Code Black‘s Marcia Gay Harden shares what makes her heart race
Ready for a great new medical drama free of the who’s-doing-whom soap factor? Then buckle up for the harrowing thrills of Code Black. Based on last year’s eponymous documentary about L.A. County Hospital’s famed emergency services, the series stars Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden as the take-no-prisoners ER residency director Dr. Leanne Rorish. Raves Harden, “I adore that Leanne is the boss, that she doesn’t suffer fools and that she does whatever it takes to get the job done. I mean, she operates on a guy’s forehead with a drill gun while telling someone on the phone how to do a C-section. Fierce!”
As are you, with a red-hot year to prove it. You began 2015 as Christian Grey’s mama in 50 Shades of Grey, then segued into Lily Tomlin’s daughter in Grandma, and now you’re the star of Code Black.
Yes, the year started off, Bang!—forgive the pun—and it’s been amazing. Though my kids [Eulala, 17, and twins, Julitta and Hudson, 11] just asked, “When can we see 50 Shades?” and I went, “Never! Well, maybe in college.” (Laughs.)
Code’s Dr. Rorish may be too much for the kiddos, too—she’s one hardcore woman with a rather unhinged look in her eyes.
I want there to be something slightly unhinged about her. (Laughs.) She’s suffered some enormous [not yet revealed] personal tragedy that has made her angry, but also is a really good teacher and doctor. She takes risks and I feel like she’ll make some mistakes. And that’s what’s exciting. It’s like war in that ER.
Are you as tough as she? A friend who worked with you during your Tony Award-winning turn in Broadway’s God of Carnage said, “Marcia’s a military brat, so she’s fun, bawdy and tough like a man.”
It’s true! I drive a Jeep and like to go off-roading. A couple of years ago I rented a 31-foot, double pop-out RV and drove the kids all across the western part of the U.S. [Harden’s God of Carnage co-star] James Gandolfini, God bless him, said, “Marcia, are you out of your mind? There’s crazy people out there!” I said, “I’m doing it.”
I hear you also love to chill at the pottery wheel.
I started pottery back during the Broadway run of Angels in America in ’92. It gives you instant gratification because you see what you’ve made right away, and it’s also like meditation in that you have to be centered to do it.
Which I understand you were definitely not after you’d snagged your 2001 Best Supporting Actress statue for Pollock. I read you were being chased by a carload of paparazzi, but were convinced they were bandits intent on snatching your Harry Winston diamonds.
My mom was in the car with me and she was ready to fling those diamonds out of the sun roof. She said, “I want to live!” (Laughs.) After a wild goose chase, our driver swung into the Santa Monica police station and the cops pulled the other car over. I was never more disappointed in my life. For one second, I’d felt what it was like to be a big movie star, but it turned out that they’d thought I was Russell Crowe. Maddening.
Oh, the life of an actress! Speaking of which, I’ve also read that after noticing Viola Davis’ and Glenn Close’s meaty roles in television, you’d been looking for a similarly tasty gig. Is Code what the doctor ordered?
This is it. If you’d asked if I wanted a medical drama, I’d have said absolutely not. I didn’t want to be covered in sticky blood doing fake operations. And during the pilot I was, like, “My kingdom for a flattering bounce light!” But the script was great and the pilot had this super intense quality that the boys on the set called “Medical NASCAR,” because once those ER doors swing open it’s like a real race where you don’t stop until the finish line. I was sold.
So you’re all ready to race off and get down with the cast and crew and …
Oh, honey, I’m a real crew girl! I could be arrested for sexual harassment because I like to pinch those crew members’ butts. I love to make friends with everybody. And I’m so excited to have great new scenes to play and to just dive in and get my hands bloody. Let’s go!
–Brantley Bardin
Originally published in Watch! magazine, October 2015
Article source: www.cbswatchmagazine.com
