Last year, 24 introduced us to by-the-book, tough as nails FBI agent Renee Walker. But after the events of Day seven — where Renee was forced to shatter protocol, abide torture and watch as her boyfriend perished at the hands of terrorists — a new, angrier Renee has emerged. And Dark Renee (as fans will inevitably call her) promises to ratchet up the tension, drama and bloodshed in season eight!

The fourth-hour of 24‘s season premiere painted Renee as the most dangerous player in this year’s terrorist plot — not because she’s aligning with the forces of evil, but because she’s a wild card with nothing to lose!

I chatted with Annie Wersching about her character’s redirect to the dark side and found that she’s not only loving the change, but can’t wait until fans see how far Renee actually takes it this season!

PopWrap: How much fun are you having playing this new Dark Renee?
Annie Wersching: Oh my god, I am loving it! I really am. I loved where she got to go last season — Renee had such a great arc from where she started to where she ended — but when I found out the plan for this year, I couldn’t believe they thought of more!

PopWrap: Were you apprehensive about turning this character on her head?
Annie Wersching: I definitely wasn’t nervous — even last year when she would do something that was a little Jack Bauer-esque, it obviously affected her. So I think that laid such great groundwork for this season and I totally embrace it.

PopWrap: Last night we saw that Renee had been dodging Jack — why?
Annie Wersching: Not only was she fired from the FBI, but she lost her career, her partner and absolutely had nothing to live for. So when she got word that Jack was OK, I think she realized he was in a good place and she was not. Renee probably felt that she wasn’t good for him at that point.

PopWrap: And now? Do you think after all is said and done Jack and Renee could still walk into the sunset together?
Annie Wersching: Totally! I think this new Renee just adds a really cool dynamic to their relationship. They went through a lot last year and made a deep connection in just one day. Now he needs to keep tabs on her because, A) Jack cares about Renee and B) he’s probably thinking, “what have I created?”

PopWrap: So you’re fully Team Renee, not Team Audrey?
Annie Wersching: Definitely! Audrey Raines can stay wherever she is in that catatonic state! *laughs*

PopWrap: Obviously, last night’s “impromptu amputation” is just the beginning of things to come for Dark Renee, right?
Annie Wersching: Oh yeah. I seriously can hardly contain myself and wait for everyone to see what’s coming next! I’ll admit I was a little bummed not to be in the first three episodes, but Renee comes back with a big enough bang that it was more than OK!

PopWrap: So what can you tease about future episodes?
Annie Wersching: I really love the Russian storyline that starts out the new season. Renee gets deeper undercover and goes to some pretty ugly places. Jack also comes in as her arms dealer, so he goes undercover as a German, so now they’re both together in the underworld, completely undercover.

PopWrap: Lots of characters have been so badly burned by the events of one day they return the next season with the potential to switch sides, do you think Renee would ever turn against Jack?
Annie Wersching: I don’t think she would ever be a Tony — but then again, you never know! We’re only on episode 18, so we’ll see. But I think the reason she’s so completely dangerous this year is because she has nothing to lose! She doesn’t care if this mission kills her and that’s what Jack is really worried about, that Renee will just lose herself in this undercover world. Because the only thing more dangerous than a hero or a villain is the wild card!

Source New York Post / Popwrap