'Roseanne' star Emma Kenney on playing 'bratty' teen: 'You guys will eventually love Harris'
Emma Kenney says a character arc is coming for Harris.
On the new season of "Roseanne," Emma Kenney plays Darlene’s daughter Harris with equal parts Darlene sarcasm and Roseanne savageness.
The breakout young actress tells ABC News that while you may not love Harris now, you soon will.
“Harris definitely has a character arc this season,” Kenney said. “I think that in the beginning of the season she starts out, she's coming from Chicago, a big city, living with her mom and her brother, her friends, her school, everything, you know? Her life. And then she gets forced to live with her grandparents in the middle of the suburbs of Illinois, so I don't think she's too happy about that at first.”
“But you guys will eventually love Harris,” she added. “Right now she's being a bit of a bratty teenager … I call Harris ‘Darlene’s karma.’
The characters may not always been likable, but Kenney says that’s part of what makes the show so relatable to viewers even after all these years.
“I think that the show genuinely shows real family bond, love, energy, having their back, standing up for each other, real family disagreements,” she said. “It's not like we're sugarcoating anything on the show.”
The actress thinks the world needs a show like "Roseanne" especially now.
"Just like a realistic family so people don't feel terrible about themselves if they're not living the 'Gossip Girl' lifestyle,” she said.
"Roseanne" pulled in massive ratings in its first and second weeks on TV, quickly earning it another season.
Kenney said she’d love to see Harris in more scenes with her grandfather, Dan, in the second season.
“I think it may just be because I love John Goodman,” she said. “Also Laurie Metcalf. Aunt Jackie is my favorite character.”
"Roseanne" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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