Biting into a juicy role

The writers have given her more freedom and spunk than when she started on the show, so playing her is very liberating, Hennesy said.

Diane is having a wild romance with Max (Derk Cheetwood), the mob boss’ bodyguard.

“Max is a sweet, lovable lug, and she’s got this mind like a steel trap — a seriously high intellect,” Hennesy said. “He’s like a torpedo, but the two of them just click.”

Their love scenes are comic relief between the more dramatic scenes, she said.

“So you never know what’s going to happen when Diane and Max start rolling around,” she said. “It can be very funny, sometimes poignant and sometimes sexy. We’re the clowns.”

Conversely, her character on the sitcom “Cougar Town” has no morals, no scruples, no fear, no shame and no filter, Hennesy said.

“As liberating as it is to play Diane Miller, multiply that by 10 when it comes to playing Barb,” she said. “Barb behaves in ways that would put Lindsay Lohan to shame and gets away with it.”

Barbara knows all the ropes about being a cougar, and isn’t afraid to show Courteney Cox’s character how to do it with gusto.

“And lick your fingers when it’s done,” Hennesy said. “If she sees something and wants it, chances are it will end up hers.”

Being on a new TV series is nerve-racking but fun, she added.

“We are finding our way — seeing what works and what doesn’t,” she said. “We’ve got a full season’s pickup, so that bodes well.”