When were you the most panicked as an actress this season and how did you overcome those fears?[snippets from interview]Keri Russell
The Americans (FX)"The first thing I think of is that scene when we have to tell our daughter, Paige [Holly Taylor], this incredible truth that's going to change her life forever: We're spies. It felt like such a big moment in the story. My favorite thing about our show is when the spy stuff falls back and it becomes a family or marriage drama. I had to watch this teenager who's in so much pain and realize that, as parents, we're a cause of that because of all these lies. It was complicated on many levels. Holly's a sensitive, graceful creature, so watching her cry, instantly I'm crying and trying to stuff it in. You just want to make sure she's OK. And also, I was a kid actor, which I think is Creep City anyway. It's a complicated way to grow up, and it's not something I think I'd ever let my kids do. So there was that part of me watching her on this tightrope, and my heart was going out to her. As painful as it was, it became easy to shoot because you're just reacting in a human way. The character of Elizabeth can be perceived as a not-great mom, but I feel like in that moment, she was trying to be there for her daughter."
Vera Farmiga
Bates Motel (A&E)"When was I not panicked? I learned Rachmaninoff's 'Prelude in C-Sharp Minor' on the piano when I was 13, and that was infinitely easier than the torture to my soul that was season three. If I had to pick, it's a tie between two scenes where Norma spills her beans. They're these pivotal truth-telling scenes, the first one with Sheriff Romero [Nestor Carbonell], who confronts Norma about her deceptive behavior. He corners her and she comes out swinging like she's in a bona fide MMA match. The other one was with James [Joshua Leonard]. Norma divulges that her son killed her husband. I always know when my salivary glands stop working that I'm nervous, that there's a big task at hand. That scene left me completely busted. Acting's such an elusive sport. I always start from a personal place and just consider my own children. And music is huge for me. For the James scene, I listened to something — I don't want to say cheesy, because I really like this song, but it was something I'd seen on The Voice. I can't believe I'm going to divulge this. It was Taylor John Williams singing 'Mad World.' For whatever reason, the solemn quality of his voice was really instrumental in that scene. Whatever works, right?"
Amy Landecker
Transparent (Amazon)"We call it 'Dildo Day.' We got our scripts at the beginning of the year, and I came upon my second love scene with Tammy [Melora Hardin] where I say, 'Get the dick, get the dick, get the dick!' You realize you're going to be saying that out loud over and over again on camera. Then you realize this dick is actually going to be some sort of plastic member because, of course, you're in a lesbian love scene. I'm a pretty experienced human being, but I had no relationship to dildos before this. I remember the prop person coming to set — literally, this is one of the funniest moments of my life — asking me to pick out the dildo that I'd like to have used. I'm laughing, going, 'I don't know!' Like, they always offer, 'What wedding ring do you want? What would you like to drink? What would you like in your coffee?' Now it was like, 'What dildo would you like?' Of course, the one that I pick, to add to the comedy, was already taken by Gaby Hoffmann's character. Like, 'No, that's the giant sparkly one for her scene later in the season.' So I settled on a purple thing I thought might add to the humor of the scene. That's a moment I'll remember the rest of my career. And now people call out to me, 'Get the dick!' That's my catchphrase."
Kerry Washington
Scandal (ABC)"I felt a little bit out to sea with the kidnapping episode. I had to ask myself: Who is Olivia without all the things that normally define her? None of our usual actors were in the episode. I didn't have my usual wardrobe or office. I didn't have any of the armor that helps me be Olivia. Our writing is so great that you just have to lean into it. I thought, 'Whatever I'm fearing in terms of being in unknown territory, she's experiencing something similar.' It was almost as if Shonda [Rhimes] had dropped in this little feature for me in the middle of a season where I got to be in an entirely different world, yet I was playing someone I have grown to love. Another big moment for me last season was the Ferguson-inspired episode. Olivia went from being a hired fixer for the police to crossing the picket line and being part of the protest. I think in the beginning it was very important for us not to talk a lot about race on the show. Everybody had to be able to identify with Olivia. But we've had a coming-of-age. It was no longer necessary to have Olivia be the everywoman. She could simultaneously be everywoman and a black woman. There's something really special about that."
Read the rest of the answers at the Source (The Hollywood Reporter). Actresses not quoted here are tagged anyway (those who have tags).
I love Vera and Keri so much. <333 I don't watch Transparent but I felt I had to include Amy Landecker's answer purely for the dildo mention.
