The Bold Type, Freeform's series about best friends navigating career, life, and love in and around a Cosmopolitan-like magazine, kicked off its third season on Tuesday. Ahead of the premiere, The Advocate caught up with Katie Stevens, who plays the writer Jane, to chat about the show's willingness to tackle difficult subjects and to depict female friendship in a positive light.
Stevens, who was a contestant on American Idol and went on to star as Karma in the queer-themed MTV series Faking It, discusses last season's episode in which Jane makes problematic statements to her friend Kat (Aisha Dee), who is biracial.
"I feel that white privilege story was one of the stories and one of the topics that we touched on and we did really well," Stevens tells The Advocate. "It's important to show that conversation and to be unafraid of that conversation. When we open that up, that's how we can all learn and put ourselves in check."
"Even though I try to keep my privilege in check, and to always remind myself that is something I was lucky enough to be born with, even I learned things from that episode," Stevens says.
The actress and singer also touches on the show's depiction of female friendship and how the characters of Jane, Kate, and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) buoy each other.
"It's an honor and a privilege to be a part of a story that focuses on female friendship and showcases female friendship in a light that I've always seen it," Stevens says. "Especially in a time now where women's voices are being heard and women are coming forward and starting movements, it's important to show that and show how we rise by lifting others."
Watch the interview with Stevens below.
