Amanda Righetti - Amazon Prime Video's Scarpetta

In the high-stakes, shadow-drenched world of Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta, every character carries the weight of a complicated history. To bring the pivotal role of Dorothy Farinelli to life for Amazon Prime Video’s blockbuster adaptation, the production turned to Amanda Righetti—an actor uniquely equipped to balance the character’s extravagant, extroverted “manhunter” energy with the technical precision of a period piece. Starring opposite a powerhouse ensemble including Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, Righetti doesn’t just inhabit the younger blueprint of Dorothy; she commands the screen with a “super-sized” personality that serves as the perfect, chaotic foil to the clinical justice of her sister, Kay.

Off-screen, Righetti approached the role with a level of collaborative craftsmanship that is rare in the modern streaming era. By meeting with Jamie Lee Curtis in advance to synchronize their portrayal of the character across two timelines, Righetti ensured that Dorothy’s “quicksand” dynamic remained as alluring as it is dangerous. In this exclusive Elevated Magazines feature, we sit down with the star to discuss the wardrobe-driven transformation of a late-90s icon, the thrill of working alongside Hollywood royalty, and the nuanced layers she brought to one of literature’s most brilliantly volatile figures.

Elevated: The Character Mirror: “Dorothy Farinelli is described as an extravagant, extroverted ‘manhunter’ with super-sized opinions. How did you and Jamie Lee Curtis work together to ensure that the Dorothy of the late ’90s felt like a seamless, younger blueprint of the woman she becomes in the present day?”

Amanda Righetti: JLC generously shared backstory she developed, ideas about Dorothy’s character, and photos from fittings/hair and make-up tests. I had my nails done to resemble the 90s version of hers. A lot of my preparation was spent watching her movies, interviews, and instagram reels. The producers graciously allowed me to see the dailies of her performance with Nicole, which helped shape and carry the dynamic that they developed as sisters.

The Quicksand Dynamic: “The relationship between Dorothy and her sister Kay (Nicole Kidman/Rosy McEwen) is famously fraught. What was the most challenging—or perhaps the most fun—part of playing a character who has an ‘uncanny knack’ for dragging her brilliant sister into her own chaotic quicksand?”

The most challenging element of this job was matching JLC. Dorothy’s no-filter, bulldozer personality is a shocking comical contrast to Rosy McEwen’s gentle, soft spoken Kay. I enjoyed playing outside of the crime scene sandbox and exploring the complex layers of a sister dynamic, offering reprieve from the brutal crime elements in the show.

The Aesthetic of Dorothy: “Your version of Dorothy is a ‘super-sized’ dresser. How did the wardrobe and the late-’90s period setting help you tap into her extroverted energy, and was there a particular piece of clothing that made you feel like you had truly ‘found’ her?”

We had a good laugh in the wardrobe fittings, reminiscing about 90s fashion… Our costume designer, Beth Ann Hoppe, found these amazing, bold pieces that fit Dorothy’s persona so well. There is a blue mini-dress in episode 3 when the 90s Dorothy is introduced and it screams ‘look at me’ which fittingly suits her personality. Once the wardrobe was put together with hair, make-up and nails, things fell into place and I started to find her.

The Collaborative Masterclass: “In SCARPETTA, you’re part of a powerhouse ensemble that includes Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Bobby Cannavale. What was the most surprising or insightful thing you learned about your own craft while collaborating with these industry icons to bring Patricia Cornwell’s world to life?”

There is an ease and freedom in their performances that make them the icons they are. I’m just humbled to be included and have the opportunity to be a witness in the circle of it.

The Legacy of ‘Scarpetta’: “Fans have waited decades for a definitive screen adaptation of these novels. For those who know Dorothy Farinelli from the books, what is one layer or nuance you were able to bring to her that might surprise even the most loyal Patricia Cornwell readers?”

There is more Dorothy Farinelli in the show than there is in the books. We get to know more about her and her relationship with Kay on screen. Fans might be surprised by deviations from the books, however, they serve the screen version. Dorothy comes to life on screen more vividly than the ideas of her portrayed by Kay throughout the books.

Photography by Irvin Rivera and Tina Turnbow

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