During The Gilded Age panel at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas, Carrie Coon spoke frankly about what drives her character on the hit HBO Max series. When asked if Bertha Russell will ever be satisfied, Coon answered in the most real way possible. “No,” she sternly stated.
Why Carrie Coon Says Her The Gilded Age Character Will Never Be Satisfied
Coon was joined on stage at the television festival by her co-stars Christine Baranski and Morgan Spector. While each had interesting things to say about the series, it was the question about Bertha Russell’s satisfaction that had us the most engaged.
After replying that Bertha will never be satisfied, Coon went on to discuss what drives mothers, both in real life and on the series.
Read on to find out everything Coon said about what drives Bertha and many mothers of that age and beyond.
“We know she’s determined to marry off Gladys. That’s been the theme,” she began. But it was her comments on WHY that’s so important that really struck a chord.
“People criticize Bertha for her myopia when it comes to marrying off her daughter but … You know, I have a daughter. My daughter is three and running my house, by the way.” As the crowd laughed, Coon went on to say, “We are tempted to project things onto our children and I find I work so hard not to do that with my children … and yet, we don’t do it with our siblings. Or our parents, family members, neighbors on the other side of the aisle.”
What Coon said next made the biggest impact!
“Imagine if we could drop our preconceptions about someone and reckon with what’s directly in front of us. How much clarity we would have. But we don’t. And likewise, Bertha believes that she knows what’s best for Gladys. And I would argue that she does, in a way.”
To close things out, she brings the attention back to her character and why she can seem harsh when it comes to steering her daughter.
“She understands the world is not set up for Gladys. And if Gladys hopes to have any power or influence – the power and influence Bertha would wish to have – she has to be married in a very particular way. Married well. Because I think what Bertha understands is you can have puppy love and have a lovely time, but that will not sustain you for 35 years.”
Personally, Coon says she has a lot of respect for what Bertha wants for Gladys.
Does she go about it in a way that seems a bit blunt? Perhaps.
“I do believe she understands something about the world and she wants her daughter to be , you know, not just safe but fulfilled. And also, if there are rights to be gained, she wants her daughter to be on the forefront of that movement.”
You can watch the full clip here.
