Page 295 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book

Laurie Barber is happily married to handsome local Assistant District Attorney Andy Barber (Captain
America film star Chris Evans), and mother to her wise-cracking 14-year-old son Jacob (Jaeden
Martell).

She’s the sort of woman who goes for a run before breakfast, then quizzes her son on vocabulary
over coffee before heading to her high-profile job managing a home for abused children.

She’s just so together... until her son is accused of one of the most hideous crimes imaginable – the
cold-blooded murder of a classmate – and her entire life and social circle begin to unravel as the
police investigate.

‘It’s a really gripping story, because it’s so difficult for this couple to comprehend that their child
might commit any sort of crime, let alone a murder,’ says Michelle of the story, based on the 2012
novel by William Landay.

Michelle in Defending Jacob, with co-stars Jaeden Martell and Chris Evans. Her latest character in the
thriller Defending Jacob is a straightforwardly good woman – although one thrust into bewildering
circumstances

‘They’re both defending their son, and like any parent would, Laurie’s asking at the same time,
“Where did I go wrong?”

'There’s conflict between Laurie and Andy because at the start of the story she’s the emotional one
and he’s the calm one, but then as the story goes on there’s a need for Andy to be emotional too.

'So they’re always seeing things from a slightly different perspective.