Jennifer Holland has had a whirlwind few years. From show-stealing moments in ensemble casts to stepping into the spotlight of a billion-dollar franchise, her rise is a testament to her persistence – and the magnetic quality she brings to every scene.
Best known for her sharp-tongued, sharp-shooting portrayal of Emilia Harcourt in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad – not to mention Black Adam, Shazam! and most recently Peacemaker – Holland has carved out a space for no-nonsense characters with unexpected depth.
We caught up with Holland ahead of the new season of Peacemaker.
Life
SM: What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
JH: Season 2 of Peacemaker. This time we get to explore my character’s flaws in far more depth. I was challenged both emotionally and physically – and I also got to play an entirely different version of Harcourt from a different version of our world.
In episode one, I was pushed physically more than on any other project I’ve worked on. Throughout the season, Harcourt walks a tightrope of conflicting emotions; in episode six especially, I had to convey a much more intricate emotional journey than probably ever before in my career.
There was a lot asked of me this season, and I’m proud of the work and dedication I put into meeting those challenges. I’m grateful, too, to have been trusted with that much responsibility to the story.
After season one, James heard from fans how much they connected with the emotional aspects of the show – so he doubled down. It’s been rewarding to see the whole cast explore that side together. And honestly, I’m just really proud to be part of this cast and crew, for whom I have immense respect and gratitude.
SM: What’s been the most surreal moment of your career?
JH: I worked with Pierce Brosnan on a film he was starring in, and my mic pack kept falling out of my skirt down to the floor as I was walking in the scene with him – and we kept having to restart the takes. He literally ran to my aid to help with the malfunctioning mic pack multiple times, and he was such a gentleman. He went out of his way to make me feel welcome.
He didn’t want anything from me, he was just being kind. It was pretty surreal. He’s this larger than life, incredibly accomplished and famous man who I grew up watching from the time I was a kid, and then here I was, just this nobody actress who popped in for an afternoon to shoot a quick scene in his movie, and he was kinder to me than most other humans in my life. That experience really sticks with me. What a good human.
SM: What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
JH: Professionally, I’d like to produce.
Personally, I want to develop a consistent daily mindfulness meditation practice. I’m not there yet. I grind my teeth at night, and I think there’s a lot of tension in my body I’m not fully aware of. I’d like to be more present in each moment, rather than caught up in the past or the future.
SM: Outside of your family, who is your biggest inspiration?
JH: Goldie Hawn and Meg Ryan. Both geniuses.
SM: Tell us something nobody knows about you…
JH: I’m not sure there’s anything that nobody knows – I’m pretty honest, sometimes to my detriment. But something I haven’t talked about much? I’m scared of death.
I love being on this earth – the smell after warm rain, the morning sun on my face, breathing fresh air, hearing a song for the first time, laughing with my husband… life is the greatest gift I know, and I can’t imagine not getting to do it anymore.
I try to remind myself that my fear is based on the idea that I know something about death – and I don’t. Maybe one day I can reframe it as an exciting adventure; a journey into the unknown.
SM: What upcoming project are you most excited about?
JH: I’m remodelling a log cabin on a river in Colorado. It’s been a challenging creative outlet outside of the entertainment industry, and I’m excited to see it come together.
Style
SM: What’s your favourite item of clothing – and what does it mean to you?
JH: A pair of slippers my mum gave me when I was a kid. They’re shaped like Sigmund Freud’s fuzzy face – “Freudian Slip-pers”. She thought I’d find them hilarious, and I did. I was a weird kid.
I lost my mum in my early twenties, and I miss her a lot. Those slippers remind me of her laugh.
SM: Favourite accessory – and why is it special to you?
JH: A ring with my mum’s birthstone, which I bought as a wedding gift to myself so I could wear it on the day – since she couldn’t be there. It was also my “something blue”.
SM: What’s been your most embarrassing style fail?
JH: Once, I wore something on a red carpet that I didn’t want to wear. A publicist I was working with at the time convinced me, and I ignored my gut. In the photos, I just don’t look like myself.
I don’t really regret it, though – it was a good reminder to stay true to myself. Fashion is all about the moment, and if I’m living in the present, why worry about what I’ve worn in the past?
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SM: Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss, and why?
JH: My husband and I were burgled in Los Angeles a couple of years ago, and I lost every piece of jewellery I owned – which wasn’t much. I don’t buy or wear jewellery often, so everything I had was sentimental: a necklace from my husband that symbolised my bond with his late father, as well as all the jewellery I wore during our wedding celebrations. Losing it felt like losing a piece of my heart. Luckily, I still have my wedding ring.
SM: What’s next on your shopping list?
JH: I stopped buying clothes during the pandemic, so my wardrobe is in dire need of attention. I work out a lot, so it’s mostly activewear at this point. Honestly? I need a whole new wardrobe. Help!
SM: What would you buy if money was no object?
JH: A small town in the mountains or by the beach, where all our friends and family could live. Not, like… a commune. Just a place where we could walk to each other’s houses, be in nature, and have dinners together all the time. In other words, I’d buy easy access to quality time with the people I love. What a dream.
Peacemaker season 2 is available from Friday 22 August airing on Sky Max and NOW.
