Ozark star Jessica Frances Dukes wasn’t about to let the New York subway derail her audition for the role of FBI agent and forensic accountant Maya Miller.

In an exclusive interview with Page Six, the actress tells us how intensely she prepared for the pragmatic role, which stars Jason Bateman (Marty Byrde) and Laura Linney (Wendy Byrde), whose characters meet caught in a complicated money story. money laundering scheme that takes their family to the Ozarks.

“I was a fan of the show before I got the audition, so I had probably watched seasons 1 and 2 a few times because I’m a big fan of Jason Bateman; I’m a big fan of Laura Linney. So I was like, ‘I’m studying,'” Dukes, 43, recalled of the four-season Netflix drama series.

While she “watched the first season for fun,” Dukes tuned in to season 2 to “study” and “absorb.”

The actress – who is set to star in the upcoming post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama series “Earth Abides” – admits she couldn’t believe “when the (‘Ozark’) audition happened,” telling us that his reaction was resounding. “nahhh.”

But she said to herself: “I’m going to go anyway. I’m going to go to this room. I’m going to kill this audition.

Not only was Dukes “late for (her) audition because of the trains in New York,” but she was also not dressed for the role.

“I had to go, and I think I had, like, a fro-hawk and leather tights and, like, this denim trench coat — which looked nothing like Maya Miller. And I had to do my audition like that,” she recalls.

But Dukes – who got her start in theater – was confident in her preparation and abilities, telling us: “I did the work. I knew the show so well and I was like, “I know I’m talking to Jason Bateman in these scenes. I know who Marty is. I watch it so much. I got this.’

The actress says she “got the call about a month later.”

As if the news itself wasn’t enough to cheer about, Dukes learned that Agent Maya Miller had been moved from a recurring role to a series regular, as she recalls the showrunners telling her. says, “We are ready to take this journey with you. »

Dukes – who is currently filming Season 3 of the historical drama series “The Gilded Age” – gushes that filming “Ozark” was “one of the best experiences of (his) life.”

It was also one of the most humorous. Despite the “heavy” nature of the show, Dukes reveals that behind the scenes it was pure comedy.

“It was the funniest set ever,” she says with a laugh, calling Bateman, 55, “the king of comedy.”

“Exactly what you feel when you look at him is who he is. When you walk on set, there is no ego. There is no “I’m better than.” He’s such a family guy,” Dukes adds of Bateman, adding that “Laura is also really funny.”

According to Dukes, the joint jokes and laughter would last “until ‘Action!’ » »

While it wasn’t necessarily a fun memory, there was a particular scene with 60-year-old “amazing” “career goal” Linney that Dukes calls one of her “favorite moments as an actress “.

“It was like every day with her was a masterclass,” Dukes marvels. “We had a scene. She just came in and said, “I’m going to do this different ways.” And she walks out of the room and I say, ‘OK.’

“And we do the first take, and she does it like the sweetest person in the entire world. She walks out of the room and they’re yelling, ‘Cut!’ I’m like, ‘OK, great.’ (They shout) “Action!” She comes back and does it like the Wicked Witch of the West, and they shout, “Cut!” And then she comes back, and they do it again, and she sells me cookies! I was like, “What just happened?”

Dukes says her theater training allowed her to be “open and responsive” to how Linney decided to approach the stage.

“That’s the best scene to watch is when someone doesn’t plan or act,” Dukes says, calling the experience “just wonderful.”