Lea DeLaria Will Make You Petrified of Orange Is the New Black Season 5

It's been a long, cold Fall, Winter, and Spring without new episodes of Orange Is the New Black. Now, just as the sun is about to come out, we're heading indoors to binge on season five. If you thought things couldn't get worse after season four, you're wrong. The new episodes pick up right as Daya aims the gun at CO Humphrey and take place over to course of three days at Litchfield. Ahead of the premiere, I chatted with star Lea DeLaria about what's next for Big Boo and what to expect from the rest of the ladies.

POPSUGAR: Let's start with the question everyone's asking. Last season ended on such a note of frustration and rage with that cliffhanger — how is this season going to begin?
Lea DeLaria: Let's put it this way: the rage continues. I think you can tell that by the trailer . . . but let's just say, yeah, yeah, this season, the rage continues.

PS: One of the things that we love about the show is how you go to such dark places, but there are so many moments of levity. Are we going to see that in the new season?
LD: Oh, hell yes. This is a classic American dramedy. And what makes it that are those moments of real rage, darkness, drama and the real moments of laughter that you have. Since season one, that's been the signature of what our writing team does, and that will continue. Everybody thought I was going to shiv somebody with that screwdriver. In nobody's wildest dreams did they think, "Big Boo's going to MacGyver that into a dildo and pleasure herself into orgasm on screen." And that was f*cking hilarious. Some of the funniest moments come out of some the darkest places and vice versa. That's just a real indication of terrific writing ability, skills. Our people have such mad skills.

PS: So much of Big Boo's storyline has revolved around other people like Pennsatucky. Are we going to see more forward movement in Big Boo's life?
LD: I don't think Big Boo fans are going to be disappointed.

PS: I actually spoke to Kate Mulgrew last week, and she was saying that we're going to be "gobsmacked" by the story. How do you see audiences reacting to the new episodes?
LD: First of all, as a perfect gentleman, I would never disagree with a lady in public. As a budding actor — even though I'm 58 years old, I still feel like I'm a budding actor — I would never argue with Kate Mulgrew on anything. She's a goddamn God, OK? And I do happen to be in total agreement with her. You will be gobsmacked by it, and audiences are going to lose their minds. Season four was on every critic's list as the number one thing on television last year. . . . So when I say season five is better than season four, people are going to go, "What?" It is. I cannot figure out how we do it or how our writers are able to keep this show so fresh, so interesting, so weird, so unique, so amazing, informative, and life-changing season after season after season. Amazing.

PS: How was it for you to shoot a season that only takes place over three days? Was the vibe different on the set?
LD: What becomes difficult about it being a three-day period is just making sure that the time frame works. This is actor-y stuff, but . . . we spent a lot of time going, "What time is it? Where was I just? OK. Got it." It was kind of rough when you're shooting out of season. Costume-wise, it can be incredibly uncomfortable for an actor. And it's been my lot in life that whenever I am outdoors in any kind of seasonal shot, I am never dressed appropriately to the weather.

PS: It's just freezing where you guys are?
LD: Yeah. I had to film an outdoor scene and it was Winter in New York, but not in the show. So Boo was in her white beater and her uniform.

PS: I'll look out for goosebumps.
LD: It was bloody f*cking cold.

PS: Are there any details that you put into Big Boo, either over the course of the show or this season in particular, that you're hoping audiences pick up on?
LD: Well, I hope they see that she's butch.

PS: I don't know if they got that impression, actually.
LD: The only way that I put any detail [in] is with my staunch refusal to do anything that I don't think is authentic. However, I've never had to put my foot down in that arena at all at Orange Is the New Black. They've never asked me to do anything that I feel a butch dyke wouldn't do or Big Boo wouldn't do. I have had that issue on other sets where I've had to go, "You know, if I was a black person saying, 'This is something a black person wouldn't do,' you would listen to me. I need you to realize that a butch dyke is different than any other kind of lesbian and there are things that we do very authentically." I've never had to do that with Orange. They've always been right on it. I just hope that the audience sees that.

Orange Is the New Black season four is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.