Even hardcore fans of HBOโs โThe Gilded Ageโ may have been surprised how far Bertha Russell, portrayed by now three-time Emmy nominee Carrie Coon, went this season in her quest to climb the heights of 1880s New York society. After forcing her daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) to marry a British duke to solidify the familyโs social standing, she insulted her angel of a son, Larry (Harry Richardson), after pooh-poohing his own engagement. In fact, the Russell family matriarch left enough hurt feelings and resentment in her path that when asked if Bertha has become the showโs biggest villain Coon gleefully exclaims, โI hope so!โ
In the season finale, Berthaโs shepherding of the Newport Ball supersedes attending to her husband, George (Morgan Spector), still recovering from an assassination attempt. Her choices culminate in a bombshell that Coon sort of saw coming. She believed creator Julian Fellowes and his writing team were setting it up all season.
โBertha has not stopped and taken stock of the impact of her choices, and therefore it feels out of the blue,โ Coon says of the third seasonโs deliciously melodramatic confrontation between the usually closely allied spouses. โBut anybody thatโs had that conversation in a breakup knows that those things are never out of the blue.
โSheโs very persuasive or coercive, depending on how you feel about her. She feels as though sheโs blindsided by it when the audience knows very well that this controversy has been building. Thatโs just dramatic irony. Thatโs just good tension.โ
Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell in โThe Gilded Ageโ Season 3.
(Karolina Wojtasik / HBO)
She clarifies, โI donโt know what will happen to George and Bertha. I know that Bertha is relentless, and she wonโt give up. But what I love too is that George has had a near-death experience, which is very jarring, and he is starting to question his own life, his own choices. And I think itโs actually quite complicated that heโs struggling so mightily, even though we know historically their marriage has been very solid, very honest, very sexy.โ
Just a few months ago, Coon was an integral part of another pop culture sensation, Mike Whiteโs โThe White Lotus.โ Her performance as Laurie, a divorced New York lawyer attempting to reconnect with lifelong friends Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and Kate (Leslie Bibb), saw her rewarded with an Emmy nod for supporting actress in a drama. Out of curiosity, what would Laurie think of โThe Gilded Ageโ if she turned it on every Sunday when she returned to New York?
Without hesitation Coon replies, โOh, I think she would appreciate the fact that the story was being served to her in such a way that she didnโt have to overthink it because her brain is so exhausted. But I suspect that actually Laurieโs watching things like โNaked and Afraid.โ I think she just goes home and turns on mindless reality TV, which is very far from me. Sheโs watching โReal Housewives.โ Sheโs watching a bunch of sโ. Whoa. Wait. I say that lovingly!โ
During the last dinner the trio of friends share at the fictional Thai resort, the relationship among Laurie, Kate and Jaclyn comes to a climax. Laurie confesses sheโs been sad the entire week of their stay, but despite their differences and competitiveness, the fact they can still sit together around a pool after all these years means something to her. Filmed at the end of an often-grueling shoot where temperatures at times topped 120 degrees and dehydration was a serious concern, Coon says the scene had added resonance because she and her co-stars โhad gone through it.โ
โThe audiences see six days of resort life, but we are living six to seven months of resort life together as roommates,โ Coon says. โSo we had a lot to draw on in that scene by the time we got to it. And of course, the most extreme part is that we were shooting it inside of whatโs effectively a greenhouse. That little dining area is so hot. You canโt run the air conditioners. We were just soaking. You didnโt see the pile of tissues next to my chair. Not because weโre crying, but because we are absolutely soaking wet. Itโs a very different challenge in terms of acting.โ
Coon delivering Laurieโs much-discussed monologue in โThe White Lotus.โ
(HBO)
Many characters this season resonated with viewers, but Coon says she was moved by how many think pieces were written about these particular women and their friendship. In her opinion, they were the โsneaky heart of the seasonโ because White understood their relationship so well.
โI was very proud of us,โ Coon admits. โAnd any attention that speech is getting, I share with Michelle and Leslie because the only reason it lands is ultimately because of the friendship, not because of me specifically as a performer.โ
She says there is nothing better than being recognized by your peers, but โThe Leftoversโ standout thinks her recognition is also partially because she happens to be on shows people are watching.
โI have so many friends nominated this year,โ Coon beams. โNot only people on my show but Julianne [Nicholson]. Iโm working with Bella Ramsey right now. So proud of them. Itโs always fun to see your friends be celebrated as well. And the longer youโre in this business, the more people and the more fun it gets to be the third time around.โ