‘A gift from the heavens’: Crystal Fox’s excitement at joining Big Little Lies cast

Crystal Fox was just a “fan-girl” hooked on Big Little Lies — until a call from its director changed everything. As season two starts today, she reveals the secrets of the show’s success.

There’s a new girl in Monterey.

As the world braces for the return of Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and their heavyweight co-stars in Big Little Lies today, one of the newest talents to join the runaway TV success has called the opportunity “a gift came from the heavens”.

Crystal Fox, who is joining the show alongside new arrival Meryl Streep for Season Two, told News Corp she was a long-term fan of the original series and was “just going to watch like everyone else” — until she suddenly got the summons to join.

MORE: The secrets behind Big Little Lies Season 2

THE PERFECT BLL SNACK: Reese Witherspoon’s cookies

BLL SEASON 2: Everything you need to know

Crystal R. Fox joins the cast of Big little Lies Season 2, starring as the mother of Zoe Kravitz’ character, Bonnie. Picture: AFP

Calling the show “painful, beautiful art” Fox, who plays the mother of Zoe Kravitz’ character Bonnie, admitted she was nervous about the prospect of joining the stellar cast.

“You have to hope you don’t go to work just fanning out every single day,” Fox told News Corp Australia.

“You have to be like ‘you’re here to do a job, not freak out’.

“Then when you’re standing there you go past how much you love them as artists to ‘I’m here as an artist too’. So it makes you rise up within yourself to do your best and then some.

“I hope that comes across when you all see me, the newbie.”

Fox plays the mother of Zoe Kravitz’s character, Bonnie.

Fans of the books will know Bonnie’s backstory and her interesting relationship with her parents.

The 53-year-old actor said joining the cast on the HBO drama was a dream come true, as she was already a devoted fan of the show following its hugely successful first season.

“I had no idea they were going to cast anyone else, the opportunity came about when the casting director saw me somewhere and called my agent. I don’t know what made him reach out to me,” she said.

“So it’s a gift that came from the heavens, and I hope I rise to the occasion to meet demand. It’s fantastic, I love these women.”

Meryl Streep (right) will also star in season two. Picture: Getty Images

Fox went on to discuss the show’s appeal: how a story about mums, which one would expect to be “safe and nurturing”, shows ever darker twists and exposes “the facade of who we are”.

For the viewer, she says, “I think it’s a sense of voyeurism, that they (the characters) are talking about some stuff that most of us would keep hidden. So each week we lean in to see what else they are going to reveal.”

Fox isn’t the only newcomer to the series, which will air on Foxtel from Monday, June 10.

Oscar winning actor Streep also joined the ranks, playing Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Alexander Skarsgard’s abusive character Perry.

He was killed at the end of Season 1 — and Mary Louise wants answers.

All the regulars will be back for the action, including Witherspoon (Madeline), Kidman (Perry’s widow Celeste), Laura Dern (Renata), Kravitz and Shailene Woodley (Jane Chapman), with tensions high after their involvement in the murder that rocked the town.

Their menfolk and children — plus the many secondary characters — all get sucked in to the mystery and gossip.

Season one of Big Little Lies ended with the Monterey Five killing Nicole Kidman’s character, Celeste Wright’s husband. Picture: Supplied

The season finale ended on a major cliffhanger, when the Monterey Five fought back against Perry, knocking him down a flight of stairs and killing him.

And it finished with an ominous scene, with the ladies looking fearful as their kids played on the beach as detective Adrienne Quinlan (Merrin Dungey), who had been investigating Perry’s death, watched them from a distance.

The question is — what happens next?

THE MONTEREY FIVE: A CHARACTER GUIDE

MADELINE MACKENZIE

Reese Witherspoon stars as Madeline Mackenzie in Big Little Lies. Picture: Supplied.

Played by Reese Witherspoon

Madeline is a type-A stay-at-home mum who harbours jealousy towards her ex’s new, younger wife Bonnie.

CELESTE WRIGHT

Nicole Kidman plays Celeste Wright. Picture: Foxtel/HBO

Played by Nicole Kidman

Celeste is a former corporate lawyer with a seemingly perfect marriage to a younger man.

JANE CHAPMAN

Shailene Woodley as Jane Chapman in season two of Big Little Lies. Picture: Supplied/Foxtel

Played by Shailene Woodley

Jane is a single mum with a dark past, whom Madeline and Celeste take under their wing.

BONNIE CARLSON

Zoe Kravitz’s character, Bonnie Carlson. Picture: Foxtel/HBO

Played by Zoe Kravitz

Bonnie is a yoga instructor with a Zen attitude.

RENATA KLEIN

Laura Dern, who stars as Renata Klein in Big Little Lies. Picture: AFP

Played by Laura Dern

Renata is a tech-exec career mum, Madeline’s main nemesis.

plus …

MARY LOUISE WRIGHT

Meryl Streep joins the cast of season two. Picture: HBO/ Supplied

Played by Meryl Streep

Mary Louise is a grieving mother, who is searching for answers after her son’s death.

Big Little Lies Season 2, episode 1 airs on Foxtel on Monday, June 10, 11am AEST and again at 8:30pm.

You can catch up on Season 1 there as well.

Originally published as ‘A gift from the heavens’: Crystal Fox’s excitement at joining Big Little Lies cast