Ruth Langmore isn’t a girl you want to mess with.
And for that matter, neither is Julia Garner.
The talented young actress who became a mainstay on the indie film circuit appearing in titles that include Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Perks of Being a Wallflower has found her true calling as Ruth in Netflix’s Ozark.
The series tells the story of Marty and Wendy Byrde (Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) as they move their family from Chicago to Missouri’s Ozarks. If only it was as easy as a Brady Bunch-esque vacation. In actuality, the Byrde family uproot themselves after Marty’s business partner is killed for stealing from the Mexican cartel. To save himself, Marty negotiates a deal that convinces the drug dealers that he can use the nondescript swampland to launder their money until the debt is paid off.
The first season of the show left things off with things looking particularly murky for the Byrdes. This after one of their Ozark partners killed off the cartel’s emissary leaving the Byrdes particularly susceptible to even more fallout.
There is no doubt that Julia Garner’s foul-mouthed character was one of the highlights after the show’s initial premiere. Marty quickly realizes that as an Ozark native, Ruth Langmore could be an asset both in terms of her knowledge of the area and for her affinity for crime. The pair quickly form a bond that some could argue is the heart of the series.
I had the chance to catch up with the actress to discuss the show and how she expects her character to develop in the sophomore season.
Check out the interview above!
Ozark’s second season is available to stream on Netflix on August 31.
