The ladies of OITNB grace the new issue of Rolling Stone to promote the show’s third season. Naturally, Taylor Schilling and Laura Prepon (who’s returning as a regular) take the cover to push the Piper-Alex chemistry. You can see the full photoshoot (with many other cast members) here. I’m looking forward to the new season even though there’s so much other television languishing in my Netflix queue. This is a good first world problem to experience. Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Laura Prepon on auditioning for Piper: “It’s funny; when you look at both characters, I definitely identify more with Alex. When I talked to Jenji [Kohan] later, she told me, ‘You know, with Piper you’re worried she’s gonna get her a** kicked in prison. When I look at you, I’m not scared about you getting your a** kicked.’ Not to say that Taylor would get her a** kicked, ’cause I think she’d do okay. But Alex is Maleficent-like, sexy, sassy — she can definitely looks like can take care of herself. She’s not getting her a** kicked.”

Prepon on hanging with the ladies: “I get along with everybody. But I play poker, I watch UFC, I have a motorcycle — I tend to do things that guys like to do. Though recently I’ve acquired this awesome, really small group of women outside of the show, who are all rad. I’ve learned it’s important to have amazing women in your life.”

Uzo on the cast’s no a*** policy: “We are not going to be the example for how women don’t work together.”

Uzo on the “great responsibility” of playing Crazy Eyes: “In terms of mental health? Absolutely. Because here’s the thing: It’s such a closed-door subject, a closeted subject. People aren’t walking around and saying, ‘I suffer from mental illness,’ or ‘I have depression,” or “I’m f***ed up.’ We kind of bury it, cover it up, guard it with our life. Yeah, I feel a huge responsibility to just take care of her and the people who can relate to her. ‘Cause it’s not easy.”

Laverne Cox on the series’ legacy: “We’ve revolutionized television. The unprecedented diversity that we just saw in pilot season I think would not be possible if it weren’t for us.”

[From Rolling Stone]

I love that the cast is mostly women, and they truly enjoy each other’s company. One look at their social media accounts (here’s a handy collection) reveals how they’re all cool with each other. No catty stereotypes to be found, and Uzo says that showrunner Jenji Kohan purposely laid that rule out before filming ever began. The no-drama expectations were clear. Good plan.

The cast also covers the July issue of Essence, which has released the tiniest of excerpts about body image and acceptance. These women all look stunning.

Photos courtesy of Rolling Stone, Essence & WENN