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Big Love's Mary Kay Place talks about Adaleen's emotions, sister-wife
radar and finding a spiritual path. |
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HBO
What was your reaction when presented with the idea of playing the fourth wife of a polygamist?
PLACE
I said, how did I get into this? [Laughs]. You know, they offered me this part in the pilot, and I read it and thought: absolutely, yes. It's one of the best scripts I've read in a long time. I thought it was a complete original.
The universe is one that I knew nothing about whatsoever. But I thought it was a metaphor for what all families go through.
HBO
How did you prepare for the role?
PLACE
I dove deeply into a pool of research. I read this book of essays, of contemporary women celebrating plural marriage. It really gave me insight, because even though you could tell they were indoctrinated, their authentic feelings sometimes peep through.
HBO
What were some of the feelings?
PLACE
There are probably a lot of emotional reasons involved — wanting to belong to a community, feeling safe, feeling that people have your back. Obviously in the real world, that creates a lot of problems. I think one of the things this show does really well is to try to show the characters' genuine struggle with their spiritual beliefs, with The Principle.
HBO
Adaleen's lifestyle is so different — do you find it hard to make her a real person?
PLACE
Well, she's far more emotionally repressed than I have ever been, so it's sort of interesting in a way. She's so cold. Her emotions are muscle-bound. And that's kind of fun to play, and interesting. She's so mean.
At the root of her behavior is another whole set of emotions, you know? So a lot of times with this character, it's about holding things down. When she has a feeling — and she certainly has them — she has to cram it back down. Oh, Lord, there's so much pushed down in there!
HBO
Why do you think this show is working with audiences?
PLACE
Well, first of all, who isn't curious about it? Most people can barely keep up with a single wife or husband. All you have to do is mention it to people and their eyes roll around in their heads.
And it's so well written, that even though we may not be familiar with the lifestyle, we can all relate to the emotional palette — the issues of power struggle, and jealousy and trying to live a spiritual life in the face of modern day distractions. You can root for the various characters. And then there's the soap opera factor — there are these mean people and weird stuff going on. You get hooked on the stories.
HBO
It's interesting you mention the eye-rolling...
PLACE
There's not one man I've ever mentioned the show to who didn't shudder at the thought. [Laughs.] They just can't imagine it.
HBO
Do you identify with Adaleen?
PLACE
Well, I hope to God I'm not like this [laughs]. But I do know the struggle of wanting to be on a certain path and facing the temptations that would take you right off that path. There are certain metaphors that you can use from your own life.
HBO
Do you think there are more polygamists out there than we realize?
PLACE
Apparently so. I mean, I never knew it, because I was oblivious to it. But now, I could recognize a sister-wife.
HBO
Really?
PLACE
I wouldn't say a hundred percent. But I would be able to guess ninety-something percent. There's a definite look. And a vibe — it's kind of a seventies vibe.
HBO
You've worked in television, you've worked on big movies and little movies. Where does Big Love fit in?
PLACE
It's the best. It's in the one percent club.
HBO
Tell us a little about life on the set.
PLACE
When you've got good material, the whole thing is going to be good. Because when people read a good script, they want to work on it. So that means you get good actors, that means you get good directors, a good director of photography, all the way down the line you have people who know what they're doing and are excited about it.
There are a lot of characters, a lot of people. It's a complicated shoot in terms of the sheer amount of coverage you need. The hours are long, but it's always really, really fun. It's a blast.
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Video
Watch the promos and interviews for the show.
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