The Gilded Age’s Donna Murphy Sees Where Mrs. Astor Is Coming From

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In recent seasons of “The Gilded Age,” Caroline “Lina” Astor has been challenged in various ways given her high-ranking position within 19th-century New York’s elite society. Previous trials included reluctantly attending a ball and learning about the opening of a rival opera house. However, season three presents Lina with an even greater challenge: the possibility of losing her power to exclude other socialites, as her daughter Charlotte’s marriage appears to be on the verge of dissolution.

In the finale of season three’s “A Different World,” Mrs. Astor departs from Mamie Fish’s Newport charity event, caused by the attendance of Aurora Fane (Kelli O’Hara), who is soon to be divorced. Before leaving, she is warned by Mamie that she must either tolerate Aurora or exclude her own daughter. However, viewers might find Mrs. Astor’s public snubbing of Aurora and private reprimanding of Charlotte challenging to empathize with. Yet, for accomplished Broadway actress Donna Murphy, who has read numerous books chronicling her character’s historical counterpart, it’s all about understanding the context: Lina is grappling with a strained marriage, protecting her family, and upholding social standing in an era where even the most affluent women had minimal power. As Murphy explains, “The narrative is shedding light on the constraints placed upon women during that time, revealing why their actions might appear insignificant to us but held great significance for them.

What kind of research have you delved into for the character you’re portraying on the show, which happens to be a historical figure? For Mrs. Astor, I found myself captivated by her complex relationship with her husband. A quote that resonated with me was, “He loves to be on his yacht, and I wish I was more of a sailing woman.” Of course, the reality was that there were women of questionable repute accompanying him on that yacht. The show’s creator has suggested we add scenes showing tension between Mr. Astor and Mrs. Astor before she enters, her true feelings contrasting with her social facade. Interestingly, Mrs. Astor often requested that William Astor not attend when she hosted events. Divorce was unheard of in her time, which explains her resistance to her child’s situation in this season.

The bond between Charlotte and her family, despite its intricacies, held significant importance for her. Tragically, by the time a scandal involving Charlotte emerged, she had already lost one daughter during childbirth. Although she maintained social connections with other women, genuine friendships eluded her. Her ties with Ward McAllister proved crucial, yet they were temporary in nature, marking a distinct start and end. Ultimately, it was her family who held the most significance in her life, and she fiercely guarded them. As I delve deeper into understanding her character’s behavior, I won’t reveal too much, but rest assured, we will follow Charlotte’s story to see how it unfolds.

In the show, there are some intricate and powerful portrayals of mother-daughter dynamics. How have you formed bonds with the actresses playing your daughters?
It’s been a pleasure working with them. They managed to find two amazing actresses for the roles – Amy Forsyth as Carrie, who was busy on Broadway and in Stereophonic, and Hannah Shealy, who joined the cast as Charlotte, I believe it’s her first TV role. We share a lot of laughter, and when all three of us are together, it can get a bit risky – we start giggling uncontrollably. It seems like they had a vision for our characters’ development, and after seeing Hannah’s performance, they expanded that arc a bit. I was thrilled that Julian decided to include Charlotte’s scandal and show how we were navigating it, as well as the hypocrisy in society, particularly with Mrs. Astor trying to maintain control even when her own daughter is disrupting societal norms of dignity.

In this cast, there’s a palpable camaraderie among us, and many of you are already familiar with each other from Broadway. During our downtime, particularly during Gladys’s wedding scene where we were all gathered, I found myself engaging most frequently with Carrie Coon. Nathan Lane is the comedian seated next to me, but don’t let his humor and intelligence fool you – he’s also incredibly charming. We share some lighthearted antics in our shared greenroom that help us endure long days in beautiful yet sometimes uncomfortable costumes. Carrie Coon and I have a particularly silly dynamic together. I hold her in high regard as an actress, artist, and person. After the first season, I requested more scenes with her for a potential second season because she consistently elevates the performance of everyone around her.

During the production of this week’s episode, we were still refining the scene where Mamie Fish advises Mrs. Astor about treating Aurora Fane and her daughter Charlotte consistently. It didn’t feel quite right initially, so we gathered our director, writers, and fellow actors to brainstorm solutions. Initially, there was a written response to Mamie Fish’s warning, but I felt that it didn’t fit Mrs. Astor’s character. Eventually, we decided that I should exit the scene instead. I appreciate this approach because it ensures the dialogue and actions align with each character’s circumstances. This set encourages collaboration and respects input from the actors, which is a wonderful experience I’ve noticed throughout my career. Over time, there has been more trust in our collective efforts, making the creative process even more enjoyable. Not every production offers this level of collaboration, so it’s truly special when it happens.

Looking back at this story in 2025, it’s hard not to empathize with Aurora Fane as she experiences social exclusion due to her divorce. As viewers, we should consider the power dynamics at play during this time period. When a marriage fails, societal expectations often blame the woman, regardless of infidelity. Even privileged women can find their power limited by these same expectations, making it challenging for them to pursue their own ambitions and intelligence. This series explores how these women navigate their situations, trying to preserve their legacy for future generations. Of course, we as viewers are bound to judge, but let’s also remember that these women are struggling with the unfair realities of their time.

Essentially, we’ve made progress, but we’re still facing challenges. We may have gained the right to vote, but we’re yet to attain the rights over our own bodies that we truly deserve. Regrettably, in our current situation, these rights are being threatened in our country. It’s intriguing to reflect on how women’s issues persist as ongoing struggles within specific societies. The storytelling serves to enlighten viewers about the boundaries women faced historically and the motivations behind decisions that might appear hypocritical or overblown. These matters are far from trivial for those affected.

Is it your belief that expelling Aurora was a defensive action on Mrs. Astor’s part? Indeed, she has always been one who upholds such foundational principles of the society she helped establish. However, I suspect there will be occurrences during the season that reveal how these powerful women, each determined to maintain control, must adapt – not relinquish – their control. Their survival instincts could lead them to unexpected places as they strive for survival, growth, and progress for themselves, their children, and the still-developing nation.

In your article for Vulture, the final section is labeled “Gossip Items for Mrs. Astor’s Next Ball.” Are there any juicy tidbits or noteworthy individuals that should be included in this list? Well, keep an eye on Charlotte and wait with bated breath to see what Bertha will do about her daughter’s predicament in England. Given Bertha’s past performance, she might just pull off a miracle. She doesn’t merely offer assistance; instead, she promises to “fix” the situation. Mrs. Astor, I imagine, would express her encouragement with a comment like, “My dear, you can’t fix everything, but watching you try will certainly be entertaining.” And she’d say it all with a delightful smile on her face.

Why hasn’t a musical episode occurred so far? Could the cast possibly request one?
It seems like everyone wants to know. I mean, I come across this question quite often, whether it’s from fans on social media, friends, or family members. To be honest, I’m not sure what specific ideas they might have in mind. There are numerous ways a musical episode could be executed. For instance, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a holiday-themed episode? Or perhaps an extraordinary episode of “The Gilded Age.” The closest we’ve gotten was a birthday video we created for Julian during the third season filming. While we were shooting, we made a birthday video for him featuring various characters wishing him well, and at Aurora Fane’s party, some of us who were present sang “happy birthday” to Julian. Some people even suggested that this could be as close as we get to a musical episode.

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2025-07-22 18:54