Apple TV's 'Imperfect Women' Moves Production to L.A. Thanks to Kerry Washington

The series, starring Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara, was originally set in England but was adapted to take place in Southern California.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:47pm

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The upcoming Apple TV series 'Imperfect Women', based on the novel by Araminta Hall, was originally set in England but the production team, led by executive producer Kerry Washington, decided to move the story to Southern California. Elisabeth Moss, who stars in the series and optioned the book, credits Washington for the decision to film in L.A., saying it allowed them to use the city's 'beautiful places' and 'incredible crews' in the aftermath of the 2025 wildfires. The series, which also stars Washington and Kate Mara, follows the lives of three best friends whose lives are upended when one of them is murdered.

Why it matters

The decision to move the production of 'Imperfect Women' to Los Angeles is significant, as the city has seen a decline in major film and TV projects in recent years due to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and labor strikes. The choice to shoot the series in L.A. not only enhances the story creatively, but also provides work for local crews still recovering from the impact of the 2025 wildfires.

The details

In adapting the novel 'Imperfect Women' for Apple TV, the production team made the key decision to switch the setting from England to Southern California. Executive producer Kerry Washington championed this creative choice, noting that the bright, glamorous image of L.A. contrasts with the 'dark underbelly and long history' of the city, which aligns well with the thriller-like plot of the series. The move to film in Los Angeles also had practical implications, as Moss said it allowed them to 'use all the beautiful places' and 'incredible crews' in the area, especially after the impact of the 2025 wildfires.

  • The novel 'Imperfect Women' was published in hardcover on August 4, 2020.
  • The Apple TV series 'Imperfect Women' will debut the first two episodes on March 18, 2026, with new episodes airing weekly through April 29, 2026.

The players

Elisabeth Moss

An American actress who stars as Mary in the Apple TV series 'Imperfect Women'. She optioned the book the series is based on with her production company Love & Squalor Pictures.

Kerry Washington

An American actress who stars as Eleanor in the Apple TV series 'Imperfect Women'. She is also an executive producer on the series through her production company Simpson Street.

Kate Mara

An American actress who stars as Nancy in the Apple TV series 'Imperfect Women'.

Annie Weisman

The showrunner, creator and executive producer of the Apple TV series 'Imperfect Women'.

Araminta Hall

The author of the novel 'Imperfect Women' on which the Apple TV series is based.

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What they’re saying

“I fell in love with the idea of an accurate, truthful, raw and vulnerable representation of real female friendship.”

— Elisabeth Moss, Actress

“To be able to shoot here after the fires last year was so meaningful to the city and meaningful to us and our crew.”

— Kerry Washington, Actress and Executive Producer

“Kerry deserves the credit for that choice. She brought up L.A., and it was obviously creatively very exciting, but I think meant a lot to us to bring some work here, and not only use all the beautiful places, but to use these incredible crews. It's really thanks to Kerry that we ended up coming here.”

— Elisabeth Moss, Actress

What’s next

The first two episodes of 'Imperfect Women' will debut on Apple TV on March 18, 2026, with new episodes airing weekly through April 29, 2026.

The takeaway

The decision to move the production of 'Imperfect Women' to Los Angeles not only enhanced the creative vision of the series, but also provided much-needed work for local crews in the aftermath of the 2025 wildfires. This highlights the importance of productions choosing to film in California and supporting the local entertainment industry.