Grace died on “Bad Sisters”? Anne-Marie Duff breaks down Bad Sisters Season 2 Episode 2. The twist

Despite decades of work on stage and screen, to Bad sisters actress Anne-Marie Duff has never played a character like Grace Williams.

When Sharon Gorgan’s comedy-drama first introduces Grace, she’s a sweet, tortured soul in an abusive marriage to the world’s biggest dork, John Paul (Klass Bang). The first season of the Apple TV+ series follows the Grace sisters — Eva (Gorgan), Bebe (Sarah Green), Ursula (Eva Birthistle) and Becca (Eva Hewson) — in their many attempts to kill JP. Eventually, he is finally killed in an unsuspecting mannerand Grace and her daughter Blaneyd (Case Quinn) are freed from his suffocating clutches. However, in Season 2, this newfound peace proves to be short-lived.

Bad sisters Season 2 spoilers, episode 2.

Two years after JP’s death, Bad sistersThe second season introduces viewers to a lighter version of Grace, happily married to her new love Ian (Owen McDonnell) in the premiere. After exchanging vows and cutting the cake, the neatly tied season 1 bow begins to unravel and the past comes back to haunt the Harvey girls. Together, the sisters can survive anything, but after Grace isolates herself from her support system, she meets her tragic death in a car accident at the end of episode 2.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Duff told Decider via Zoom. “Grace’s demise is such a very beautiful but very sad inevitability because she’s so bad at saving herself, isn’t it? In the first season, she is so isolated by her terrible bully over her husband. But throughout Season 2, she isolates herself from her sisters, who could save her. So there’s no way out for her except to leave for good, really.”

In honor of the star-studded show’s return and the loss of The Very Good Bad Sister, Duff spoke with Decider about the emotional roller coaster of filming her final scene, working with Owen McDonnell and Fiona Shaw, what the role meant to her, and her excitement to watch the fan moves forward.

We obviously have to start with the devastating end of Season 2, Episode 2, where Grace gets into a car accident and Blanaid and Eve find out she’s dead. What were your thoughts when you learned of this heartbreaking twist?

I found out before I got the scripts, I didn’t get a terrible shock or anything. I thought that was such a brilliant idea. I love it when the writers and show writers mix things up a bit and there are surprises. And there’s this very beautiful but very sad inevitability to Grace’s death because she’s so bad at saving herself, isn’t there? In the first season, she is so isolated by her terrible bully over her husband. But throughout Season 2, she isolates herself from her sisters, who could save her. So there’s no way out for her but to leave for good, really.

There is no doubt that the Grace sisters will be absolutely devastated by her loss. But because it’s such an impressive show and you’ve built such an incredibly strong relationship, I think it was hard for you to leave Season 2 as an actor as well. Was it emotional on set when you shot your last scene?

It was interesting because I shot that accident as my last scene, and that never happens on set, does it? It was the middle of the night, I was alone with a bunch of stuntmen, and I had this terrible feeling that something was technically wrong. I felt all the feelings you get when you leave a show. And I had a brilliant director whispering in my ear, “Don’t forget the truth of the character.” So last night was very powerful for me. I have never experienced anything like this before.

Before Grace dies, she shares some very steamy scenes with Angelica, who is such a deeply annoying, terrifying, phenomenal character that we’ve seen a lot more of throughout the season. What was it like going one-on-one with the great Fiona Shaw?

I mean what a gift for all of us. We were very excited when she appeared. We were just delighted. Fiona and I have known each other socially for a long time, but we’ve never actually worked together. So it was just heavenly. I love watching her because her skill is so brilliant. She is so playful, loyal, curious and a part of the team. In a way, I suppose it comes from being a real theater actor. She is absolutely in the theatrical company of the show. So it was heaven.

You two are great together. We know that Season 2 picks up two years after JP’s death, so I like to think that the sisters had a lot of great moments that we just didn’t get to see, one of them being the early days of Grace’s relationship with Ian. What was it like sharing these different scenes with Owen McDonnell?

It was great working with Owen. It was a completely different dynamic than working with Claes, which is also exciting as an actor. He is such a gentleman and very interesting, so you can believe how Grace will completely trust him and fall in love with him and not see any red flags.

Looking ahead, should the audience trust Ian completely? He straight up dumped Grace in her time of need, which is a major red flag in my book.

Exactly. Even after Grace’s departure, many secrets remain, because when Grace leaves, no one will know anything. So she still keeps all these secrets. But his storyline is very interesting as (the season) continues.

No one misses John Paul, but since you mentioned Claes Bang, have you missed him this season since he was such an important scene partner for you in Season 1?

Well, Claes is a strong personality, so of course you will feel his absence. But I think I associated JP with him so much that I actually felt free. Filming Season 1 was difficult for me because I was doing these scenes with him for eight or nine months, and he insisted on calling me “mom” between takes. (Laughs) Yes. Oh, that was a lot of fun.

I told Sharon Gorgan after Season 1 that I kind of ship Grace and Roger, but your Season 2 scenes with Michael Smiley have such a dark tone. This season, he and Angelica really feel like guns. Has this novel ever crossed your mind? And how worried should we be about him after Grace’s death?

i know He’s suddenly a potential Lothario after Grace’s death, isn’t he? I think with Roger aiding and abetting her murder, there was no hope of them continuing any kind of normal relationship because she forced him to help her. They didn’t plan it together. She backs him into a corner and it’s a real abuse of trust. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is angry with her, but he loves her. It’s a tricky little dynamic, isn’t it?

You did just such a wonderful, award-winning job on this show. Looking back on the show and the warm reception that led to Season 2 and seeing people see themselves in Grace, what did the role mean to you?

It was a real gift for me. This is a great piece of writing. But I’ve never played anything like this before. For starters, she’s so transparent throughout Season 1, isn’t she? She’s sort of an invisible woman, trying desperately to just fit in and keep the world in a peaceful and perfect place, and it was exhausting; the pressure to keep everything to yourself, to give up on yourself. So to go to what we think is a looser season 2, but that’s also a lie, that’s why she gives evidence so quickly. She quickly tells Jan this part of her secret. These are all gifts for the actor. I have to play so many different things and she’s so swollen, isn’t she, Grace? With all feelings and thoughts. So I was very grateful to Sharon Gorgan.

Before I finish, do you know who’s in the trunk? And are you excited to watch the rest of the season as a fan?

Of course I know who’s in the trunk. (Laughs) But I’m really excited because I purposely didn’t read any of the scripts after I died because I wanted to be able to watch it and find out for myself. It’s much more fun for me. And I see my sisters in such unexpected moments. I just loved seeing them play different sides of their characters.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

New series Bad sisters Season 2 premieres Wednesday on Apple TV+.