Star Of CBS’ New Hit Primetime Show, “Elsbeth”: Carrie Preston Is Bringing Quirky Back
Exclusive Peeks Behind-the-Scenes from “The Good Fight,” “The Good Wife,” “True Blood,” and Backstage with Jane, Lily and Keanu
Los Angeles, CA (March 5, 2024): The incomparable Carrie Preston, star of the new CBS primetime show, “Elsbeth,” brings her charisma, talent, and charming quirkiness to this week’s episode of Hollywood at Home with The Creative Coalition.
Renowned for her versatile performances across film, television, and stage, Carrie Preston has been captivating audiences for decades with her dynamic characters and unparalleled versatility from her memorable roles in hit series like “True Blood” and “Claws.” Preston consistently delivers powerhouse performances that resonate with viewers and today, Preston takes center stage in this exclusive interview that explores her development of the quick-witted attorney Elsbeth Tascioni in “The Good Wife,” “The Good Fight,” and now as the titular character of “Elsbeth.”
Highlights and must-listen moments include Carrie’s behind-the-scenes tidbits that have shaped her career. From auditions, to winning an Emmy, to on-set anecdotes, Preston shares candid insights and personal encounters with iconic legends like Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Julia Roberts, and Keanu Reeves.
Listen now at:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-wife-good-life-with-guest-carrie-preston/id1521900273?i=1000648061048
For planned coverage, please link to:
http://thecreativecoalition.org/podcast
Highlights from Hollywood at Home featuring Carrie Preston:
What makes Elsbeth Tascioni tick?: “I was…reserved at first because I wasn’t sure how far I was allowed to take it. I knew that I wanted her to be somebody who could turn on a dime. I knew that when they wrote the word ‘pause,’ that whatever was happening in that pause was way more interesting than what she was actually saying, which gave me the first clue into the character, that there’s something going on behind her words…and then I started layering it in. I was like, ‘Oh, okay, what if this is a person who is thinking one thing, saying another thing, and her body’s doing a third?’ And so that’s how I started mapping it out.”
On being inspired by actors Julianna Margulies and Christine Baranski: “I can’t say enough good about [Julianna] as a leader, as a colleague, and as a friend…She was so welcoming, and very warm, and also a real example of what a cast leader should be – somebody who shows up on set, fully prepared, fully professional, game, warm, welcoming…I feel that between her and Christine, I feel like I am in an incredible lineage of…the ‘Good World.’”
On being ‘ignored’ by Julia Roberts: “[Julia] gave me this big hug….[and then said] “Okay, I’m gonna ignore you for the rest of the day. I’m not gonna be nice to you,” because her character was supposed to be really frosty with me. I thought, ‘That’s a classy thing to do. She’s helping me out, but she’s also telling me that she’s gonna be helping me out so I don’t get in my head,’…And then, at the end,…she made the crew clap for me…things like that have very rarely happened in my career, so I was grateful to her for that.”
On the kindness of Keanu Reeves: “Keanu Reeves is everything that you would want a movie star to be…You want them to have that wattage that a movie star has, but you also want them to be somebody who’s kind and approachable and cares about the work, and he really did. He was just as nervous as I was to come and do this scene and make it work and figure out how it was gonna work…And I thought that was wonderful. And that made me even more of a fan than I already was.”
On receiving an Emmy: “I don’t think I’ve ever run that fast up a set of stairs in heels…and didn’t trip.”
Icons, they’re just like us — connecting with Jane Fonda: “We had our first rehearsal, and afterwards, both Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda just came up to me and they’re like, ‘Wow, you’re so great. We’re so glad to have you here,”…And in between takes, Jane Fonda started asking me questions: ‘Where are you from? Where did you study?’…It was a truly special thing to have this one-on-one with this woman who I look up to so much, not just not only as an actor, but as an activist, a person who stands by her beliefs.”
More about Hollywood at Home:
Hosted by The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk, “Hollywood at Home” brings listeners intimate portraits, key moments of discovery, and “art and soul” conversations with iconic entertainment industry personalities from the big screen to the boardroom, from L.A. to D.C. Listen now at http://thecreativecoalition.org/podcast.
Previous guests include Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”), Marlee Matlin (“CODA”), Jason Alexander (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Alan Cumming (“Schmigadoon!, “The Good Wife”), Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Middle”), Eric McCormack (“Will and Grace”), Willie Garson (“And Just Like That…”), Colman Domingo (“Euphoria”), Kerry Ehrin (“The Morning Show”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Ken Olin (“This is Us,” “Thirtysomething”), Anthony Rapp (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Grace Caroline Currey (Shazam!), and Alfre Woodard (Clemency, “Luke Cage”), among others.
More about The Creative Coalition:
Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization of the arts and entertainment community. The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance. The Creative Coalition also creates award-winning public service campaigns, including #RightToBearArts, to promote the efficacy of the arts. Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s President. For more information, visit https://thecreativecoalition.org.
Media Contact:
Max Jordan
mjordan@thecreativecoalition.org
C: 240-506-7913
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