‘Good Behavior’ Season 1 Cast Member Lusia Strus Breaks Down Estelle, Teases Letty And Javier’s Future

Although the “Good Behavior” Season 1 finale has come and gone, there are still plenty of burning questions left unanswered.

“Good Behavior” tells the story of troubled woman Letty Raines (Michelle Dockery) who is a recovering crystal meth addict that is trying to get back custody of her son Jacob (Nyles Julian Steele) from her mother Estelle, played by actress Lusia Strus.

International Business Times had the opportunity to chat with Strus following the Season 1 finale on TNT earlier this month, and the actress was more than willing to provide some details about the drama and her one-of-a-kind character.

“I’ve played the young mom before. I’ve played rougher women before around the edges, but there is something really unique about Estelle. I never read or got to play such an unapologetic character, she is who she is,” Strus told IBT.

Strus admitted that Estelle didn’t have the easiest life growing up. “She had Letty when she was 15 years old, and she kept her. She got married five times but not to the father of Letty, so she was on her own for a very long time. At 19, she had her tubes tied. I think that she knew she was out of her element,” the TNT star stated.

Learning details about her character helped Strus form opinions and situations that could have shaped Estelle into the person she became. “When I saw that in the script, what that infers to me is that she probably got pregnant and was like ‘I can’t do it.’ Asking herself ‘What am I doing? I’m probably already screwing one kid up.’”

Despite her questionable parenting, Strus seemed sympathetic to her character who she believes did her best to raise Letty. “Estelle wanted to grow up real fast but wasn’t as globally extraordinary as Letty. She didn’t have that willingness to risk it all. She ended up staying home with Letty, and Letty ended up going to prison. And then Estelle stayed home with Jacob, so I spent most of my life in the house with a kid,” the actress stated.

Although many of the characters on “Good Behavior” are complex, Strus revealed that the atmosphere on set is pretty laid back. “I will say incredible friendships have been formed. I think we’re all the things, you know the title of the last episode. We don’t talk behind each other’s backs, there was just so much laughing, I love those people,” the star said.

Strus added that life on set is far from intense. “There were dance breaks in the trailers, ice cream trucks that Michelle would order. We’re not serious. We’re not brooding like, ‘I’m in my alcoholic ways right now’ or ‘Refer to me as Estelle only.’ No, that’s not happening.”

At the end of the “Good Behavior” Season 1 finale, Estelle finds herself childless for the very first time in a long time. “She’s never done this before. Everything prior was about Letty. All of these characters are looking for a way out, that’s what I read in this. Estelle is all ‘I’m going to get married,’ ‘I’m looking for love.’ Like, ‘Somebody is going to get me out. Somebody is going to be the solution,’” Strus said.

Now that Estelle no longer has the responsibility of caring for Jacob, she has been given a chance to live a different life. “Rob (Joey Kern) is the first marriage since Jacob, so I did it differently and Estelle did do better. But now with this complete freedom and emptiness, I don’t know what they have in store for Estelle but I would like to see who Estelle’s mom is,” the theater veteran said.

Although she is unsure about some things, she is confident that things will get interesting for the characters in Season 2. In the final moments of the Season 1 finale Jacob, Javier (Juan Diego Botto) and Letty were happily driving along, sirens were heard and the episode ended. Although Strus isn’t certain what happens next, she has her theories.

“I don’t know if Lashever (Ann Dowd), the agent will enjoy a different approach to life living with Christian (Terry Kinney). Maybe she’ll be like, “I don’t want to do the right thing.”

Strus also believes the upcoming season will be focused on Letty and Javier’s relationship. “I think it will be more of that story of how Letty and Javier recognize how extraordinary the other person is. I think that’s what this story is, finally meeting the person who understands,” she explained.

“I think between the two of them and their vices and what they feel they need to do with their lives, I think a lot of trouble is going to ensue. Estelle with that freedom of not having a child may want to enjoy some of that too.”

As far as Strus’ future goes, the actress is gearing up for more work after an incredibly busy year. “I just closed a play at Playwrights Horizons called ‘Rancho Viejo’ with Mare Winningham, I was doing that while ‘Good Behavior’ was airing,” the actress said.

Along with her theater company the Neo-Futurist, Strus performed in the longest running show in Chicago, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” The star is now in the process of writing something new as well as auditioning. “In 2016, I didn’t stop. I just got a new agent and basically every day it’s going, going, going, going,” she explained.

Although she has been trying to write something creative, Strus admits that taking the time to do so isn’t an easy task for her. “It’s very difficult for me, I don’t respect my own authority, I don’t sit down to write. I’m always with writers and I’m like, ‘How do you do it? What do you do?’ There’s a solo show that I am writing, I talked to Chad [Hodge] about it and he’s a big champion for me.”

Strus, who had a blue collar upbringing, was born in Chicago to a Ukrainian immigrant who barely spoke any English. The show the actress is writing revolves around three sisters and their immigrant mother.

In real life, Strus’ mother worked very hard to make sure her children had the best life she could provide for them. Nowadays, her mom has gotten better at English which has been the key to helping her proudly brag about her daughter’s continuous success.

“Good Behavior” Season 2 is expected to premiere in the fall on TNT.