… The fans love her so much, is why. When I was off the show, that was complicated and lousy , but I was off the show for four years, and I did other stuff. They kept asking me to come back, and I finally agreed to come back, because for those four years I was doing Community , Another Period , Grandfathered — but I’d go to the supermarket or be in the airport and and fans would come up to me and say, why aren’t you on Criminal Minds anymore?
And after four years, I was like, God, why aren’t I on Criminal Minds ? And so I called them up and said, Is there a way that you can use me as a guest star for a few episodes? I didn’t want to upset the apple cart. The show was doing great. And then they ended up asking me to come back and join full time, and I was happy to. It’s really just been lucky for me.
Prentiss goes through her own sort of career reflection in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2, Episode 6, “Message in a Bottle,” as she talks about wanting to leave the BAU again. Going into the Season 2 finale, where is she at career-wise? Has she moved on from those doubts after JJ talked her down?
When she’s stoned and she’s saying JJ, I’m going to quit, it’s only a matter of time, they’re going to get rid of me, so I’m just going to leave, and I’m going to send this text right now, she’s all effed up in the head and not thinking, and it’s because Prentiss has been let go before. It’s just a natural like, “You’re not going to break up with me, I’m going to break up with you, [FBI director Ray] Madison!” That’s what she was feeling in those moments, and I think JJ gets through to her, and she realizes she can’t leave the BAU.
It’s been a struggle, and it’s a hard job, and Prentiss has made some questionable choices throughout this season, but I think she needs the team. The way JJ says JJ needs Prentiss, Prentiss needs JJ. Prentiss needs the team, and so she would have figured out how to get back in even if she’d sent the text. I think she needs the BAU.
That whole exchange is awesome, though, because it brings together both halves of your career. There’s an element of the comedy that you’ve gotten to show off on other TV series, but what’s expressed also comes from a serious place. What was it like for you and AJ Cook to film those scenes?
I was pleased that they wrote that. AJ and I both were like, oh my god, we’re going to be stoned together. [Laughs.] But then it got really deep and very touching. It did look back on all of these years, and people who have have come and gone. Prentiss and JJ are still there, and they have a friendship that is outside of work, but work affects it… I looked at it as, what is Prentiss genuinely feeling every second of this situation, stoned.
I didn’t even see it as oh, I get to do comedy on Criminal Minds. I saw it as, this is such an interesting way to get Prentiss and JJ to reach toward each other and come back together after Prentiss has kind of kept information from JJ. And JJ reaching out like you can’t quit, I need you — I thought it was beautiful. I thought it was really beautifully written, and it was just great fun to do. AJ is is remarkable; she’s an extraordinary actress. And that whole episode meant a lot.
Speaking of your colleagues, another unique element of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 has been how many of the cast members have directed episodes — including but not limited to Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford and Joe Mantegna. How has it been to also have that team dynamic off-screen, where the directors are your fellow actors, and people that you know so well?
It’s easier because we know each other so well… It’s nice among friends to just have a shorthand, because we want to go home. We don’t want to be there 16 hours a day. [Laughs.] That definitely is helpful.
And what’s really helpful is they all care so much. It’s not vanity — “I’m an actor, now I want to be a director.” They love directing. They get so excited, and then when their episode is finished, they drive into work like the following Wednesday, and they go, now I’m just an actor. They love directing, and I don’t understand it, because I have no desire to direct. That’s too many people asking too many questions. I don’t know why anyone wants to do it, but they love it.
Does that make you even more invested in the finished product? You certainly don’t want to disappoint Joe Mantegna, because you don’t want to upset The Simpsons villain Fat Tony.
It’s so funny that [Joe] plays mob guys or tough guys… He can be tough, don’t, don’t get me wrong. I think he knows some inside information about the mob that people shouldn’t know. But he is the gentlest, most supportive, thoughtful, loving guy you have ever met. He’s a prince, and so that’s where you don’t want to let Joe down. If I didn’t work really hard and give him a good performance, seeing him disappointed is worse than if he like, shot me in the leg. I’d rather be shot in the leg than have Joe feel like I let him down.
What can you say about the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 finale? What are your thoughts as the whole season comes to a close?
I can’t say what’s coming. But I am really proud of all of us… I came back because I’m good at it. I’m really good at playing Emily Prentiss — and this year was a challenging year. She had to go through some tough stuff. But I think the viewers, I think our fans, will be very happy with what happens at the end of the final episode. I think they’re going to be really happy, and I’m really proud of all of us.
The Criminal Minds: Evolution finale streams Thursday, Aug. 1 on Paramount+.