HOLLYWOOD—This week is part one of a three-part exclusive interview with HBO’s star-studded miniseries, which, as Academy Award® winning actress Kate Winslet points out, is far from mini. This dramatic interpretation of a famous novel was made into a Warner Brothers film in 1945 starring Joan Crawford, who won an Oscar for her role. Winslet plays the Crawford role this time around, and she’s absolutely electrifying. TV Guide Columnist Michael Logan admitted to me that he was really impressed with many things, including the set decorations and wardrobe.
The HBO Miniseries “Mildred Pierce,” starring Kate Winslet in the title role, brings to life the memorable character introduced in James M. Cain’s classic 1941 novel. The five-part drama offers an intimate portrait of a uniquely independent woman who finds herself newly divorced during the Depression years, as she struggles to carve out a new life for herself and her family. The story explores Mildred’s unreasonable devotion to her insatiable daughter, Veda, as well as the complex relationships she shares with the indolent men in her life.
Debuting Part One and Part Two on Sunday, March 27, (9-11:05 p.m. ET/PT), the miniseries also stars Guy Pearce, James LeGros, Melissa Leo, BrÃan F. O’Byrne and Evan Rachel Wood. Mare Winningham, Morgan Turner and Hope Davis co-star.
A Todd Haynes Film, “Mildred Pierce” is a Killer Films/John Wells Productions production, based on the James M. Cain novel of the same name. Directed by Todd Haynes from a teleplay by Haynes and Jon Raymond, the film is executive produced by Haynes, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon and John Wells. Ilene S. Landress co-executive produces.
Director Todd Haynes first read the James M. Cain novel in late 2008 at the recommendation of his friend, screenwriter and novelist Jon Raymond. As Haynes immersed himself in the tale of a single mother during the Depression years, the world outside seemed to mirror Mildred’s plight as the financial markets suddenly tumbled, impacting political and cultural sectors globally. The timing convinced Haynes that Mildred’s story would resonate with today’s viewers.
Haynes’s reputation as a director and his creative unpredictability drew Winslet to the project. She observes, “Todd is something of an enigma. He has the capacity to change it up all the time and do something different and keep surprising audiences and taking risks. I just felt that his work ethic and his choices would go hand-in-hand with my way of thinking and the way that I like to work ”“ which is about taking chances and thinking outside the box.”
Given that Winslet appears in virtually every scene in the film, and that of the 280 pages of script, her character is absent from just a half-page of dialogue, she is amused by the term “miniseries.” “There’s nothing ”˜mini’ about it,” explains the actress. “This was so much harder, I think, than every film project I’ve done since ”˜Titanic.’ It was like doing two and a half films in 16 weeks. It was very challenging, but collaborative and rewarding at the same time, thanks to a remarkable cast and a wonderful, highly skilled crew.”
“Kate Winslet is an actress who approaches the work, not only from an emotional and psychological perspective, but a physical one as well,” says Executive Producer Pamela Koffler. “On set it was really fascinating to watch her doing the business of becoming her character ”“ chopping the chickens, making the pies. She is just an unbelievable practitioner of acting.”
With Winslet in place as Mildred, Haynes and his producers had to find the right actors to play her leading men. BrÃan F. O’Byrne was cast as Mildred’s philandering husband, Bert Pierce, and James LeGros was tapped to play Wally Burgan, Bert’s ex-business partner.
“We were delighted to get these two actors, both at the top of their game, to play these roles,” said Executive Producer Vachon.
“It was, however, a bit tricky finding the right Monty Beragon with the perfect combination of dashing allure and a slight seediness to him,” she continues. “Getting Guy Pearce was a real coup and the chemistry between him and Kate is really wonderful.”
Adds Haynes, “Guy Pearce just embodies Monty Beragon. I don’t know how he does it. Watching him become Monty was a thoroughly thrilling thing to behold as he got to the core of that blueblood inherited way of speaking and carrying oneself. It was a beautiful counter-energy to Mildred, who represents middle-class upbringing and all the potential it represents.”
Commenting on his choice for the pivotal role of Veda, Haynes says, “Evan Rachel Wood just blew all of our minds with her ability to make her character seem utterly believable in every capacity. The result is so stunning that it’s almost frightening to think, in retrospect, of the outcome had Evan not been our Veda.”
Next week more interviews from the stars and producers of this amazing miniseries that will capture America’s heart. Having seen this spectacular miniseries, Kate Winslet’s acting ability never ceases to amaze me, while Guy Pearce made me envious in his acting style and the flashy clothing his character gets to wear in the show.
Photograph is Courtesy: Andrew Schwartz/HBO.
