Janet Montgomery — The Bare Magazine

Janet Montgomery stars in the hit medical drama “New Amsterdam” season 4 which premiers September 21st on NBC. This talented British beauty recently took up boxing and showed us a few of her deft moves and skills at the Church Street Boxing gym, along with her trainer Henry Corazon Deleon. She chats with us about the new season, her character Dr. Laura Bloom’s evolution, personal style, inspirations, bare essentials and of course boxing!

The Bare Magazine: What are you looking forward to most about the new season of New Amsterdam?

Janet Montgomery: I have worked on many shows now but none that went on longer than three seasons. We are now entering our 4th season on New Amsterdam and that’s pretty exciting for me. To stay with the same character and keep building on the story we have started in a world where so many shows get pulled prematurely feels like a gift.

Bare: In what ways is Dr. Lauren Bloom evolving that you are excited about?

JM: The evolution of Dr Bloom has been a somewhat turbulent one. The crew will often joke that my character has been through the most turmoil. Season 1 focused on Bloom’s addiction, season 2 was the recovery from the ambulance crash and trying to adjust to sober life but Season 3 we began to see who Bloom really is. She felt more in control of her choices and not just in control but the choices she was making were also healthy ones. When we left Bloom at the end of last season she started to operate out of fear and that is something we are really expanding on this season. When we are afraid we often try to control the outcome of situations. I am hoping Bloom grows some strength this season and allows the cards to fall where they may.

Bare: As for you, in real life, how have you been evolving in this past year -- what have been some highs and lows?

JM: The past year for me has been full of ups and downs if I am honest but I think we’ve all been in that boat. I’ve really struggled with not being able to travel or see my family and friends back in England but I am booked to go home this Christmas so hopefully this works out. What has come from this though is a real commitment to New York and the new friends that I am starting to accumulate here. I didn’t realize I had so many wonderful people here that I could turn to when I needed help and I think that has really spurred me on to be more available to my community here and try to support my friends the way they have supported me.

Bare: When did you start boxing? How has boxing enhanced your life?

JM: I started boxing a few months after I gave birth back in 2019. My husband and I started together and it was purely so I could get back in shape: after a few months my body was back to its usual size and I stopped. I started training again in April of this year but this time it had nothing to do with aesthetics and more to do with wanting to feel strong. I felt trampled on in certain areas of my life and weak. Honestly I was probably a little depressed and was struggling to see a way out of it. I hated that my daughter saw Daddy as the strong one so I started working with my trainer to build up my overall stamina and strength. Looking back now I think I was feeling powerless in so many areas of my life. I knew that if I started training again I could regain some of that power back.

Bare: How did you connect with your trainer? In what way has having him been helpful? What has been the toughest part of it to tackle?

JM: I am someone that needs help in order to reach my full potential. I need to be pushed beyond my comfort level and I also need encouragement because I get self conscious easily. My trainer Henry DeLeon never goes easy on me: even when I turn on the water works! He just won’t let me give up on myself. I would say I have a love hate relationship with him because when I am not in the middle of a session I love him and love the strength he is helping me build in my body and my mind. But if you asked me in the middle of one of our sessions I would tell you that I absolutely hate the guy. Which honestly makes it a lot easier (and enjoyable) to throw punches at him.

Early on in my training I would often vomit because of the high intensity of boxing training. I would lay flat out in between rounds. I couldn’t skip for more than five minutes. I used to argue with Henry about how much I could do and try to convince him to go easier on me. As my level of fitness improves I lay down a lot less and I never bother trying to get out of doing anything anymore because that just wastes more energy.

I never thought I would be one of those people who actually enjoyed cardio but I am starting to get a buzz from it now and that excites me.

Bare: You have amazing personal style. Who and what are some of your inspirations and favorite places to shop/designers?

JM: My personal style has always been unfussy. I wear minimal jewelry, rarely wear heels and I am usually wearing at least one item of denim. Online shopping can be dangerous for me because I think I use it as a distraction from my thoughts. I can sit on Net-a-Porter for hours just scrolling and end up buying nothing! I hate the pressure actresses are put under to be ‘fashionable’ because it kills a lot of ones own personal style. With so much fashion influence at the touch of a screen it can be difficult to know the difference between what you like and what you are being told to like.

Bare: Are you enjoying living in Brooklyn? Are there aspects of London living that you miss? Might you get back there someday?

JM: I moved from the East Village to Brooklyn last September and I love it here. There is a sense of community on my block that I never quite found in the city. My daughter and I will often sit on our stoop and wave at people walking by which is really fun. I got a car when we moved here and that has been a real game changer for me. I used to live in LA and when I moved to New York I missed the freedom having my own car gave me so it’s a dream being able to zip around again.

Bare: What are your bare essentials....they can be anything?

JM: My Bare essentials are my tweezers, PG tips tea bags, Epsom salts and acupuncture.