White Collar Q&A: Hilarie Burton Talks About Sara in Season 3

This summer the hit USA Network show White Collar returns for its third season. And this season, as well as welcoming back our favorite con-fed team of Caffrey and Burke, fans of the series get a closer look at the new woman who is after Neal Caffrey’s heart. Hilarie Burton joins the cast as a series regular and in a Q&A conference call the actress talks about season three, a future with Neal, what it’s like on the set of White Collar.

On the second season of White Collar, fans were introduced to Sara Ellis (played by Burton), an insurance investigator who held a grudge on Neal (Matt Bomer) for a suspected art theft, which he may or may not have done (who really knows anymore). But by season’s end all bad feelings had been pushed aside giving way to what looks like the beginning of a very interesting relationship. Sara and Neal hinted at a relationship last season, and this season keeps up that promise as the two try to make a go at it. But what’s it like being involved with a professional liar who for two years was hung up on his now deceased ex? Burton admits that Neal and Sara will have quite a bit of work ahead of them, but they’re both tough enough to try it out.

Surprisingly, Burton calls Tim Dekay’s agent Peter Burke one of the couple’s staunchest supporters, but this may backfire on him.

“I think Peter is very, very supportive of a Sara/Neal relationship because he thinks that Sara will be a good influence on Neal. I think what he doesn’t suspect is the possibility that Neal could be a bad influence on Sara,” said Burton.

Even though Peter and Sara have a long history friendship, Burton admits that Neal is someone with whom Sara could easily get swept away. Both Neal and Peter feel as though they have influence over Sara, and this season will show Sara’s tug and pull between good and Neal. And while she admits that she’d hate to see a Sara/Burke showdown, it just may come down to it in the end.

Talking about her time on White Collar, Burton calls the show a “dream set” with both lead actors Bomer and DeKay who are not only great at their job, but really fun guys too. Burton says that even while in her recurring role, the guys were very welcoming, creating an environment that definitely deserves bragging rights.

“I really love working with this cast, and the fact that I get to work with all of them instead of just a couple of them – that has been really exciting,” said Burton. “There’s never been a more inclusive group of people, professionally, in my life. They are kind and warm and really supportive.”

Burton reveals that one of the interesting facts about this coming season is that every character is getting their own “spotlight episode.” Now of course we know all about Neal, and just a little about Mozzie’s past with him, but this season White Collar will delve deep into the past of each character to give the viewers a little peek into their history.

“Sharif has got one, Marsha’s got one, there’s an Elizabeth one coming up,” Burton said about the spotlight eps. “There’s a lot of characters that have stories to tell.” And while, as of yet, Sara does not have her own featured episode, Burton reveals that her character plays a role in helping the others tell their stories.

But far from pushed in the background, Sara has undergone her own sort of personal transformation for season three. Burton talks about how the character has evolved in hopes of making her more approachable to viewers. As well as a relaxed downgrade to Sara’s more formal attire, Burton says that the cadence of Sara’s speech has been altered all in the hopes of lowering Sara’s wall and making her more vulnerable to viewers, and of course, to love-interest Neal.

“I think later in the season we’ll see more of Sara’s colors, more of her past because it will help Neal connect with her,” said Burton. “That’s how you develop a bond with someone, you have shared experiences, a shared past. You let each other in on your deep dark secrets.”

And if you’re wondering who it was that put the missing, presumed burned, artwork into the storage bin for our dear Neal to find, Burton says that her lips are sealed. But, for the more dedicated of White Collar’s audience, the truth’s right there for you.

“There have certainly been clues planted all along,” Burton said, “whether it’s stuff that we’ve been shooting or it’s stuff that Eastin’s plugged on Twitter. We have a really smart audience and I would hate to be the one who gives away the surprise.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to find out who done it, but then again, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What will Neal do when one last con falls into his lap? Can he walk away from the loot, or is this only the beginning? You won’t have long to wait to find out as season three of White Collar premieres this Tuesday, June 7th at 9/8c.

White Collar airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on USA Network.

Photos courtesy of Robert Ascroft/USA Network