Angelica “Angie” Porter-Kennard is all grown up, and she’s making quite the splash in the City of Angels! Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina’s (Laurel Holloman) daughter is now front and center in Showtime’s hit new series The L Word: Generation Q. Set ten years after the original series ended in its sixth season (although most fans have blocked out that final season for… reasons), our beloved OG’s Alice Pieszecki, Shane McCutcheon and Bette Porter are back and they’re joined by many new faces as they continue their journey of life, love, and loss in Los Angeles! We see the strong-willed and eager Angie experience new love, as well as navigating a new family dynamic between her same-sex divorced parents and some plus ones.
It’s undoubtedly a bold new series, for a bold new generation… and as the youngest cast member of Showtime’s The L Word: GQ, Jordan Hull, has held her own against legendary actors such as Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey. Age truly is just a number as Hull has proven she can go toe-to-toe with some of the greats that have shaped, chiseled and revolutionized an entire generation before she was even born.
FANDOMIZE got a chance to chat with the rising star about her role on the groundbreaking series. We discussed the pressure to fill such big shoes in this highly received sequel, exploring Angie’s ever-changing family dynamic, and playing opposite on-screen mom Jennifer Beals.
Let’s dive right in!
MCKENZIE MORRELL: For those who haven’t seen The L Word: Generation Q yet, can you give the readers a little snapshot of what the show’s about, and Angie, the character that you play?
JORDAN HULL: The show is about the queer people around LA and navigating love. What it means to be a queer person is really what the show centers around. My character, Angie, plays the daughter of Bette Porter, who’s played by the lovely Jennifer Beals. Angie’s very quick witted, strong, and awesome. This season you’ll get to see her navigate young love.
MM: Before we get a little more in-depth about the series– let’s start simple. What three emojis would you use to describe season two?
JH: A fire emoji, a heart emoji, but the one that has the sparkles on it, and the family emoji.
MM: We’re obviously only two episodes into the new season and things are already heating up, lots of drama. What can we expect from your character as the season progresses? Would you say that we get to explore a lot more of Angie, her relationship with her moms, and obviously her new love interest in Jordi?
JH: Angie’s going on a journey to find her donor. And I think that’s definitely a dominant thing for her storyline.
MM: Angie’s really on the verge of some defiance. Obviously she’s curious about her bio dad and Bette and Tina are pretty stern when it comes to honoring their word to the donor and waiting until she’s 18 to release that information. Do you think she’s just searching for that missing piece and wants to know him? What do you think her motivation is behind wanting to find him?
JH: It’s something that’s really hard to explain for those that are either adopted or have had a person that contributed to their existence and then you never see them ever again. It’s a pretty traumatic thing. It’s considered one of the first traumas when you’re alive, when you’re with something or someone for so long, then you’re taken away from that. Or you have a piece of them in you and you never get to see that live through. It’s something not just emotional, but deeply biological. I think her motivation is to see his face in her face. It’s complicated, but I think the motivation may be a missing piece.
MM: From Angie’s moms’ perspective, do you think they are just truly trying to honor the donors wishes, or do you think they feel inadequate with their parenting because she’s seeking this person out at this moment?
JH: Yeah, I totally see it from Angie’s side. It does seem like they have two motives, one is to honor of course. But I’m sure as a parent, it’s weird to have your kid– I think they’re perceiving Angie’s wanting to meet her donor as there’s a lack or there isn’t an abundance with their family, and that’s not the case at all. It’s just so separate from Angie’s relationship with her family. They’re so different when it comes to the donor and the conversation. I think Bette and Tina do have this insecurity and that definitely is explored.
MM: And obviously those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. You don’t have to be missing something within the family dynamic that your moms bring to want to have to find that missing piece of yourself. I think that’ll be interesting to see as the season unfolds.
JH: Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
MM: Angie is a pretty important character. She’s Bette and Tina’s daughter after all, probably one of the most shipped couples before shipping was a thing from the original series back in 2004. Do you think it’s safe to say that your character is still secretly rooting for her moms to get back together at some point, despite the recent introduction of Rosie O’Donnell’s character, Carrie, or has that ship kind of sailed for her after all this time?
JH: I think it’s confusing. Anybody that has divorced parents may understand this… but not only do you want them to be happy above all, but you also want yourself to be happy. With Bette and Tina when they were together, there were times where it was not a happy family to always exist in. They’re reasonably separated. I think Angie surely just wants them to be happy. Carrie makes Tina so happy and Carrie’s somebody that’s different and funny, and just doesn’t care. Angie loves that. I think now in season two, she doesn’t really want that.
MM: Well said! And I’m pretty sure you weren’t born yet when the original L Word came out, but have you gotten a chance to watch any of the OG series while getting to play this character?
JH: I’ve seen a little bit… enough to get my own character stuff, but not all the way through.
MM: That’s probably best, considering it’s pretty raunchy from back in the day. I wouldn’t imagine you would be watching it all the way through. It’s actually very strange and kind of surreal to be having this conversation with you today. Considering I was just around your age, probably when I started watching the original series. Do you feel a sense of responsibility or pressure now that the torch is being passed to the next generation? You get to continue these stories and important conversations and hopefully pave an easier road for the LGBTQ+ youth in 2021.
JH: Regarding the pressure, it’s new territory. I think what the show did was something that was never done before. They just opened the gates. And now it feels like especially with Gen Z, queerness is a lot different. It’s more exposed and represented. It feels very horizontal as opposed to vertical. It feels like now we have to get the details in it. You know, let’s represent queer black women. Let’s represent people that have all different body types. Let’s represent people that embody queerness on every level. You know what I mean?
MM: Of course.
JH: That’s the pressure.
MM: And now how did you resonate with this character? What’s, what would you say is the biggest similarity between you and Angie and what’s the biggest difference between you and your character?
JH: I think the biggest similarity is Angie’s very gentle in whatever way that can mean. I definitely feel more on the gentler side when it comes to emotions, whether that could be like repressing it or just thoughtfully dealing with it. And then I think the difference is that Angie, she punched somebody. I remember season one she straight up punched somebody in the face. I would never do that. Somebody said something mean about her mom and she punched them. I think that’s so funny. And I don’t think I would do that.
MM: How has it been being the youngest cast member on the show? I have no doubt you have great mentors on and off screen, but what has that experience been working alongside seasoned actors?
JH: Specifically with Jennifer, who I played the most with, she’s someone I’ll forever look up to. Working with her has been the greatest and most precious gift to me. And in every way I’ve learned so much from Kate [Moennig] and Leisha [Hailey] as well. It feels like it’s such a privilege to start my career here because this is my first gig, too. The bar couldn’t be higher. The standard is very high.
MM: It’s definitely a testament to your craft and your ability since you are able to hold your own starring opposite people like Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig, and obviously Leisha Hailey. Not too shabby for your first big gig, that’s pretty awesome. You should probably pat yourself on the back since that’s a great thing to accomplish at such a young age.
JH: I really appreciate that. Thank you.
MM: Now onto the totally random, if you were to construct a donut based on Angie’s personality, what kind of donut would she be and what toppings would be on it?
JH: What a question. All I can think about is in season one, she wore these like really crazy Converse sneakers. So definitely there’s going to be sprinkles on there because of that. I think she has a soft, ooey gooey heart so that will be the center of it. And then she’s very sweet so then a lot of sugar. I think she definitely does her own thing so I’ll put a pineapple on there, too.
MM: Oh, that sounds delectable. In addition to season two of The L Word, you have the Netflix film Hustle coming up. Is there anything you can tell us about that project and what we can look forward to for that film?
JH: Yes. You can look forward to Adam Sandler. I think he’s given an awesome, awesome performance. It’s a basketball movie called Hustle. And it’s just about this guy who was dropped from the NBA and is now coming back and you get to see this basketball player named Juancho Hernangomez, who is just the most charming, talented person. Just watch the movie cause I’m so proud of all these people and how good they are. You’ll have a good time watching it.
MM: That’s so amazing. And now’s the time where you give your kind of elevator pitch of why people should tune in to The L Word: Generation Q. Go for it. Let’s see what we have to look forward to for season two.
JH: You should watch The L Word: Generation Q because it has all the elements of good TV. It’s funny. Cinematography is awesome. The acting is cool and you’ll get to see the LGBTQ+ community represented. It’s a show for queer people made by queer people. Yeah, you should watch it.
MM: Definitely tune in. I can’t wait to see what’s next for your character as well as your upcoming project. Because I know that you are going to go far, so I’m excited to see where your career takes you.
JH: Thank you very, very much.
MM: You’re welcome, Jordan. Have a great day.
JH: You too, McKenzie.
