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Jeanne Tripplehorn searches for the polygamist within |
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HBO
Can you give us an introduction to your character Barb?
TRIPPLEHORN
Hmm. I've been working on Barb for a while. I looked at her as a sort of every woman. She's incredibly strong; she's incredibly generous. She's seemingly insane because she is in the situation of a polygamous relationship, but she had definite reasons to do it. She's so generous and beautiful in spirit that as she prepares for the possibility of her death, she wants her husband and children taken care of.
HBO
You've said that this was a very tough part for you.
TRIPPLEHORN
I was having a hard time connecting to this character — not even connecting, just finding something that I can relate to. I had a really hard time. I read the script; I loved the script, but I really didn't think that I was the right person for the role, mainly because I just thought : I don't know how to relate to this at all.
Finally, after a lot of searching and digging, it was simply the love of family that gave me a road into the character. Once I got into that, and we delved into what it would be like to survive cancer and the ability to see how precious life is, it became easier to play her.
HBO
Do you remember your thoughts about polygamy before you got involved with Big Love?
TRIPPLEHORN
Well, I think a lot of people only hear about the extreme, fundamentalist kind of polygamists, because they're always in the news being brought up on charges.
The government doesn't really prosecute for polygamy anymore, but a lot of the arrests are of groups supporting themselves through welfare scams or for child abuse. So that was all I'd really heard about polygamists. But there is a growing movement of progressive polygamists that are spiritual people. They see values in a group marriage.
HBO
Can you imagine some of the advantages?
TRIPPLEHORN
There are some. The children are always watched by a family member. I think there are aspects of it that are beautiful. But I don't think that it's a form of family that I would be comfortable in. I've found a way to this character and this family, but I still believe that a marriage is between two people and not seven or three.
HBO
It's not for you.
TRIPPLEHORN
I guess it would be too confusing. I mean really. It's a huge organizational nightmare. When I was doing my research, I talked to these people. How do you schedule when emotions are in play? I like to keep things simple in my life, and it sounds exhausting.
But on the other hand, I talked to a woman who was a working woman, and it was actually great for her, because she had her husband one week of the month and the other three weeks, while he was with his other wives, she got to pursue what she wanted to do.
[Chuckling] You know what I mean? She didn't have to compromise every day, and certainly marriage is about compromise.
HBO
So, you can have it all.
TRIPPLEHORN
Yeah, you can have it all with two other wives.
That's another huge part of our story, because I'm the working wife. I straddle both worlds, and there's a lot of resentment that Barb's just dumping her kids on the other two while she's out having fun, so to speak, in the outside world.
HBO
Tell us a little about working with Chloë and Ginnifer.
TRIPPLEHORN
It's really been dreamy. We are vastly different people and it just comes together like a puzzle, just beautifully. The three of us acting was truly one of the best experiences I've ever had. I really look forward to the days when all three of us shoot together, because the sparks really fly.
HBO
Do you think it's unusual that you get along so well?
TRIPPLEHORN
I don't know. You hear about these shows where there are all these women are supposedly always in a catfight, and then you find out in reality that they're all getting along fine. The press seems to love pitting women against each other.
But we're all so different, we're different ages; we're not vying for the same roles. There's no competition, there's really kind of a sisterhood, on and off the set, you know?
HBO
It's interesting that the things that would make the characters get along in a family seem to work for you as actors also.
TRIPPLEHORN
Exactly. I mean, I just saw Ginny, we were knitting last week, and Chloë was coming over—so it's very comfortable.
HBO
Do you take a mentor role to the other two?
TRIPPLEHORN
Oh no. No, those two are firecrackers. I'm quite inspired by them. No, not at all.
HBO
This is your first television series. Was it hard making the adjustment?
TRIPPLEHORN
It was difficult every ten days having a new director. I'm a real collaborator and, as an actor, I want to be directed. It's hard for me to shift gears.
But in terms of the quality and the attention to detail, it feels like a movie set. And [the show creators] Mark and Will, they're just so inventive and original and creative, it is just the greatest working environment.
HBO
So you can imagine playing Barb six years from now?
TRIPPLEHORN
I've finally found Barb so I'm really looking forward to getting picked up. When we were filming the pilot, this was just a dream, you know. We all got along and we were just... taken along by this creative spirit. We just got in there and played. And now it's finally starting to feel real. I would love to be with these people for six years.
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