As a seasoned fan of both Christopher Eccleston and Carrie Preston, reading this interview was a delightful journey through their remarkable careers. Their camaraderie was evident, and it was heartening to see how they appreciated each other’s work.
As a devoted movie buff, I must issue a word of caution before diving into today’s discussion – we’re about to delve into some intricate spoilers from the most recent installment of “Elsbeth,” airing every Thursday on CBS. Proceed with caution if you wish to maintain the element of surprise!
30 years back, Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson first encountered each other during a “Hamlet” performance at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Carrie portrayed Ophelia while Michael was Guildenstern. They tied the knot in 1998. Over time, they’ve shared the screen several times: Carrie made an appearance on “Lost,” playing Emerson’s character’s mother during a flashback; additionally, she recurred as his fiancée on “Person of Interest.
However, with Emerson’s repeated appearances as a guest star on Preston’s “Elsbeth” series on CBS, this will be the initial occasion where the married duo portray adversaries.
Preston mentions, ‘He’s not present in our marriage,’ referring to the extensive work hours needed for portraying the lead character in a procedural series,” says Preston, as she and Emerson connect via Zoom from their New York City home, with EbMaster. “I even took a role on the show so I could spend more time with my wife,” Emerson jokes.
In the episode named “One Angry Woman,” Elsbeth is called for jury duty, marking her as a genuine New York resident, and she ends up on the panel of a challenging judge in a murder trial. The character Emerson portrays Judge Milton Crawford, a man with glasses who appears pompous but conceals a more sinister truth – he’s the one responsible for the crime at hand.
Of course, Elsbeth promptly senses something amiss with Judge Crawford’s actions, though she can’t quite pinpoint what’s wrong, leading to a tense dynamic between them as the trial unfolds. By the end of the episode, it’s evident that this is merely the first round in their ongoing conflict.
“Let’s think of him as the Moriarty to Elsbeth’s Sherlock,” Preston teases.
Continue reading, where Preston and Emerson delve into their professional relationship dynamics and share proposals for future collaborations.
It’s so fun to watch the two of y’all verbally spar. But I’m very nervous for Elsbeth, because this man is a cold, hard killer.
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but feel a shiver of apprehension. The man in question is a ruthless assassin, his power undeniable. Yet, there’s something about him that leaves me trembling with anticipation. This is going to be quite the ride!
Tell me how this all came together — because Carrie’s guest appearance on “Lost” began as an inside joke and you’ve both worked with Robert and Michelle King. How did the “Elsbeth” pairing come to be?
PRESTON: Ever since the series debuted, folks have been curious: “Which celebrity would you like as a guest on your show?” I mused, “Why not my spouse? That’d be quite entertaining!” However, it wasn’t my suggestion – anyone would be fortunate to host Michael – it was mostly up to Jonathan Tolins, our producer, and the creators, Robert and Michelle King, to discover an appropriate role for him. And I believe they succeeded in doing so.
MICHAEL EMERSON: Essentially, we’re both part of the Robert and Michelle King acting troupe, so if a suitable opportunity arises, they’ll cast us. Carrie frequently warned, “Prepare yourself, as a call could come at any time.” I was ready, thinking, “Bring it on! That will be exciting.” They wouldn’t involve me unless it was something special, and indeed, it proved to be just that.
Michael, what did you make of Judge Crawford? Because this character is a different kind of dastardly than Leland on “Evil.”
EMERSON (PARAPHRASING): After being involved in a project for an extended period, you can forget what it’s like starting fresh on day one with no established character yet. It requires creating a three-dimensional persona quickly, which was challenging initially.
On my initial encounter, I was involved in a fatal incident, but let me clarify that I’m merely an ordinary individual wielding a baseball bat. The intricacies of his personality weren’t fully fleshed out at first; they emerged gradually as the story unfolded. This experience underscores the convenience of working on a prolonged series – it becomes less about inventing characters and more about slipping into their roles, much like donning a suit that already fits well.
PRESTON: Usually, the guest stars’ appearances kick off with a murder scene because that’s the one part I’m not involved in. Typically, I’m working on another set wrapping up the previous episode, so we have two film crews running simultaneously. Consequently, the villains often make their entrance by quickly committing a murder to grab your attention right away!
Is this the first time y’all have played characters that are foils to one another?
FAN: To be honest, I’ve never perceived our interactions as hostile. There have always been moments filled with warmth and affection – more akin to friends than foes.
PRESTON: We haven’t clashed in that specific manner. He often portrays wicked and gloomy characters, whereas I usually play light-spirited roles. The contrast between these energies colliding was thrilling. It was almost like a battle between good and evil.
EMERSON: It’s like a collision of universes.
What’s interesting about these characters is they respect each other’s intellect, but they’re opposing forces. What’s that been like to play?
AS A CINEMA ENTHUSIAST: When it comes to Michael and me, we don’t run through scenes together or discuss them at home. To be honest, I’m not sure what that says about us, but I have faith in him implicitly. I appreciate the unpredictability that arises from not knowing his next move. I approach each scene with my character’s role in mind, having a general idea of where I want to steer it, but it feels more like improvising a jazz melody than following a scripted piece.
We effortlessly flowed through these scenes, primarily due to the strong bond of trust between us, and because the scenes were exceptionally well-crafted. If something isn’t in the script, it won’t be on the stage. We had excellent material to build upon, and then we made minor adjustments. A fantastic director guided us in finding subtle details, and we took those cues and ran with them.
What was the first scene you had together?
PRESTON: Initially, we filmed in the courtroom. These sessions are lengthy; they’re quite demanding to capture, and inevitably, the judge is the one who appears last on screen.
EMERSON: It’s rough being the judge.
PRESTON: They prefer to capture larger subjects initially, followed by narrowing the focus until only the judge remains on screen, which is consistently the case.
Emerson explained: We arranged the courtroom scenes sequentially, allowing both the audience and us to discover the characters and their relationships simultaneously.
Tell me about the scene in chambers — when it’s now just the two of you.
EMERSON: One of my favorite types of scenes is a one-on-one encounter. It’s peaceful, yet the underlying tensions are intense. Many unspoken messages are being conveyed.
PRESTON: We experimented with various approaches, allowing them flexibility during editing to either intensify or soften the narrative based on their preferred story progression.
EMERSON: We haven’t seen it.
PRESTON: They only let me watch the shows after they’ve been aired, which means I see it alongside the viewers. Therefore, I am eager to find out how it all comes together. I can hardly wait to see the final product because what looks infinite and full of possibilities during rehearsals becomes definitive once broadcasted. At times, I hesitate to watch it, knowing what we’ve created and imagining other versions in my mind. However, there were numerous equally fascinating ways we approached it, and I’m glad we provided some compelling choices for the audience.
EMERSON: I’ll be curious to see it. I can’t wait to see it!
Michael, what was it like watching Carrie work?
EMERSON: I admire Elsbeth greatly, yet during filming, you only witness brief glimpses of her. These moments occur right before they shout “Action,” and immediately after they announce “Cut.” Watching her perform that unique transition into and out of character is truly captivating.
It can be challenging for me to act naturally, since the person I’m working with isn’t a neutral character. Instead, it’s the person I woke up with that day, which means I have to put some effort into forgetting her from my memory and transforming her into someone I’ve never met before.
What did you observe about her before “Action” and after “Cut”?
EMERSON: I noticed how effortlessly at ease she was. It didn’t seem to require deliberate attempts such as deep breathing or self-pinching. When asked to act, she was completely herself – Elsbeth – without appearing to put in any effort whatsoever.
Carrie, you’ve played this character for so long — 14 years with “The Good Wife” and then “The Good Fight.” But this is a new iteration of her and a new tempo, being the center of the action. How much have you relished this version of Elsbeth?
PRESTON: This particular moment isn’t overlooked in my personal life or my professional journey. Over the span of my career, I’ve been fortunate to be here. When you’re young and just starting out, you might fantasize about having a show centered around your character, but it rarely occurs to you that it will actually happen because it doesn’t happen often at all. I’ve had an exceptionally lucky career. I feel grateful for the path my career has taken, so having this opportunity now, after years of hard work, makes it even more meaningful to me.
I’ve never worked as intensely as this before, as the hours can be quite demanding. Each minute of the 43 minutes you’re watching took a significant amount of time to create. Add to that the fact that when I go by Elsbeth, I’m often there for extended periods, which can test my endurance. However, when my energy levels start to dip, I remind myself how special this opportunity is. It’s a privilege, almost unique. So, whenever I feel tired, I express my appreciation to someone on set, trying to infuse my work with love and joy, and share that positive energy with others. This way, everyone involved feels as fortunate, joyful, and valued as I do for being entrusted with this task.
At the end of this episode, audiences get the idea that Elspeth has figured out that Judge Crawford knows more about this murder he has let on, after he lets it slip that Donna Summer was playing. What comes next?
PRESTON: Catching him won’t be simple due to his extended reach, strength, and impact. However, I doubt he fully appreciates Elsbeth Tasioni’s determination yet. It seems he is just beginning to grasp that she might not be as she appears.
The judge intends to challenge her in various methods across several upcoming episodes. He makes brief appearances in three additional episodes, followed by a significant one where…
PRESTON: Is it three more?
EMERSON: Yeah, I have a total of five.
PRESTON: See, I don’t even know.
EMERSON: She’s on a need-to-know basis.
PRESTON: Listen, I’m one episode at a time.
Do you have any future aspirations of working together or creating something together? Because you had the mother-son relationship on “Lost”…
EMERSON: A Freudian nightmare.
PRESTON: Oh yes, it’s quite an unusual event to deliver your spouse in a forest. Few people have such an experience under their belt.
EMERSON: At least I didn’t have to play that scene.
Now that would have been something! So, we’ve got mother-son in “Lost,” you played a couple in “Person of Interest” and now adversaries in “Elsbeth.” What other type of relationship could you do in the future?
PRESTON: Mentor-mentee.
EMERSON: Doctor and patient.
PRESTON: Should he play my father somewhere in a flashback? Turnabout is fair play, right?
I may not be able to bring you into existence, but I can certainly share some important life insights with you while we sit by the fire together.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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2024-12-13 06:17