BONES Katheryn Winnick: Hannah’s Not There Just To Be The Cute Girlfriend

Bones fans, you’re going to have a hard time hating on Katheryn Winnick when she joins the show as Hannah Burley, Booth’s new love interest. In a conference call with reporters, Katheryn talked about how much she likes her character (and hopes you will, too), and her enthusiasm was infectious.

Katheryn is clearly delighted to be playing this character, although she is aware that she’s “causing a stir” among some fans by seeming to come between Booth and Brennan. Still, she’s optimistic about how Hannah will be received.

“I think people are going to be excited about my character. I hope that they will welcome me,” she said. “[Hannah’s] not there to be part of a love triangle or create a big cat-fight or high school drama. She’s there because she truly does love Booth.”

Hannah is a war correspondent who met Booth during his recent stint in Afghanistan. Deciding to explore a different part of her life, she comes back to DC to be with Booth, thinking long-term for their relationship.

“She’s there to explore a different part of her life and start a life with him. I think that people, the audience, will hopefully respect her and her strong character and her strong will and her motivation and drive to work and find facts in her job. She’s not just there to be ‘the cute girlfriend’,” Katheryn elaborated. “She has her own purpose and her own path. And I hope that the audience will give Hannah a shot and fall in love with her because I’ve fallen in love with Hannah.”

Katheryn said that although most of her scenes are with David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel is part of the scenes often as well as the show allows the two women to bond. Noting that the Bones staff is good at writing strong women, something that drew Katheryn to the role, she said Hannah and Brennan discover that they have a lot in common. Both are driven by facts and they’re both very motivated, intelligent, adventurous women.

“There’s not any major tension right away,” said Katheryn referring to Hannah and Brennan, “but an understanding that we both have a similar past and a motivation to get what we want out of life.”

So Hannah and Brennan get along, but is Hannah aware of Booth’s feelings for Brennan? Does she know what he tried to start something with her a few months ago?

“I know that she definitely knows about Brennan and that they have some sort of history, and that they’re very tight,” Katheryn said. “I don’t know that she knows the details of their relationship and what happened last season. I don’t feel that she’s threatened by Brennan. She’s very strong, motivated, and independent.”

Hannah isn’t just there to be part of a love triangle, either. She will be a way for the audience to see more of Booth off-duty, something Katheryn thinks we will enjoy.

“I really feel that Hannah’s character brings a certain side out of Booth that viewers haven’t seen yet,” she said. “It’s a fun, loving side and we get to know his character a little more and why Hannah and Booth have this strong bond. I feel like my character gets to really pull him outside of work and see him in a different light. So I’m excited for the Bones fans to see that.”

Katheryn deftly avoided revealing how many episodes she’ll appear in, although she did say she’d be happy to sign on as a regular if offered the role. She also hinted at the spoiler we revealed a couple of weeks ago, saying that while many of her scenes are lighthearted, she’d recently shot some very serious, “real-life drama kicks in” scenes.

Are you willing to give Hannah a chance to be more than just an obstacle between Booth & Brennan?

Kathryn Winnick’s first episode of Bones airs Thursday, September 30 at 8/7c on FOX.