Paradise's Jane Driscoll: Nicole Brydon Bloom on being born a psychopath
Nicole Brydon Bloom, who portrays Jane Driscoll in Paradise, weighs in on the character’s early persona and the nature-versus-nurture debate that has intensified with Season 2’s backstory. Bloom suggests there’s a compelling case that Jane may have been born with psychopathic traits, a view that aligns with the way the character emerges as a formidable force across the series.
During Season 1, Jane appeared as an innocent, somewhat naive Secret Service agent. But as the season unfolded, her chilling capability emerged—exacting consequences on a boyfriend and shaping events to look like suicide—cementing her status as one of the show’s central antagonists. Season 2’s Episode 6 dives into Jane’s origin, prompting fans to consider whether her darkness is innate or learned.
Bloom openly entertains the born-with-it theory. In discussing the episode’s framing, she notes that there’s an argument Jane was “born this way.” She describes a moment early on where a message about a “killer to be born” lingers over Jane’s childhood, shaping how she’s wired as an adult. “There’s a sense that Jane might be cursed,” Bloom reflects, before adding that she believes Jane is inherently sociopathic, even psychopathic, with nurtural elements shaping the surface.
Bloom elaborates on the narcissistic edge she sees in Jane as well, suggesting that there’s a belief in invincibility that dovetails with a grand sense of self. She also explains the early dynamics of Jane’s relationship with Sinatra and Sinatra’s daughter, pointing to envy and fixation as driving forces behind Jane’s behavior, including what she perceives as a complicated mother-daughter dynamic in Jane’s life.
On how Jane’s past informs her present, Bloom emphasizes that Jane has likely endured hurt, and her emotional map may be imperfect or distorted. She clarifies that Jane’s connections aren’t always clear-cut, hinting that the character’s bonds may be more brittle and strategic than affectionate.
How Bloom got the Paradise role is also part of the story. She recalls that her initial audition didn’t reveal the Season 2 twist; at first, Jane was pitched as a rising, somewhat naive Secret Service agent. In a callback, showrunner Dan Fogelman asked her to try a scene as if Jane were a psychopath. Bloom recalls her reaction: she treated that prompt as a natural extension of the character, asserting that a psychopath would likely present as normal on the surface, a choice that might have sealed the role. She describes Jane as someone who has endured pain and may not fully understand her own emotions or the depth of her relationships.
Fans can stream the first six episodes of Paradise Season 2 on Hulu/Disney+, with new chapters dropping weekly. If you’re building your watchlist, you can also peruse our lineup of the most anticipated shows of 2026 and the best new releases hitting this month.