Mare of Easttown season 2—Kate Winslet teases more episodes of the HBO crime series

If you're anything like us, you watched every episode of Mare of Easttown without blinking—and then quickly checked for details on season 2. 

The highly anticipated HBO crime series starring Kate Winslet became a smash hit with audiences when it premiered on April 18 and has continued to receive critical acclaim in the aftermath of its finale at the end of May. Produced by Brad Inglesby, the seven-episode drama has been nominated for a whopping 16 Emmys, including the award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. 

Understandably, viewers aren't too happy with the 'limited' nature of the show. Its success has left many fans desperate for a second season—a possibility that has yet to be entirely ruled out. While the series was initially launched as a stand-alone production, its writers aren't necessarily finished with the story. 

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Kate teased that she's recently had a change of heart when it comes to the idea of reprising her role as the show's protagonist Mare Sheehan. The British actor received widespread praise for her portrayal of the gritty police detective, a character she described as one of her "most challenging" ones yet. In fact, the role of Mare was so tough that, immediately after filming wrapped, Kate declared she'd never play her again. 

“At the end of shooting we were like, ‘Holy hell we can never do that again. If HBO brings up the idea of a Season 2, we all just have to say absolutely not. There’s just no way we could possibly do it,'” she revealed.

However, after hearing the overwhelming support for the show, she began to warm to the prospect of a second take. “And then there was talk, like, could there be? Especially when the show was getting such good responses… Creatively, Brad has shared some very cool ideas. We will see what happens." 

Kate also explained that, in order to embody Mare again, she must be in the right headspace. The captivating mini-series sees the Pennslyvania detective investigate the tragic disappearance of a young girl while simultaneously working on the case of a murdered teenage mother. The stress of her job is exacerbated by her complicated personal life, which is shaped by family tribulations and complex romances. It's a heavy role that requires a huge amount of mental energy to play for hours and weeks on end. 

"I also have to figure out if I can do it," Kate admitted. "Can I go through it again? It did cost me a lot emotionally to be her, and I have to figure out if I can summon it all up again and do it again.”