FX’s Emmy-winning comedy The Bear officially closed its doors after five seasons, but Abby Elliott knows that her character Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto and our favorite fictional chefs will be in business long after the finale’s end credits roll.
“I feel at peace. I see them living on,” Elliott told DECIDER over Zoom ahead of The Bear Season 5’s premiere on June 25. “The show is just so brilliant. It shows these lives in a very true way, and these character stories feel very honest. I think that’s why the show is so special. It doesn’t feel like TV. It feels like people you know and love.”
The Bear‘s final eight-episode season picked up the day after Season 4’s emotionally excruciating finale, when Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) told Sydney (Ayo Edeberi), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bacharach), and Sugar that he planned to quit the restaurant. With no time left on Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) and The Computer’s (Brian Koppelman) countdown clock, limited food, and depleted finances, the team came together to survive a grueling service in hopes of earning a miracle Michelin star that could help keep the doors open.
In celebration of The Bear‘s final family meal, Elliott spoke with DECIDER about Sugar and Donna’s emotional evolution, working with Jamie Lee Curtis, Sugar and Pete’s steamy sex scene, embracing her inner chef in Episode 7, her thoughts on the show ending and a potential reboot, and more. Without further ado, let it rip!
DECIDER: We’ve seen a real evolution of Natalie and Donna’s relationship, from tense “Fishes” flashbacks to Donna putting in the work so she could show up for her in “Ice Chips.” And in Season 5, she experiences a whole new side of her mom as she babysits Sophie. Take me inside Sugar’s inner monologue in those scenes as she’s listening to the monitor. What does that insight mean to her?
ABBY ELLIOTT: For me, that was one of the most difficult things that I had to deal with after being a new mom — trusting somebody else with my kids, and with a baby. I totally relate to her not wanting to leave her kids with someone that doesn’t know her, or love her. And obviously a grandparent is the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s Donna. So what does that look like? She has to monitor, and she’s just waiting, and waiting. and waiting for one little strange thing. But she also knows it’s not going to happen. She has this earpiece in and she’s kind of half tuning it out, half in the restaurant. And I think her finally putting the earbud down was so cathartic.
How emotional was it to wrap that mother/daughter relationship and film those final scenes with the incredible Jamie Lee Curtis?
Oh my god. I love working with her so much. It was so emotional having her come into the office and looking at Carmy’s notebook together. She’s just the best. Jamie and I text about where we think Natalie and Donna are now. I’ll be like, ‘I think that they’re making chicken together tonight!’ We think about them as real people, because we really love them. There’s nothing like working with her. And there never will be anything else like it.
So much of The Bear unfolds in a professional, incredibly stressful work environment, so there’s not as much room for romance as there is in other shows. Why was that Episode 6 scene where Natalie and Pete got physically intimate so important to include?
I was so excited to just have this fun, joyful, sweet romantic moment where there’s no tension. Sugar’s not stressed over a bill. You have all the shit and chaos going on inside, and then they’re under the tarp and it’s peaceful for one shining moment. I had so much fun doing that scene with Chris [Witaske], because I feel really comfortable with him. He’s my buddy after five years. We have so much fun together, and I couldn’t have asked for a better scene partner.
What didn’t make it into the final cut is we had a lower back tattoo for Sugar. It was a dolphin with a design around it that she got in probably 2007. And the dolphin goes back to Season 1 [when I was] talking to costumes. I’m like, “Sugar’s grown up in Chicago, so maybe really fantasized about the ocean her whole life. And maybe she’s kind of obsessed with dolphins. In Season 1 you’ll notice I’m wearing a dolphin necklace. So we called it back. And I don’t think it made it in the final cut, but there was one shot of the dolphin tattoo.
Episode 7 is an all hands on deck masterpiece. What was it like to film that supersized installment and get to channel Sugar’s inner chef and immerse yourself in the kitchen?
Oh my god, that was so intimidating and scary, because everybody else has had five years of experience, and that was kind of my first. She’s dipped her toe in a little and helped out, like throwing on an apron and stuff, but it was fun and a beautiful, well choreographed dance, just knowing and trusting Liza [Colón-Zayas], and Ayo, and Jeremy — just knowing them so well and trusting that they’re taking care of me, and I’m taking care of them, and we’re in this together. Jeremy was literally showing me how to plate something in real life. Carmy was doing that for Natalie, but Jeremy was also doing that for Abby.
Critics haven’t seen the finale yet, but what was your reaction to reading that final script? How do you feel about your character’s ending?
I feel at peace. I see them living on. The show is just so brilliant. It shows these lives in a very true way, and these character stories feel very honest. I think that’s why the show is so special. It doesn’t feel like TV. It feels like people you know and love.
It’s become so common for series to wrap and return years later with a movie or reboot or reunion of some sort. Would you be open to revisiting this character and this world Chris Storer crafted?
Yeah. I would love to. Let’s go!
The Bear has talked a lot about legacy over the years. What do you hope the show’s legacy is? And what has it taught you about yourself?
It’s hard, I think legacy is an answer that Christopher Storer would have over me. But it’s taught me perseverance and teamwork. The importance of reaching out for help, leaning on people, finding a chosen family, whether it’s your nuclear family or not. And to just keep going.
Hungry for more of The Bear? Check out the rest of Decider’s Season 5 coverage here.
The Bear Season 5 is now streaming on Hulu with new episodes airing weekly on FX.