Betty Gabriel speaks on newest role as Elizabeth Wright in Amazon Prime Video’s Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan for Season 3

I had the amazing opportunity to speak with Betty Gabriel on her new role as Elizabeth Wright in Amazon Prime Video’s Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan for Season 3 The highly anticipated third season of action-packed series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, starring John Krasinski, premiered on Prime Video yesterday Wednesday, December 21.  

All eight episodes of the global hit will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.  

In the third season of the action-thriller series, Jack Ryan is working as a CIA case officer in Rome, when he is tipped off that the Sokol Project, a secret plan to restore the Soviet Empire, is being resurrected more than 50 years after it was thought to have been shut down. Jack embarks on a mission to confirm the intelligence, but things quickly go awry, and he is wrongly implicated in a larger conspiracy. Accused of treason, with a Red Notice out for his arrest, Jack is forced to run from his own government, if he has any hope of uncovering the rogue faction before it’s too late. Crisscrossing Europe as he is hunted by former allies and new enemies alike, Jack races against the clock to stop the cascade of destabilizing conflicts from leading to global catastrophe. 

Cox: I’m excited to speak with you about your latest role as Elizabeth Wright in Season 3 in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. What should we expect with her this season? 

Gabriel: You can expect to see Elizabeth Wrigth as a very intelligent and sharp woman who doesn’t take any crap. She is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her position. It’s because she is in a very powerful position and she has her boss to answer to as well. This sometimes puts her job at threat. 

Gabriel (contin): You get to see this beautifully complicated dynamic with this Black woman who is in this predominantly white male organization. While we aren’t beaten over the head with this but there is that pressure you see she faces. It’s pretty evident that she feels this pressure with this dynamic that she is under. For me it’s really compelling to see this on screen and to embody it as a character.  

Cox: Speaking of being the only Black woman in certain rooms. How have you been able to use your own experience to bring to this role.  

Gabriel: I could relate to that immediately. You know we get in these positions and rooms where others think you aren’t as capable or competent to do something. You get to see this evolution with her relationship with Jack in this way. I don’t want to say too much to give away but there is this spirit of collaboration that comes about. I won’t say they have 100% trust in each other but they do realize that they have to work together to stop a potential catastrophic event.  

Cox: In the preview I got a glimpse of that relationship dynamic between Elizabeth and Jack. Elizabeth wasn’t playing around with him going off and doing his own thing. 

Gabriel: Yes, she gives Jack some leeway in how he likes to operate. But she makes sure he understands he has to meet her half way.  

Cox: How much can you relate to Elizabeth? 

Gabriel: Yes, I can relate to her in all the ways. I really feel for her because she has worked so hard to get to where she has gotten. We don’t dive that deep into her back story as much but it’s there. It’s clearly apparent that she is someone who has had to work to get to where she is. I understand that struggle of having to just work so hard. I know that feeling of having that constant fear of like ‘Oh know I’m going to get fired.’’(Laughs) I’m never going to work again in this town. That is something parallel to my existence in Hollywood.  

Cox: On another note, you have this track record of getting roles in Suspense and Thrillers. Was that something you went for intentionally? 

Gabriel: I actually don’t know how it happened. (Laughs) Because these types of roles and genres requires so much acting. It’s so much that goes on and it has been such a learning experience in this Horror and Thriller world. There is nothing there to actually be scared of when we are acting. You really have to create the imagination when doing these scenes. This is why I think people need to give actors in Horror and Thriller movies much more credit because it’s just not easy.  

Gabriel (contin): This is role is a new step in the evolution for me as an actor because Elizabeth has to deliver so much text (laughs). I have to gather so much information/data and regurgitate in such a believable way like an intelligence office. I’ve learned now that I can really deliver.  

Cox: Before we got, I have to ask you, let me know one last reason why we should watch you on the screen as Elizabeth Wright? 

Gabriel: (Laughs) Please because I look really good in suits. No, but seriously, she is an integral part of the story. You get to see how she and everyone comes together in this Jack Ryan universe.

Photography Credit: Attila Szvacsek