Elizabeth Henstridge chatted with Hypable about Simmons, sacrifice, and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. mid-season finale!
While appearing on a panel discussion on the portrayal of women in STEM fields on television, actress Elizabeth Henstridge discussed the trials her character – brilliant biochemist and terrible liar Jemma Simmons – has undergone in season 2 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..
“It was really nice to see her out of her comfort zone and to see how she deals with that,” Henstridge said, referring to Simmons’ recent dangerous adventures at Hydra. “It was a very important thing to [Simmons], to prove that she can do something on her own.”
A source of strength in the more uncertain territory of spycraft, Henstridge said, was her character’s undisputed scientific prowess. As Simmons’ work at Hydra “was still science-based,” Henstridge observed that her character’s knowledgeability “gave her a confidence to realize that she can stand in an individual in her own right.”
Of course, leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to stand on her own came at a personal cost for Simmons. “She did that for Fitz, she felt like that would be the best thing for him to heal,” Henstridge asserted – and fans may be vindicated to know that the actress found the dilemma just as heartbreaking as they did.
Though Henstridge was smilingly unable to comment on the allegedly-explosive events of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., she did promise that “Definitely everything will be different after [the episode].”
“It’s a great episode,” she said fervently. “We’re very lucky to have all the people involved that we do. It’s one that’s not to be missed, that’s for sure.”
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2, episode 10, “What They Become,” airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.