In the final minutes of last night’s Nip/Tuck, Kimber took a suicidal dive into the ocean, leaving her fate uncertain. Will she be picked up by a fishing boat? Wake up and ask for a margarita? Or is our favorite dysfunctional bombshell really a goner? SPOILER ALERT: She’s dead. The first step in the grieving process is denial. The second is reading a Q&A with the dearly departed character’s portrayer — in this case, Kelly Carlson. The actress dished to EW.com’s Sandra Gonzalez exclusive deets about Kimber’s death, TV mom Melanie Griffith, and the end of Nip/Tuck.
A decoy script was passed around that had Kimber surviving the jump. How did you find out that she was actually dead?
KELLY CARLSON: One of our writers told me. The truth is that Kimber was just supposed to be in the first episode, so this character wasn’t completely created before I got there. We all did it together. So Kimber is very close to my heart because I feel so responsible for creating her – just as much as anyone else. But truthfully, the show is ending, so I was totally fine (Laughs). But it’s still sad because I love her, and that character is very special to me.
What do you think led to Kimber’s demise?
CARLSON: Kimber lets men define her. That explains a lot of her bad, bad choices. Christian or some guy is always defining her as a person. And when all the men are gone, she has to be gone. There’s no more story for her if the men aren’t there.
Did you think it was an appropriate ending?
CARLSON: I think Kimber would absolutely have a tragic ending. Everything she does is tragic and also very predictable. She just never learns from her mistakes; it’s like Groundhog Day with her, and it ends up being kind of funny sometimes. I think she died a little too soon, but with that said, it’s not the end of seeing her. Kimber will still be there.
I heard rumors about that. Care to elaborate?
CARLSON: She does come back, and kind of in Nip/Tuck style. Christian always has hauntings, right? So Kimber will come back as his subconscious really.
How do Christian and Sean react to her death?
CARLSON: I wasn’t so concerned about Kimber and Sean because that’s just one of the affairs that always happens on Nip/Tuck. But with Christian, I know it deeply disturbed him, and he had some regrets. You’ll see him go through that process. And then the storyline immediately following with Melanie Griffith as my mother – I don’t know if I can say, but I’m telling you – he has an affair with her to find closure with Kimber. Kind of like a forgiveness coming from her mother.
What do you think of the casting of Melanie as your mom?
CARLSON: It’s perfect because Melanie has this very demure softness to her. But at the same time, she’s a tough person underneath it all. And I see myself — not as demure — but something like that. And there’s a lot of me in Kimber. So I thought she was absolutely an appropriate cast for her.
Have you read the ending of Nip/Tuck? Will fans be satisfied?
CARLSON: Yes. The very last scene — I can’t describe it — but the very last scene is great for me. It rounds out the show. I hope the audience will be satisfied. For me as an actor, it went start to finish and ended in a great place.
Reflection time: What’s the craziest thing you’ve had to do during the course of the show?
CARLSON: I would have to give you like a top ten. I don’t know that I could pick one. I mean, wearing the fat suit and doing a sex scene was pretty nuts. It was a short scene, but a grueling process.
Last thoughts on Kimber?
CARLSON: I know this is my last interview for Kimber (Laughs). So that’s bittersweet. I just loved playing her, and I hope to find a character as equally dynamic as her one day. But I dyed my hair black to put her to bed.
You didn’t!
CARLSON: I did. Because no matter where I go, I look like Kimber, right? So I can’t really bring it to other shows. So, I dyed my hair dark, dark brown. That was sort of my, ‘Okay, Kimber. I love you. Goodbye.’
Great episode! Going to miss you Kimber!
Where is Jenna? Men were the only thing Kimber had to live for? And, Kimber’s leap for some reason brought back memories of Gina’s (accidental) fall her death. Anyone else?
Well’ I definitely agree with you on the Gina part, but that’s actually one reason I loved the ending, even though I’m sad to see Kimber gone: To me, Gina&Kimber were among the women who had the biggest influence on Christian’s life and having them go out with a bang and draaaaama instead of having them move away or sth. boring like that seems more than appropriate.
But as for the Jenna part…come one, we all know Kimber was never really a good mother. At times she tried, but other times, well she failed. Her men were what was important to her, not her daughter, which is odd because her a child usually worships their mother unconditionally, as opposed to a guy who can love you and then turn and not give a crap the next…
What, this Sandra Gonzalez doesn’t have her own EW.com blog?
Okay, maybe I missed something since I’ve missed a few episodes, but where is Wilbur? And where is the child Kimber had with Sean’s son?
You know Scout, I was wondering that as well. We all know Wilbur’s father died and so did his mom, but what about Jenna? Did she stay with Ram the porn producer, he did adopt her while Kimber and him were married. Does anyone know or where they merely “written” out?
Good point, Scout. Both characters have disappeared this season. They can’t be written out without explanation. I recall Matt, being in prison, can’t get Jenna back, even if the adoptive father is a porn producer. The last I saw Wilbur he was safely tucked in Christian’s ex-wife/operating nurse’s home. I am very curious how the show’s writers are going to work this out since Christian can not possibly have a happy ending. Sean has always been a tragic figure but I can’t see him playing daddy, kids in tow, walking into the sunset.
You seem to be a season behind, Matt is out of jail and I don’t remember Jenna being adopted by a porn producer. He dumped Kimber for Eden last year.
I’ve wondered about those kids myself. Are they in daycare (and nitecare?) What ever happened to Wilbur and Jenna? Have they been put up for adoption for trying to live in that totally unreal show? At least let us know!
Well, both of them were there for that episode when Kimber had the abortion not too long ago. At the end of the episode when they’re having dinner, both Wilbur and Jenna were there. But you know, they’ve always sort of been dropping in and out, never being in too many consecutive episodes.
Maybe Grandma Melanie Griffith will take Jenna after she screws Christian. (ick)
Jenna is with Matt and Christian. I think they all split the time. Wilbur is with Christian. If you guys remember, the scene where Matt came home after Sean and Christian did the surgery so the really big guy could be given leathal injection? They were all sitting around the table having Chinese food. SO it looks as if Christian is continuing to raise Wilbur with a nanny’s help of course. And Matt has Jenna.
Jenna currently lives with her grandmother Julia seans ex wife also she spends time with mat her dad, kimbers ex. and Wilbur i think lives other family at the moment either that or christian sent him off to boarding school or some such thing like that
does anyone REALLY care about Wilbur & Jenna? Unless the storyline revolves around the kids, they just aren’t there! Technically, Christian has custody of Wilbur but he does spend time w/Liz and Jenna would be w/Matt (now that he’s out of jail) but most likely would be w/Julia in NY, but again, they are just not really important to the show.
I wanted Christian to be the one to kick the bucket. I don’t find his character to ever be redeemable!
I stopped watching Nip/Tuck when they moved to LA… It just didn’t work for me. But I was always impressed that the showrunners were smart enough to keep Kimber around after that first episode. She made the show memorable. Great job, Kelly, on creating an unforgettable character. I also applaud the hair color decision – it will be hard to see her as anyone but Kimber, but the hair will help.
I agree – I really liked Kimber.
So what she’s just going to refuse to dye her hair blonde if they want her to?
I have to say that I really liked Kimber’s character, it was someone you laughed at, hated and often times pitied. She was a damaged soul from day one and she fed on Christian’s poison. Rest in Peace Kimber.
Alexa, I agree. Kimber was loved, hated, laughed at and pitied. I always thought she would end up murdered or a suicide, curtsy of her refusal to self-define herself. Although at one point, she almost made it. I hope to see Kelly in other roles soon.
I still miss Gina!
I know, I even watched Glee for a while, but it wasn’t the same.
Having DVRd last night’s show and not watching it yet…I knew I shouldn’t have read this. DAMN IT! Couldn’t resist though.
i stopped watching this show but will forever remember kimber. man she was wild.
Kelly’s hot…i’d love to see her as a brunette.
all good tv shows I like are getting flushed
what happened to Christian and the bald chics head-on collision into the wall at the end of last weeks episode.
After the accident, the bald chick’s face was badly disfigured. She went back to McNamara-Troy and asked Christian to give her her face back but he denied her. And I guess that was the end of her.
Like all good shows use to be (NIP/TUCK)its good to see it come to an end. But to kill Kimber was not a great idea. Christian should be the one that meets his maker in the finale.
Christian should have died instead? Uh no way. The show needs to end with both Christian & Sean – the most dynamic and screwed up pairing on TV, ever!
What a fantastic show! I will miss it, and RIP KImber Henry!