The Better Sister is a new Prime Video thriller based on a hit 2019 novel by Alafair Burke. As with many thrillers, the story begins with a murder–but this isn’t just any murder. The victim, Adam, is the husband of Chloe, but also the ex of Chloe’s estranged sister Nicky. In the aftermath of the killing, Nicky and Chloe are forced to come together and deal with unresolved issues and relationship-breaking family secrets.

Chloe and Nicky are brought to life in the 8-part miniseries by Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks, respectively. Biel is well-known for her work on projects including the long-running family drama 7th Heaven, the films The Illusionist and Total Recall, and a memorable stint as herself on BoJack Horseman. Banks is an acclaimed actor and director known for The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect films as well as her work behind the camera on films like Cocaine Bear.

ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier spoke with Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel about their work on The Better Sister. The actors discussed diving into family relationships and how they related to the characters of Nicky and Chloe. Check out The Better Sister trailer and read on to see what the stars had to say.

How The Past Affects The Present In The Better Sister

“It’s Such An Integral Part Of These Performances”

The Better Sister’s Chloe and Nicky may be siblings, but their childhood experiences were so different that they are completely opposing personalities. “It’s such an integral part of these performances that these two sisters grew up in very different households,” said Jessica Biel. She continued, saying that they “grew up being told mistruths that have really sent them down two different paths in their lives–paths they regret.” In Biel’s words, her character Chloe is “literally haunted by the choices that she’s made towards her sister.”

“These things … are the driving forces of why they do the things they do, why they’re estranged, and how they’re now trying to get aligned again.”

“I literally speak to the past and the ghost of my father in the show,” Elizabeth Banks added, “so … one of the themes we were exploring was the deep and profound effect the past has on all of us.” Banks’ own experience helped her understand her character as well: “I’m a sibling. I have three sibs, and I’m 11 years older than my brother, so we had two very different parents. We had two entirely different scenarios, knowing that your parents grow and change.”

Jessica Biel Explains Chloe’s State Of Mind

“Compartmentalization … All The Time”

One of the responsibilities Biel had on The Better Sister in playing Chloe was portraying someone who was actively avoiding where they came from. “It sort of creates a compartmentalization going on all the time,” she said on the subject, adding, “I think that’s interesting to play–when you know something, but you want to keep something away, so you’re now lying. But that’s not the truth, [so] can you what you said to this person? Have you closed the loop on this life? Your brain is constantly, as the character, double-checking that everything is as it should be.”

Elizabeth Banks Reveals Why She Related So Much To Nicky

“I Recognized Her”

On Banks’ side of things, Nicky was very relatable on an emotional level. “I recognized her,” Banks said, adding, “I’m from a big family–working class people. Addiction and AA is something I’ve explored with family and friends for a long, long time.” She continued to reveal what she found “fascinating” about the dynamic between Chloe and Nicky in that context, saying, “Nicky is deceptive, but Chloe is self-deceptive.”

“[Nicky] comes to the scenario with a lot of deception,” Banks said, “but a lot of grace for her sister, and we have to flip that. I need her to help me with the lies and the deception, and I need grace from her. It’s an interesting dynamic that we have to pull out of each other that she just lives in. She’s too walled-off to actually get involved in what’s really going on here. We have to live in the same reality, and we’re not [doing that] at the beginning. I found that really fun to play.”

All eight episodes of The Better Sister hit Prime Video on May 29.