Renée Elise Goldsberry Teases ‘Fresh’ New ‘Cupertino’ Character

There is another power player on the way in Cupertino‘s third episode, “Juno.” Thursday’s (October 22) new episode of the legal dramedy sees the grand — and boy do we mean grand — debut of Renée Elise Goldsberry‘s Nichole E. Ferebee.

Ahead of the series’ debut, Nichole was described as “a brilliant opposing attorney who has a professional and romantic history with Michael [Mike Colter].”

So what does the actress playing her want fans to know? Goldsberry teased to TV Insider, “I love her very much, and she is excited to challenge Michael. She’s excited to show up and challenge Michael and figure out if there’s anything there.”

Goldsberry is no stranger to the worlds of Robert and Michelle King, of course. She previously had recurring arcs in The Good Wife and Evil, and for her, it’s more than just a homecoming: She also relishes the fact that they create something entirely new every single time.

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“It’s very exciting to get to live out these awesome characters and relationships and situations they dream of. I’ve gotten to do it before, and it’s exciting because even though I’ve worked with them before, this world is different than any I’ve seen them do or been in — even playing with the same actors, it feels really brand new and fresh,” she said. “That’s been a joy for me…. It felt like a reunion for me, and to be reliving something you’ve enjoyed — relationships with crew, relationships with  producers, relationships with actors — in a world that I haven’t really seen anybody tackle or try to figure out before has been really special. There’s something nostalgic and also something brand new.”

Elizabeth Fisher / CBS

Previously, Mike Colter talked about his chance to work with Goldsberry, after knowing her for years and previously sharing the screen in Kings shows. “Me and Renee are having a lot of fun with that. I’ve known Renee for a while… We joked around because I was playing a character that was on the other side of the law of sorts. I was a client [on The Good Wife, while she played the state’s attorney], but even then, I was like, ‘Oh, wouldn’t it be fun if we could find some way to connect our characters because it could be interesting?'” he remembered. “Now, we are working together and have a dynamic and a relationship that is layered with history.”

Added Colter, “I do think that we will find that their relationship is built on somewhat a competitive spirit, and eventually you’re going to see that maybe it’s not quite healthy, but it’s fun.”

The official description for Thursday’s episode tells us, “As part of the deal to fund the firm, Natalia [Busy Philipps] asks Michael and Olivia [Rachel Keller] to take over a case to represent a distraught mother who believes a companion chatbot is responsible for her son’s patricide. Also, in an attempt to throw Michael off his game, the chatbot company brings in his ex-girlfriend, Nichole, as opposing counsel.”

Cupertino, Thursdays, 10/9c, ABC