Kerry Washington’s Move Brings ‘Imperfect Women’ Filming to L.A.

The decision to film Apple TV’s new series Imperfect Women in Los Angeles was heavily influenced by Kerry Washington, who also serves as an executive producer. This shift from the original setting of England to Southern California sparked local production opportunities and revitalized work for crews based in L.A. The eight-episode thriller debuts with its first two episodes released on March 18, followed by weekly drops until April 29.

Kerry Washington joined co-stars Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara for a panel discussion at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, moderated by showrunner and creator Annie Weisman. The event, attended by around 300 journalists, influencers, and content makers, marked a rare extended conversation showcasing the series before its public release.

The Origins and Adaptation of ‘Imperfect Women’

Elisabeth Moss, who optioned the original book alongside Lindsey McManus through Love & Squalor Pictures, explained her deep connection to the story. The series is an adaptation of Araminta Hall’s 2020 novel, which revolves around three best friends—Nancy, Eleanor, and Mary—who bond over more than two decades after meeting at Oxford University. The friendship shatters when Nancy is mysteriously murdered, leaving Eleanor and Mary to grapple with concealed truths beneath their shared history.

Moss said,

“I fell in love with the idea of an accurate, truthful, raw and vulnerable representation of real female friendship,”

Elisabeth Moss, Actor and Executive Producer.

“What really drew me to it was the idea of being able to talk about female friendship in a way that maybe isn’t often done. And to talk about the harder parts of it, the beauty of it, the wonderful things about it, the things that are irreplaceable, but also the things that are also a little darker and the secrets that develop, especially over a friendship that lasts 20-something years.”

For the adaptation, Moss portrays Mary, Washington takes on the role of Eleanor, and Mara plays Nancy. Hall’s involvement during production was notable for her supportive and welcoming attitude toward the casting and creative decisions, including the important choice to relocate the story’s setting to Los Angeles.

Relocating the Story to Los Angeles: Narrative and Production Impacts

Kerry Washington highlighted the significance of transplanting the story from England to Southern California, emphasizing the unique backdrop that Los Angeles provides.

“It’s such an exciting place to tell a story like this because when we think about Los Angeles, we think bright sunshine, bright lights, glamour, and beauty,”

Kerry Washington, Actor and Executive Producer.

“And then there is this other kind of dark underbelly and long history, where things are not, like, new and fabricated, they’re grounded and older, and there’s a richness to the culture and the history here.”

This location change went beyond aesthetics. Washington explained the emotional significance of filming in L.A. following the devastating fires in early 2025.

“To be able to shoot here after the fires last year was so meaningful to the city and meaningful to us and our crew,”

Washington added.

Moss also acknowledged Washington’s pivotal role.

“Kerry deserves the credit for that choice. She brought up L.A., and it was obviously creatively very exciting, but I think meant a lot to us to bring some work here, and not only use all the beautiful places, but to use these incredible crews. It’s really thanks to Kerry that we ended up coming here.”

Elisabeth Moss, Actor and Executive Producer.

Los Angeles as a Hub for Film and Television Amid Industry Challenges

The L.A. filming location of Imperfect Women is part of a broader trend highlighted during Apple TV’s press day, where nine out of 17 featured projects are produced in California. This strong presence includes Jonah Hill’s movie Outcome, featuring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Bomer, as well as several upcoming series such as Lucky starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Timothy Olyphant, Sugar with Colin Farrell, and The Last Thing He Told Me headlined by Jennifer Garner.

Despite this promising slate, local production has seen a decline. A recent report from Luminate revealed a steep 24 percent drop in major scripted film and TV projects shooting in Los Angeles year-over-year. This downturn reflects long-term trends affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes within Hollywood, and the January 2025 fires.

Anya Taylor-Joy, discussing her series Lucky, reflected on resilience during challenging times.

“We were making [Lucky] in the aftermath of the L.A. fires, and I think we were one of the first shows that really got going after that,”

Anya Taylor-Joy, Actor and Executive Producer.

“And just the sensation of pride and love that our cast and our crew had every single day going into work and how grateful we were that we all had something that we could focus on and try and get back to the community in that way. That was really magical.”

‘Sugar’ Season Two Embraces Los Angeles as a Character

The spotlight on Los Angeles grew during the preview for the second season of Sugar, which stars and is executive produced by Colin Farrell. The crime drama follows private detective John Sugar as he investigates a complex case that spirals into a city-wide conspiracy. The show’s Los Angeles setting plays a vital role in the storytelling.

Farrell shared his personal connection to the city.

“I just love playing this character,”

Colin Farrell, Actor and Executive Producer.

“I love Los Angeles. It took me a while to fall in love with the city, but over the last 23 years of living here, I have grown to love it more and more and more. It never makes sense to me as a city; it’s so multifaceted, it’s so cross cultural. If you want to be a surfer, you can be a surfer, an economist, a rocker, an artist, a graffiti artist.”

Farrell continued to note the rarity of Los Angeles itself being prominently showcased in film or television.

“Most shows and most films, some that are even set here, take place elsewhere. So, to shoot on the streets of LA and have it as a character in [the show] was something that drew me back and got me just as excited about the second year as I was about the first [season].”

Sugar season two will premiere on Apple TV on June 19, continuing the trend of productions firmly anchored in Los Angeles.

The Broader Significance of ‘Imperfect Women’ and L.A. Production Revival

The decision spearheaded by Kerry Washington to set and film Imperfect Women in Los Angeles serves as a significant gesture of support to local crews and the city’s creative economy during a period of uncertainty. By embracing the complexity of L.A. as both a glamorous and deeply textured backdrop, the series not only enriches its narrative but also contributes to reviving the region’s production industry after notable setbacks.

Given the ongoing challenges faced by Hollywood, including strikes and environmental disasters, the successful launch and ongoing filming of projects like Imperfect Women and Sugar underline a resilient determination to keep the storytelling vibrant while providing meaningful employment to regional talent and crews. The involvement of high-profile actors and executive producers such as Washington and Moss reinforces the creative commitment behind these endeavors.