Kristen Hager Talks ‘Condor’ and What Makes the Series Timely [Exclusive Interview]

One of the summer’s newest dramas is off to an exciting start. Condor, which airs on AT&T AUDIENCE Network, is a spy thriller follows a young CIA analyst who stumbles onto a dangerous plan.

I recently sat down with Kristen Hager, who plays the role of Mae Barber on Condor, at the ATX Television Festival earlier this month to discuss the series and why she thinks it’s particularly relevant today.

Hager said she was excited to be a part of the project, first and foremost, because of the writing.

“It was a really busy time of year when I was reading all of the scripts, pilot season, and this first episode script just stood out heads and tails above any other scripts that I’ve read in years,” she said. “I read the first seven episodes immediately back to back, and there was no question.”

She was also struck by what she described as “deeply compelling characters.”

“The ease with which one learns lines as an actor is a good indication of the writing. If you read things twice and you know the scene immediately, that’s great writing,” she explained. “But it was the story more than anything else.”

Condor is based on the novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady and the 1975 film, Three Days of the Condor. Still, the series feels very relevant for today.

“It’s taking a story that was originally told in 1975 and setting it in 2018 but has arguably never been more timely. It’s safe to say that there’s a large sense of political distrust in America,” Hager noted, adding that there’s a strong theme of distrust in the series as well.

“With dating apps, etc., everyone’s putting up these facades of who they want to be as opposed to just being who they are. And it’s just, again, really relevant.”

“We’re in some exciting times because of the anger at the powers that be right now, people are banding together that never have before, and really rising to the occasion. So I think it’s a really exciting time as well,” she added. “I think it’s a really powerful moment that we’re in in terms of unity.”

For Hager, the role of Mae has been a challenging one, but that’s something she’s grateful for.

“Things get really intense for her later on in the season,” Hager said. “It was an extremely challenging role. I’m a mother, [and I] haven’t done that before. I immediately, in the second episode, lose my husband, so suddenly I’m a widowed mother of two who quickly realizes that the man that she was married to isn’t who she thought he was.”

“It was a really challenging role emotionally but also really fulfilling as an actor,” she continued. “I love this role so much because she’s such a strong, opinionated woman who won’t take anyone’s BS.”

As for what we can expect from the remainder of the season, Hager suggested that the upcoming episodes will definitely be exciting.

“I think that people are not going to see what’s coming at all. It’s fun.”

Be sure to catch Kristen Hager on Condor, airing Wednesdays at 10/9c on AT&T AUDIENCE Network.

Check out all of our coverage of the ATX Television Festival right here. There is still more to come!

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