(This story contains no major spoilers for Agatha Always Already.)

Kathryn Hahn’s introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe took the form of a pushy 1950s neighbor to Wanda Maximoff and Vision on WandaVision. At that point I reminded Hahn that her role as Agnes was reminiscent of Milly Campbell, her earlier 1950s character in the Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio-led Revolutionary way (2008). Of course, Agnes turned out to be a front for a powerful witch named Agatha Harkness, and among the overall popularity of WandaVision and the chart-topping hit of the devious character, “Agatha All Along,” Agatha warranted an even deeper dive in the form of a spinoff series also titled Agatha Always Already.

Made by WandaVision boss Jac Schaeffer, last night’s two-episode series premiere opens with Agatha still trapped in the all-encompassing spell Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) used to punish Agatha in WandaVision‘s conclusion. But instead of another homage to classic sitcoms like its predecessor, Agatha Always Already finds Agnes, not Agatha, in a Mare of Easttown-inspired prestige crime drama called Agnes van Westview. Thus, Hahn gave her own interpretation to Winslet’s detective character Mare Sheehan, creating a more direct homage than WandaVision‘s unintended overlap with Revolutionary way. (The very first teaser trailer for Agatha Always Already provided a healthy view of Agnes van Westview.)

“I had eaten my fill Mare of Easttown when it came out, and I was obsessed with it,” Hahn says The Hollywood Reporter. “So (Agnes van Westview) was definitely a love letter to that genre of show, that’s for sure.”

Below, during a recent conversation with THRHahn also opens up about her unexpected journey to becoming a title character in a Marvel Studios project.

When I spoke to you before WandaVision a few years ago i pointed out how you were back in Revolutionary way fashion as a 1950s neighbor, so I wasn’t surprised to see you back in Kate Winslet territory with Agnes van Westview. Since Agatha was clearly on a binge Mare of EasttownDid you do that during the preparation?

I had a binge drinking moment Mare of Easttown when it came out, and I was obsessed with it. I loved it so much. I love — and (creator) Jac (Schaeffer) does — a prestige crime drama that’s led by a strong woman with a past. There’s a lot of templates for that show. I also love Wide church. I love so much of that stuff. So this was definitely a love letter to that genre of show, that’s for sure.

Jac allowed to me that she overlooked this possibility, but was there an Evan Peters conversation on set since his WandaVision actor character, Ralph Bohner, could have played a version of his own Mare of Easttown character? (Aubrey Plaza’s character ultimately stands in for Peters’ Mare character as the visiting detective.)

Oh, cool! I don’t remember hearing any conversations about that, but there are definitely conversations about him. He’s so good.

You turned what could have been a standard general meeting into an integral part of a successful show in WandaVision and now your own show in Agatha Always AlreadyHave you been able to contextualize what all of this means for you and your career right now?

First of all, based on my precious career leading up to this, I would never have seen this in my future. This is just an area that I didn’t think was open to me. I just thought it was something that I wouldn’t be in. And so, when I heard that she was a witch and that WandaVision I was so excited that it was going to be new territory for the MCU and that it was going to be a departure and break so many molds, I was just giddy. And Agatha is really always the main character in her mind, so it felt really natural to, of course, be the main character in this other show. It felt strangely natural, and it is natural that she goes from a lonely witch to a witch who, despite her feelings, needs a coven.

In the premiere, an unclothed Agatha runs outside to have a very funny conversation with her neighbor. Are you shocked that you could do that in the MCU?

No, because that was my idea.Laughing.) That was the first or second day of shooting, so we ripped the bandage off. It just felt really important to see her at her most helpless at that moment.

Do you have any requests for Jac and her writers’ room regarding your characters?

Jac and I are pretty simpatico in terms of who Agatha is and how she behaves. I often felt like I was Jac Schaeffer and I was channeling her Agatha and the way she saw this world. So I felt very connected to her.

Were you happy to be able to film on Blondie Street one last time before Warner Bros. Ranch was demolished?

Agatha’s house is the Enchanted house, and I got to shoot in front of it. I actually forgot that they had torn it down, which is really sad.

Well, congratulations on Agatha Always Alreadyand thank you for teaching me what a “jade egg” is. I had no idea what Agatha was talking about until my research led me to Goop.com.

(Laughing.) Oh, you’re welcome! There’s some controversy, I think, about how safe they are, but I can’t get into that.

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Agatha Always AlreadyThe two-episode premiere is now available to stream on Disney+.