Jolene Purdy

In her latest role, actress Jolene Purdy sells souls for a living—and bakes cookies. For Amazon Prime Video’s The Bondsman, she plays Midge Kusatsu, a devoted mother by day and a devil’s assistant by night. As Midge, Purdy portrays a woman skilled at sweet-talking the desperate into making sinister deals, all while treading a fine line between survival and morality.

Set in rural Georgia, The Bondsman is a Southern Gothic charm that explores themes of sacrifice, temptation, and redemption. Although the series spotlights demon bounty hunter Hub Halloran (Kevin Bacon), Midge takes on the vital role of his supernatural overseer. However, she was not always the devil’s agent. Once an accomplished baker, Midge was forced to abandon her passion after her newborn son was diagnosed with cancer. With medical bills piling up, Midge sought alternative ways to make ends meet, eventually signing a contract with Pot O’ Gold, a demonic corporation promising healing at the cost of her soul.

It is no easy feat to play a mother caught between maternal love and moral compromise. But for Purdy—a mother herself and an actress who has spent her career challenging industry norms—the role hits close to home in personal and empowering ways.

In an interview with Timid, Purdy reflects on her approach to balancing Midge’s conflicts, finding humor in the darkness, and establishing a legacy in an industry with rigid expectations.  

Timid Magazine: What about The Bondsman drew you in and made you want to be part of this project?

JP: Kevin Bacon, number one, and number two, [Midge] is so strong. She's a mother, and I relate to the strength of being a mother. But on top of that, I loved [it] when I read it. There were some cues from the writers that showed me [the series] didn't take itself too seriously, and that I could play with the material. And I found this little humor in having her use manipulation as a tactic of the devil. She just comes out so sweet and charming. Sometimes, you know, the devil works in cute little packages. And so I got to be that sassy, cute little package.

TM: What was your initial impression of Midge when you read the script? Did your understanding or perception of her change at all throughout the process of filming?

JP: I got [to see] her backstory [in] episode [five] and the first episode. So, I saw the duality of where she was coming from and why she was as strong as she is. To sign yourself over to the Devil without understanding what you're doing just because of the love and depth of devotion that you have to your child is something that I related to. And then as the season went on, in like episode seven and eight, you see her get shaken. She isn't just signing people up and sending them to hell. She is fighting demonic forces that threaten our entire world. [Her] child's life is again at stake, and it shakes her. You see her come to the conclusion that she might not be strong enough. [But] by the end, she has this resolve [where] she's like, “No, I'm gonna go down fighting.”

TM: What do you hope audiences will take away from Midge’s character by the end of the series?

JP: You know, Midge is a baker, and I like to say that our show is very much a kitchen sink cookie. It's got a little bit of everything—the salty pretzels, the raisins, the chocolate chips, maybe some bacon. Our show also has some of those elements. It's got gore, horror, family, fun, and demon slaying, but most of all, it's got that heart—that ooey gooey, buttery heart of the show. And that's really what I want people to see. I want them to see the second chances that everyone is given. I want them to see the campy fun that we have with all of the blood and slaying. I just want people to be able to escape and have a good time in this supernatural world that is not too far from our own.

TM: Shifting gears to your own journey, can you recall any important moments or people that helped you decide to pursue acting?

JP: I feel like I have tried to quit acting so many times. I wanted to be a teacher. It’s still a part of my heart. I love kids, and I would love to be a teacher, but I'm a little busy right now. But gosh, I would say watching Amy Hill, seeing someone who's also, you know, plus-sized, mixed Asian—watching it be a possibility. I remember going to the Pantages and looking at the program for Footloose, and seeing a plus-sized [woman] who I thought was [a] mixed Asian actress. And that's the first time I thought I could do this. This could be a job. It's not just a dream and a hobby. I could do this, and it was my first audition ever on camera for Donnie Darko, [where] I just felt like this, this is where I want to live. And they were so kind and generous on that set. [It] was fun.

TM: What advice would you give to aspiring actors, especially those who are underrepresented in the industry?

JP: I think I spent my youth trying to fit [into] the box of Hollywood. And [then] I realized there is no box. We are all so unique, and everything that we bring is so special, and we should never dim that light for anything or anyone. [Lead] in your authenticity, discover who you are and hold on to it, because they'll try and shape you. It's an uphill battle. And, when you need help, ask. Ask, because there are people [who]—it fills their heart to be able to lift you up. For [example], ask me, I'm available.

TM: As you continue your career, what kind of impact do you hope your work, and the characters you play, will have on audiences and the industry in the long run?

JP: I just really hope that the effort, work, and sacrifice that go into all of this provide hope for other people to find their place. There is space for everyone. I hope that I lead in kindness and make people laugh, to let them forget about how crazy the world is sometimes.

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Disclaimer: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.