Exclusive Interview with SHADOWHUNTERS’ Maxim Roy

Maxim Roy talks with us about her role as Jocelyn Fray in Freeform’s Shadowhunters

We recently got to spend some time with Maxim Roy who currently plays Jocelyn Fray, the mother of Clary Fray, on Freeform’s new TV series Shadowhunters.  See what she has to say about her character, working with Katherine McNamara, and training for the show.

What was it like working with Kat McNamara and developing an on-screen mother-daughter relationship?
Katherine is such a lovely, smart- emotionally smart, woman. She an absolute joy to work with, so it was really, really easy to bond with her. I mean, the first day I met her, I came in, it was a read-through, and I was the last person to be cast. So, I was really, really anxious, and she was really anxious to see who was going to play her mom, and I walked into the conference room, and she got up, and she yelled, “Momma!” and she jumped in my arms! So, it was so cute, and it was completely adorable, and she’s a very considerate person. She’s very generous, so it was easy, and I’m a momma bear in life, and I’m very maternal, so I took my role very seriously. It was nice, we became friends right away.

Maxim Roy and Katherine McNamara
Maxim on the Shadowhunters set with Katherine McNamara

What are Jocelyn’s best and worst qualities?
Oh! Um, I think her best quality is that she is loyal—yeah, she’s extremely loyal to everybody, to her daughter, to Luke, to humankind. Her worst, maybe she’s overprotective (laughs), maybe a bit secretive. Yeah, I think that might be it.

Jocelyn has a pretty intense fight scene in the premiere episode. How much training went into that?
(laughs) Oh gosh. Fortunately, I’ve done karate. I did karate. I did boxing. I was raised with three older brothers, so I’m very much a tomboy. So I’m used to doing fight scenes. But for this, I did not have much training, because I was cast at the last minute. So I was looking at the schedule and asking the stunt guy, “Uhh, well, there’s a fight scene coming. When are we going to do this?!” (laughs) Well, it was so overwhelming, and the first few weeks of shooting were really insane. So, basically, I got there that morning and I was drinking coffee and just watching my stunt double with the stunt guys doing it. And that’s how I learned it. But I have no merit. I’ve done karate and martial arts and a lot of fighting before, so I learned it pretty quickly.

Have you read The Mortal Instruments series?
I only read the first one. When I found out about it, I asked production, “Could you give me a book?” cause, you know, I had 2 days to prepare. They gave me the first book, so I started to read it, and I said, okay, I’ll wait to see if there is a second season, because I’m very superstitious and I don’t want to jinx it. So, unless I find out we have a second season confirmed, I’m not going to read them! I will read them eventually, but I just don’t want to get involved emotionally. I’ve been doing this job for a very long time, and I’ve had great disappointments, so I just kind of protect myself that way.

Maxim Roy as Jocelyn Fray/Fairchild
SHADOWHUNTERS – “Of Men and Angels” – Magnus and Luke reveal Clary’s past in “Of Men and Angels,” an all-new episode of “Shadowhunters,” airing Tuesday, February 16th at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., EST/PST on Freeform, the new name for ABC Family. (Freeform/John Medland)
MAXIM ROY

If there is a second season, what are you hoping to see for your character?
Well, you know, she’s going to be out of her coma at some point. I can’t tell you when, but she will. So, second season, I will be looking forward to action, and actually not floating. It’s going to be fantastic. Seeing the Shadowhunter that she is, taking charge. Going after Valentine, and just doing what she’s supposed to do. So I’m just really looking forward to that.

If there’s one piece of advice you could give your character, what would it be and why?
I think I would tell her to trust Clary, or earlier on, to tell her the truth. I think that’s the biggest mistake that she makes. Had she told her younger, Clary would have been prepared. They both would’ve been prepared and they would’ve known what to do, just in case somebody came for the cup. So, I think that would be my advice to Jocelyn.

Do you have any future projects?
Well, I’m on a series in Canada called 19-2, which is a very—it’s a pretty cool series—a critically acclaimed cop show. It’s not an ordinary cop show, it’s more of a human drama, and I’m really, really proud to be part of that show. And our third season will air in the next couple of weeks.

You can see Maxim Roy in this week’s episode of Shadowhunters, airing on Tuesday, February 16th at 9|8c on Freeform.

By Molly

Molly is a proud Canadian who is currently attending university in Scotland. She loves to read, write, watch films, and talk about Sarah J. Maas books. If not snuggled up with a book, Molly can usually be found tapping at the dance studio, or writing yet another essay.