She understands her character well.

One of the greatest strengths of The Gilded Age is its cast. Hand-picked from the very best musical theater productions, the actors in the show bring so much feeling and emotion to the proceedings that even the simplest of plots become intriguing and captivating to the audience.

Deeply flawed and yet perfect in their own right, the leaders of both sides of New York society are beloved by the audience. The Russell family, especially Bertha Russell, may be one of the most beloved anti-heroines on cable television. Carrie Coon, who portrays Russell, fully embraces her character’s nature.

Carrie Coon About Playing Bertha Russell

While Bertha’s moral qualities are very questionable, her unapologetic demeanor and enchanting marriage to George is what makes her a fan-favorite among the viewers. Carrie Coon’s spot-on portrayal of the character only adds to it, as The Gilded Age fans can’t get enough of her on their screens.

The secret of Coon’s brilliant acting work on Bertha is rather simple. The actress accepts all the flaws of her character without a question and gets a certain enjoyment from playing her the way she is.

She explained her love to Bertha in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

“I love that she calls people out on their BS. That’s the most fun, when she really cuts through the social expectations and just calls it how she sees it. <…> She’s so uncompromising. She’s so myopic. I love that people don’t like her,” Coon said.

Of course, Bertha Russell’s soft and vulnerable side isn’t lost on the actress too, but it’s her strength and courage that make her so enticing to watch. Would you want to meet someone like Bertha in real life? Probably not. But watching her in the midst of aristocratic intrigue is extremely entertaining.

Bertha’s meddling reached a crescendo at the end of the show’s second season, when she plotted to match her daughter Gladys with the Duke. However, this decision could cost her not only Gladys, whom she already disregards, but also her beloved husband George.

To see how the Russells will navigate this conflict and who will end up with Gladys’ hand in marriage, be sure not to miss the announcement of The Gilded Age season 3 premiere date. Until then, you can refresh your memories of the first 2 seasons on Max.