EXCLUSIVE | 'The Bold Type' star Stephanie Costa says Season 4B gets edgier with 'lots of twists and turns'
Freeform's 'The Bold Type' must take immense pride in depicting the lives of women in today's workforce with astounding clarity through the three millennial women — Jane Sloan (Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (Aisha Dee) and Sutton Brady-Hunter (Meghann Fahy) — and their coworkers in Scarlet magazine. Created by Sarah Watson, the show has consistently received not just positive feedback from fans but also critical praise.
In an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), Stephanie Costa, who plays the role of Sage Aiello, a fellow writer at Scarlet and close ally of the three protagonists, says that the show is always looking for new ways to tell the story of Jane, Kat and Sutton. "They continue to redefine what it means to be a woman in the workplace," she says. One of the most impressive things about Freeform's 'The Bold Type' is its constant drive to remain socially and politically relevant. It might seem natural since the entire setting is in a magazine office, but it's not quite so. For one, the series' approach to issues doesn't feel like tokenism through the screen. The issues are genuine and the way they mingle with the lives of the protagonists is genuine too.
In the previous season, the show took the discussion around the workplace, women and LGBTQ+ issues to the next level by going deeper into causes and exploring how they affect everyday lives of people. Costa says the show's writers are "curious and plugged-in, constantly looking for new ways to explore the major themes of our show".
Early on in the season, Sage and Kat launch themselves to defend the sexual independence of women in 'Babes in Toyland'. The duo goes out of their way to ensure that they make a difference. An emerging sex female-only toy company has its billboards taken down for apparently being profane. Meanwhile, advertisements about male erectile dysfunction medication can be seen all over town. "Why should the 'Yes, yes, yes!' campaign be pulled when others just like it stayed put?" Costa asks. "The rules should be the same for everyone. Our relationship to sex, sexuality and self-love needs some mending, especially when it comes to women. There’s no shame in enjoying oneself, with or without the help of Her Royal Vagesty! It ain’t no thang, to borrow a phrase."
A show like 'The Bold Type' is very near and dear to its fans. Especially the friendship and camaraderie shared by not just the three close friends but also almost everyone at Scarlet. But it is a special show for Costa too. "Before 'The Bold Type', I’d never had the privilege of a second or third day of work on any one project," she tells us. "Getting cast as Sage was a game-changer." The actress offers a glimpse of what is to come in Season 4B. "Lots of interesting twists and turns, some big life stuff, and more of what you've come to love from our three leading ladies. The show gets edgier, deeper, and funnier every season."
"Jane is now single and undergoing surgery without the support of a partner, the experience of which she will inevitably infuse into her work at Scarlet. What does work-life balance mean to newly-wed Sutton, as she maintains a long-distance relationship while pursuing new career opportunities? Kat doesn’t even have a job at the moment. How does her unemployed status affect her, as a career-minded woman?"
And what about Sage?
"Sage, ever the sex column rock star, continues on her crusade to liberate ladies everywhere and encourage us to be in tune with our bodies and our desires while throwing in a horoscope chart or sex position quiz for fun. As always, she remains a sounding board for her fellow writer and desk buddy Alex (Crawford, played by Matt Ward), and a source of comic relief, peppering the Scarlet bullpen with wisecracks and pithy one-liners."
Season 4B of 'The Bold Type' premieres on Freeform on June 11, 2020. And even though the season's production was cut down to 16 episodes instead of the 18 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Costa is optimistic. "I'm hopeful we'll be able to resume filming on our last two episodes to finish out the season because they were fantastic!"