Hot Times Ahead for Rescue Me's Janet

FX's Rescue Me (Tuesdays at 10pm/ET) is only three episodes into its third season, but if current story lines are any indication, the boys of Ladder 62 are in for a doozy of a ride as the episodes rage on. As Tommy Gavin's no-nonsense ex-wife, Janet, Andrea Roth has made her mark as one of the few females who can show the firehouse crew who's boss. On a recent break from filming, Andrea clued in TVGuide.com on future shakeups, breakups and makeups, and spills the beans about her upcoming film role opposite Jason "He's So Sexy!" Statham.

TVGuide.com: It's only two episodes into the season, but Rescue Me is ramping up to deliver some stellar plotlines. That altercation between Johnny and Tommy in Episode 2 left me on the edge of my seat!
Andrea Roth: I know! Wasn't it crazy? He was scary, huh?

TVGuide.com: Just a tad terrifying, yes. That must have been quite a scene to film.
Roth: We filmed that over two nights and that was actually pure fun because we rarely get to shoot with everybody.

TVGuide.com: And not to mention the guest stars who have made fine additions to the early episodes.
Roth: We're lucky. Between Susan Sarandon, Marisa Tomei and Tatum O'Neal, we have three Oscar winners on our show.

TVGuide.com: It must be nice to have that increased female presence on the set.
Roth: It is. Callie [Thorne, Sheila] is one of my dearest friends, and that sort of blossomed this year because we haven't gotten the chance to work with a lot of women on the show.
 
TVGuide.com: During my chat with Callie, she deemed working with the Ladder 62 guys "delicious." Your take?
Roth: All the boys want to make you laugh. And what better thing is there to do than sit around with a bunch of boys wanting to make you laugh?

TVGuide.com: Do the guys ever feel the need to be on their best behavior or hold anything back from you women?
Roth: God, no! Those boys are completely uncensored.

TVGuide.com: Things have gotten quite tough for Janet. After losing her son in a tragic hit-and-run, she quickly hops in bed with her husband's brother, Johnny. She's had to really develop a thick skin, especially now that Tommy's found out about her "extracurricular activities."
Roth: I think that just from years of being married to Tommy Gavin, she's developed a tough skin. [Laughs] He's someone obsessed with secret, evil plans. He's not normal! But the fact that I'm with his brother is just unredeemable, actually horrific. When they told me, I was like, "What?" But it makes for a good story! I kind of look at it as this roller-coaster ride that I'm on and have no control of. Sometimes I wonder what on earth they could possibly do next, and they just continue to come up with wilder, more dysfunctional and shocking things.

TVGuide.com: And the wild antics will continue once things heat up between Marisa Tomei as Johnny's ex-wife and Tommy.
Roth: But that's very short-lived. There's a lot of secret, evil planning between the two of them, but it all blows up like things always do in Tommy's face!

TVGuide.com: I need a scorecard to keep up with all the bed-hopping and guest-star seductresses this season!
Roth: I have a hard time keeping up with it myself. Here's a good teaser that you can't imagine [happening]: Tommy and Janet may end up dabbling together by Episodes 4, 5 or 6.

TVGuide.com: No kidding.
Roth: [Pause] I don't know how much you want things ruined... but [SPOILER ALERT] Tommy is going to come over and we get in a bit of an argument. He pushes me down, and we end up having sex.

TVGuide.com: Wow. This season has provided some fantastic story lines. Do you have a favorite thus far?
Roth: This year's been really tough for me because I was really confused about what the hell my character was doing. When the very first episode of the season was written, Janet was very angry, and I said to [cocreators] Denis [Leary] and Peter [Tolan], "My child just died. Shouldn't there be some more sensitivity?" And they were like, "Nope. We want you bitter and angry."

TVGuide.com: You do play bitter and angry well. What kind of reactions have you received from fans?
Roth: It's really lovely because people tell me I'm a really good actress [judging by] when my child died. "You broke our hearts." People aren't just fans, no one just likes it. They're obsessed! And the rest of the world just doesn't know about [the show].

TVGuide.com: With the summer TV slate largely made up of reality shows and reruns, Rescue Me is a refreshing alternative. But why is it such a scorcher with fans?
Roth: It has a dark, dysfunctional soul, mixed with a lot of light, funny drama. The audience has no idea [what will happen], so it's like a big kids' roller-coaster ride. There's enough alcohol, swearing and sex involved so it's a good ride. Every once in a while, because it can get so outrageous, I wonder if people think it's just too over-the-top or soapy, but they just eat it up. The crazier it gets, the more obsessed people get.

TVGuide.com: Tell me about some of the other projects you have coming down the pike. I understand you just wrapped the action flick Rogue with Jason Statham?
Roth: That was great fun. I adore him, he's so talented. And so sexy! I was reduced to a blithering, dorky schoolgirl. When I'd be talking to him, I'd touch his arm, feel the electricity, and go, "Oh, my god!" So that, as Callie would say, was delicious. He feels like my first high-school crush.

TVGuide.com: Tell me more about your character in that film.
Roth: I play Jason's wife. Lucky me, working with Denis Leary, John Corbett [and now] Jason Statham. But I didn't get to kiss Jason. [Dreamily] Oh, if only....

TVGuide.com: I can't let you go without trying to eke out one final Rescue Me spoiler. Surprise me.
Roth: Well, when Tommy comes over and we have sex, it starts off very violent, and you're not really certain exactly what the hell happened. I read in an article that Denis said that scene actually shows how complicated and strong the sexual pull is between these two people and why they are together and find it so hard to be apart. I haven't seen it, but a bunch of producers have said it's their favorite scene.

TVGuide.com: It's also rumored that someone in the firehouse is bisexual.
Roth: Yes. And they're wondering and start dabbling. Do you want to know who it is?

TVGuide.com: Well, if you're going to twist my arm....
Roth: [Name redacted.]

TVGuide.com: That was my guess.
Roth: [That person] is confused and there will be some homosexuality going down. And I do mean going down.