Viewers tuning in to tonight's second season premiere of Damages will see a darker, more confident side to Ellen Parsons.

Who better to ask about this transformation than actress Rose Byrne? She recently spoke with TV Guide:

TVGuide.com: How dark a place is Ellen at these days?
Byrne: Oh she's in the depths of grief and trauma and rage and revenge.

TVGuide.com: Is there any reason why Ellen might not follow through with the FBI's sting? Does she have any empathy for Patty?
Byrne: No. The only question is, Who does she trust? I don't even think she trusts the FBI. She just wants to get done what she needs to get done.

TVGuide.com: Do you think that when Ellen eventually tracks down and comes face-to-face with Frobisher, she might bail on her revenge plan?
Byrne: It's interesting, I was talking to a trauma counselor about what happens if an avenger does actually meet [his target]. What usually happens is the person has kind of a meltdown, and they don't go through with any of their revenge plans. They see how weak and vulnerable and pathetic these people usually are. It's almost pity when [Ellen] finds this forlorn and hopeless man sitting there. But then she regrets [what she does next].

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.