Juliette Lewis Talks 'Secrets and Lies'

— -- Is there anything Juliette Lewis can't do? Let’s see, she’s already a rock star and big screen film actress. Now Lewis is reveling in the second season of her hit murder mystery TV series.

"The Secrets and Lives" star recently stopped by the "Popcorn With Peter Travers" show to talk about her character Detective Andrea Cornell in the prime-time drama.

"The way this series goes, it’s one investigation over 10 episodes," said Lewis. "And that’s what appealed to me about it too because we can take our time with character development and story. It’s called 'Secrets and Lies' because you slowly learn this season is about a family who seems to have it all. And we sort of start seeing the cracks that people aren’t revealing."

It's her first time as a lead actress on a television show. Lewis, 43, told Peter Travers that fans have been strong feelings about her character.

"I’ve had people go, 'Oh I hate you,' but they say it with love," said Lewis. "I’m like, 'Oh, that’s great. I’m sorry you feel that way.'"

Lewis' transition to television may not come as much of a surprise. She's one of the most versatile celebrities in Hollywood. She's fronted a successful rock band, "Juliette and the Licks," and starred in a string of hit films, including her role opposite Robert De Niro in the 1991 big screen remake of "Cape Fear." Peter Travers asked Lewis what it was like on set while working with De Niro.

"De Niro was doing all kinds of stuff to prepare for (his role as) Max Cady," Lewis said. "Marty (Martin Scorcese) would say, 'I’ve gotta go visit De Niro’s trailer. He’s speaking in tongues with a church lady.' So he was doing whatever process he needed to get into the realm of Max Cady. But once we were on set, it’s transcendence. I only saw total professionalism from De Niro. I didn’t know what he did, the back story. He just arrived and we became present in the roles we were playing."

Lewis later went on to be nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for "Cape Fear." But she's also found great success in her music and said there's a place in her life for both.

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"I have a label for what I called myself. I’m an emotionalist," said Lewis. "I feel like music is a shortcut to the emotional heart of things. And acting is a bit more cerebral even though it can get you in the gut too."

You can see "Secrets and Lies" each week on ABC.