'Orange Is the New Black' Season 4: Annie Golden Warns Against Fans Thinking Prison Is 'Fun' [VIDEO]
One of the actresses on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black is speaking out against taking the show as entirely realistic.
Annie Golden, who plays silent sidekick to Red (Kate Mulgrew)/cult leader Norma on Orange Is the New Black, recently discussed how the series makes prison seem a little more entertaining than it actually is.The actress spoke about various young people who come up to her and express how "fun" prison looks to be, based on the show's lighthearted nature.
"In my situation, that I have a TV series that people seem to like, I do get nervous when young women and young men say, 'Oh my God, you guys are so fun, you make prison look fun.' That's not the message we're sending. No. Sorry. Don't think that. Because this is a fictional life," Golden said in a new Gothamist interview. "There are devices that are used. There are plot turns and plot points that are used for entertainment value. You do not want to get in. You do not want to be lost forever and then they throw away the key. You don't want to get on that radar. You don't want to have to have that. Things I learned while I was on the show, when you're paroled you can't vote, you don't qualify for public services, public housing. That's crazy and you don't know that. You don't know that when you make a mistake or you make a foolish choice or you get in with bad company. I do worry about it."
The series has frequently leaned more towards comedy than drama in its first three seasons, though the upcoming fourth season looks to be the darkest one yet.
Golden also discussed what it's been like to have people come up and say she plays their favorite character in the show's huge ensemble.
"It's kind of interesting to be the one who seems the most mysterious, only because she doesn't chime in, she's just there. I do have people who come up to me and say, 'Oh, you're my favorite character, you're my daughter's favorite character, you're my husband's favorite character.' I go, 'Really?' Because what's so special about Norma? That's what's special about her."
Orange Is the New Black returns for season 4 on Friday, June 17 on Netflix.
