Jennifer Holland on Peacemaker Season 2, Harcourt’s Transformation, and the Art of Restraint

In the world of Peacemaker, emotional depth and absurd comedy collide in unexpected ways. Few characters embody this balance more than Amelia Harcourt, portrayed by Jennifer Holland. In our recent interview, Holland opened up about the complex evolution of Harcourt from a minor character in The Suicide Squad to a central figure grappling with trauma and identity in Peacemaker Season 2.

When Holland first stepped onto the set of The Suicide Squad, she was playing a supporting role, what she jokingly recalls as “Comms Tech One.” The character was later named Amelia Harcourt as a nod to DC Comics lore, but there was no intention of building a larger arc. “We didn’t really have a character fleshed out,” Holland explained. That changed dramatically when James Gunn decided to bring Harcourt back for Peacemaker.

“He just created this incredible, strong, capable woman,” Holland said. “We talked a lot throughout the process about Harcourt’s backstory, where she comes from, what sort of trauma she’s been through.” This collaborative world building became the foundation for Harcourt’s deeply layered journey through the series.

In Season 1, Harcourt wanted to present herself to the world around her as distant, and emotionally locked down. But Holland was determined to infuse her with nuance. “It wasn’t about making her likable,” she said. “But I wanted the audience to empathize with her. You have to understand where that coldness comes from.”

That depth continues to unfold in Season 2. Holland revealed that Harcourt’s strained relationship with Christopher Smith (aka Peacemaker) stems from personal trauma we’ll finally begin to understand. “There are certain things you discover in Season 2 about Harcourt’s past that we’ve known since the beginning,” she teased. “It’s really what drives her.”

After almost losing her life at the end of Season 1, she’s back to pushing people away but this time, it’s not a survival mechanism. “She’s not functioning the way she used to,” Holland shared. “She doesn’t have her job, her purpose, her identity. She’s flailing.”

It’s a new kind of loneliness for Harcourt—, ne rooted in grief, shame, and fear of vulnerability. “She let her guard down, and she’s mad at herself for it,” Holland explained. “She’s almost reconnecting with the reasons she hated Peacemaker in the first place.”

One of Season 2’s standout moments is a visceral bar fight that Harcourt initiates not out of necessity, but as a form of self-harm. “To some degree, Harcourt’s a cutter,” Holland said, candidly. “She can’t feel anything. She’s hurting herself on purpose.” The emotional weight of that scene made it essential for Holland to perform most of the stunt work herself. “I love doing the fight stuff,” she said, crediting stunt coordinator Dave McComber and her double, CC Ice, for their collaboration. “It was really important for me to do it because of the emotional element. This wasn’t just action it was about showing how deeply broken she is.”

And then there’s the now iconic dance opening. Season 2’s version is even more elaborate, with Holland getting lifted Dirty Dancing style by John Cena. “I don’t know if I manifested it,” she laughed. “But there it was in the choreography.” Despite the over-the-top choreography, Holland maintains Harcourt’s trademark stoicism: “Monotone, robotic, still completely in character.”

As Season 2 unfolds, Holland promises that fans will see “a new side of Harcourt.” And if the first episodes are any indication, it’s one that continues to challenge both the character and the audience to confront the uncomfortable truth that vulnerability is its own kind of strength.

Watch the full conversation below:

Q&A on the series Peacemaker with actor Jennifer Holland. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.