Krysten Ritter believes in turning pain into art. The actress, known for playing Jessica Jones in Marvel’s Netflix shows, shared her creative philosophy in a 2017 interview with Women’s Health. The quote is the site’s quote of the day as she prepares to return to screens in “Dexter: Resurrection” Season 2, which arrives on Paramount+ in October 2026.
“Anything bad that’s happened to me, I try to put it in my work, and afterward, I feel lighter. It’s like spring cleaning,” Ritter said. “I think that’s what all artists do—it’s a way to communicate their feelings, a way to use their heart and get things out.”
Ritter made the comments while balancing her role as the super-powered private detective Jessica Jones and writing her debut novel, “Bonfire.”
Ritter’s Path To Jessica Jones
Ritter started as a model before her acting career gained traction. Her breakout television role came as Jane Margolis, the tattoo artist and ill-fated girlfriend on “Breaking Bad.” The part put Ritter on the map.
She went on to play Lucy on “Gilmore Girls” and Gia Goodman on “Veronica Mars.” She also led ABC’s “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.”
She then joined Marvel’s Netflix TV shows as Jessica Jones. The character, a super-powered private detective, made Ritter a beloved member of the MCU. She recently reprised the role in Disney+’s “Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2.
What Her 2017 Quote Was About
The quote comes from a 2017 interview with Women’s Health, where Ritter discussed her work on “Jessica Jones” and the process of writing “Bonfire.”
The novel follows an environmental lawyer who returns home for a case against a large corporation. She has to confront her own tragic past along the way. Ritter assured readers that the story is “not autobiographical,” but she drew from her life growing up in a small Philadelphia town.
In the quote, Ritter describes creativity as a form of release.
It is a simple idea. Art can be cathartic.
Why The Quote Matters
Ritter’s comments suggest that creative work can help people process difficult experiences. Whether it’s acting, writing, painting, or any other artistic venture, the act of making something can be a way to work through problems.
The actress told Women’s Health that after “Jessica Jones” was released, women in real life approached her. They told her “how they felt seen and they felt represented, and because of that they were able to heal from their own sexual assault, or sexual abuse.”
That response shows art can be cathartic for the audience as well as the artist.
More Quotes From Ritter
Ritter has spoken about similar themes in other interviews. Here are some of her notable quotes on creativity, representation, and resilience:
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“The more messy women that we put on screen, that we put in books, the more women can feel represented and seen, then they can access their own stuff, feel it’s okay, and then have the strength to speak out about things like we’re talking about. About rising up.” — from a 2017 interview with NPR
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“It’s hard to always be reduced to the way you look, or your sex appeal, or what that is. I’ve spoken up when things didn’t feel right to me.” — from a 2017 interview with NPR
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“I think we all have things in the back of our mind that gnaw at us, and until you dig through the ashes and deal with it and rise up stronger than ever, we all have that s***. That’s stuff that I always like to talk about in life and explore in anything creative.” — from a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly
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“I guess as I get older I realize, who gives a s***? We’re here and we’ve gotta have some fun and not stress out so much.” — from a 2026 interview on “Grave Conversations”
The quotes show a consistent approach to her work. Ritter returns again and again to the idea that facing difficult material head-on, in fiction or in conversation, is the way to move past it.
What’s Next For Ritter
Ritter is set to appear in “Dexter: Resurrection” Season 2, returning to Paramount+ in October 2026. The show is a continuation of the “Dexter” franchise.
The actress has built a career on playing edgy, quirky characters across TV and film. Her roles often carry a hard edge, but her public comments suggest a more reflective side. She has said that playing these characters and writing about difficult subjects has helped her process her own experiences.
In her 2017 interview with Women’s Health, she framed this as a universal artistic impulse. When artists put their pain into their work, she said, they feel lighter afterward. It is like spring cleaning for the mind.
Key Dates And Details
- “Dexter: Resurrection” Season 2 returns to Paramount+ in October 2026
- Ritter’s quote comes from a 2017 interview with Women’s Health
- Her debut novel, “Bonfire,” follows an environmental lawyer confronting a tragic past
- Ritter played Jane Margolis on “Breaking Bad” and Jessica Jones in Marvel’s Netflix shows
- She also appeared in “Gilmore Girls,” “Veronica Mars,” and ABC’s “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23”
Ritter’s next project keeps her in the same lane she has occupied for years. That is the kind of work she has described as therapeutic. By putting difficult things into her performances, she has said, she feels lighter afterward.
It is a philosophy that has served her well. From “Breaking Bad” to “Jessica Jones” to “Dexter: Resurrection,” Ritter has made a career out of exploring the darker side of life. Her quote suggests that is not just a professional choice. It is a personal one.
Source: tvline.com
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