Norristown's Maria Bello talks Hillary, Haiti, and her new Amazon show, 'Goliath'

NO NEED to ask Norristown's Maria Bello what she really thinks: She tells you. Starting Friday, the actress and activist can be seen as a woman more likely to weigh her words in Amazon's Goliath, an edgy new legal drama from David E. Kelley (The Practice, Boston Legal) and Jonathan Shapiro.

Bello, who also costarred in the summer horror hit Lights Out, spoke with Ellen Gray about streaming TV, her humanitarian work in Haiti (the interview took place prior to this week's hurricane), and why she remains optimistic about America's future.

You're playing a corporate lawyer and the ex-wife of Billy Bob Thornton's character, who's the little guy taking on your firm in Goliath. How much did you know before signing on?

I didn't know much. It was a different script. But you know David Kelley - he's not only prolific, but before it became fashionable, he was writing really great, complicated female roles on television. So I certainly was drawn to the piece because of him.

So, yes, I am a partner in the law firm. Billy Bob is my ex-husband. I am caught between my corporation and my love for my ex. I am what they call the moral compass, someone who actually has values.

You planned to be a lawyer before a theater class at Villanova helped change your mind. Still think it was the right decision?

That's for sure. I would never go back in time and become a lawyer. It's been fun playing one.

Are there things you've learned about corporate law from this show? Because it's extraordinarily dark in places.

From the way that everyone on set and the different lawyers who came to visit and worked on the show talked about corporate law, it's really political, and dangerous. I'm not saying all of it. But there's a lot of power there, a lot of political power.

Shows like this one, and USA's Mr. Robot depict big business in a way that suggests our political system might be more theater than anything else. Knowing your leanings, where are you in all this?

Oh, c'mon. I think you would just know that about me. I'm feeling very hopeful right now. I think goodness will win. I have to believe that people are mostly good, good-hearted, and that they're not going to fall for this demagogue, this person who's spreading fear and hatred. I'm not only praying, but actively working to get out the vote [for Hillary Clinton].

How is your work in Haiti going?

We were there [in June], Artists for Peace and Justice, the organization [founded by director] Paul Haggis. We built the first free secondary school in Haiti after the [2010] earthquake, and it was our first graduating class. So it was so incredibly moving to be back there and to see what a little bit of money could do.

There are now 2,200 kids at this school, and, you know, one organization raises half a billion dollars for Haiti, and we're looking around saying, "What did you do here?" Because the money didn't go into the right hands, to the people who actually knew what to do with it.

You're talking about the Red Cross?

I can't say. But in my opinion, to have an effect, you have to be in touch with the local community and the needs of the local community. And because Father Rick [Frechette, a Roman Catholic priest and medical doctor] has been there for 25 years now and had already established the hospital and the schools and knew all of the Haitians, and what the Haitians needed, we were able to funnel money to him to get stuff done that larger organizations can't.

You've worked in network TV. Is there a difference working for a streaming network?

Oh, there's a big difference. We don't have to worry about how many times we say [expletive] or showing a [breast]. But it's so much more than that. I think on network shows, they want people to be likable. On cable and streaming, they don't need to be.

What have you been watching?

I've been obsessed with Happy Valley [a British police show on Netflix]. I binged. I love Sarah Lancashire. Then I watched Last Tango in Halifax because she's in that, too.

So you're pretty comfortable with streaming to your television?

No. My son and my boyfriend are. I can't say I know how to do it at all. When they're not there, I end up watching on my iPad.