"We just have a similar way of speaking," Molly Brown said about Carpenter's portrayal of Deb.
We're now three episodes into Dexter: Original Sin, the prequel series set 15 years before the events of the original show. Feedback for this new installment in the franchise has been overwhelmingly positive, resonating with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
One standout element catching viewers' attention is the portrayal—and uncanny resemblance—of the new actors to their counterparts from the original series. Leading this praise is James Martinez, who portrays a younger Angel Batista, originally brought to life by David Zayas.
Meanwhile, Molly Brown steps into the shoes of a 17-year-old Deb. Before the series premiered on December 13, fans were skeptical about Brown’s casting due to her lack of resemblance to Jennifer Carpenter, who originally portrayed Deb. However, after three episodes, Brown’s undeniable talent has silenced the doubters. Fans are now embracing her portrayal, and it's clear why: she nails the essence of Deb.
The actress recently sat down with IndieWire to discuss all things Dexter: Original Sin. From receiving Jennifer Carpenter's blessing to bonding with her castmates on set, Brown also teased what fans can expect from teenage Deb in upcoming episodes of the season.
Molly Brown Reflects on Joining the Dexter Franchise
“When I saw this script, my initial thought was, ‘Dang, that’s going to be tough for the guy who has to play Dexter because that’s such a performance to follow,’” actress Molly Brown told website IndieWire. “But Michael just wasn’t finished with the character, and the audience isn’t finished either. The only way you can do that is if both parties feel that way, and they do.”
Brown Finds "Kismet" in Playing Deb Morgan
“I’ve never gotten to play the entire emotional bandwidth of a character the way that I got to with this role,” said Brown, noting the benefits of working across all ten episodes at once. “I’ve mostly done a lot of guest-starring work and had roles in movies where you’re there to serve the story. This felt like I was there to serve Deb.”
Stepping Into Debra Morgan's Shoes
Molly admitted she was too young to watch the series when it first aired (“I would have been… six?” she guessed) but caught up during college and has been a devoted fan ever since. She fondly remembered watching the show with her brother when her sister-in-law walked in and mistook Carpenter’s portrayal for Brown herself.
“It’s funny because I’m not putting on a voice. We just have a similar way of speaking,” she said. “What I’ve been told before by people in this industry is when a role is meant for you, it will be for you, and I truly think me getting this opportunity is proof of that.”
Diving Into Dexter: Original Sin and Deb's Evolution
Brown and her co-star Patrick Gibson were thrown straight into a climactic moment from Episode 8 of Season 1.
“I can’t say too much about what happens in the scene, but it is Debra at one of her lowest points,” Brown said. “One of the things that I really like in this series, the prequel, is that you show their sibling relationship evolve over the course of time.”
She added, “In the original show, Dexter is really good at being a supportive brother, but in ours, he’s really failing. This is one of the times where he comes through for her, and so she has this release. It’s just hilarious that that was the first scene we ever did together.”
Garnering Support and Navigating Challenges
Brown hasn’t met Jennifer Carpenter in person, she received Carpenter’s warm support via casting director John Papsidera.
“She gave the casting director a message to pass to me, which was really nice that I have her support,” Brown said. “[She said] that she’s my biggest fan, which she and my mom might have to discuss whether that’s true or not.”
Balancing Canon and New Interpretations
Tackling a prequel like Original Sin required careful navigation of the established canon. Regarding Deb’s eventual romantic feelings for Dexter in the sixth season of the original series, the actress deliberately approached the role with fresh perspective, avoiding any hints of the future storyline in her performance.
“I chose not to really play into any of that, at least I hope it doesn’t seem like I did,” she said. “Regardless of how people feel about where the show took that aspect of it, what we were left with in [Season 7] was Deb finding that out for the first time. So I didn’t have to incorporate any of that into my performance.”
Looking Ahead for Deb and Dexter
Brown’s dedication to authenticity will propel Deb into the pivotal Episode 8, titled “Business and Pleasure.”
“Everyone is putting on a performance, and watching Dexter try to figure out how to put on that performance really works,” Brown concluded. “It’s also what makes Debra go off even more when she’s looking for anything real from these men in her life.”
Source: IndieWire