[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”32832″ img_size=”800×450″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has a lot of memorable characters, including Caroline Aaron’s Shirley Maisel. Playing the eccentric mother of Joel Maisel, Shirley is sure to worry, nitpick, and feed you. As Amazon Prime has just released a new season of this lovable series, the actress sat with TV Insider to talk about the season and her character.
“It seemed like after last season, when Maisel couldn’t stop winning awards, it was really scary. How do you live up to that? I have to say the creators have outdone themselves this season,” the actress teases, “There is always the terror of being the popular kid, because you know next year another kid can be more popular. They did a great job. I know people say this all the time and never mean it. But I mean it. We really like each other. So, we were excited to come back and be together.”
Below are some excerpts from that interview:
You have such a long career and are known for other roles like your Instagram handle @JoeDirtsMom. However, this show is so popular. Has life changed for you being on such a beloved series?
Caroline Aaron: I would say it has changed in people recognize me more on the street. More my voice than my face. If I’m checking out at the grocery store, and I’m saying something, it’s like whiplash. They turn around and go, “Are you?” I go, “Yes I am. I’m Shirley.” It’s so extraordinary, and I’m so grateful.
What can you tell us about Shirley and this season overall? Does the dynamic change with Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) away from home on tour?
It changes enormously because in a way this protective family has seen someone who is the center leave. As her world gets bigger, interestingly enough, so does ours. Maybe that’s the way it works in the family. We all grow this season. Certainly, Midge the most because she really is in the world in a big way. I asked Amy [Sherman-Palladino] and Dan [Palladino] about how they have to go back to the blank page after having been anointed. That has to be intimidating. I don’t do the heavy lifting. They do and invite us into their fantastic imagination. Dan said, “No, we’re just going to keep making the show we’ve always been making.” Boy, they went to the moon with what they come up with.
The interviewer then asked Shirley the honest truth – does she think Joel and Midge are #endgame or should the two remained separated:
As a fan yourself of the show, from the outside looking in and a mother onscreen and off, do you want to see Joel and Midge end up together in the end?
I do. I don’t think I’m going to get a vote on that in terms of their lives. Sometimes I’ll ask questions to Amy like how I’m supposed to feel about the Weissmans in this moment and that moment. She always says, “You don’t have a feeling. They’re family.” I thought that was such a great response. That sense that we’re family, and I want my family together. I don’t know if that will happen. Certainly, last season I told Joel it may be time to move on, reluctantly. But I don’t want him to be alone. If she moves on, I don’t want her to break his heart for sure.
The actress was also asked about Brian Tarantina, an actor who had a recurring role on the show who just passed away a few weeks ago:
You mention being a family on set. One of those members, Brian Tarantina, passed away a few weeks ago. Do you have a favorite memory of him?
Last night (Monday), Amy and Dan rented the Monkey Bar in New York City and invited everybody, cast and crew, to have a toast for Brian. What was so extraordinary is that we had such a big week in terms of press, but everyone showed up. The grips, gaffers, makeup, wardrobe people, every single element of the show came together. Dan gave an extraordinary toast to Brian that they’ve known him for 25 years.
He had been in just about everything in one way or another they had done. They talked about being in a ponderous place in terms of writing next season to do it without that character. He was the linchpin of comedy. He developed an incredible relationship with Susie in the story. Now he’s gone. I never worked with Brian in terms of the story. We’re all together in the table reads; it’s like rehearsing for a wedding. I sat next to him last year for the SAG Awards. It’s the first time I got to really talk to him. He was hilarious and dark and at this for a really long time. His passing was a real blow to Amy and Dan. It was like they lost a member of their creative family.
For the full interview, visit TV Insider. Make sure you keep an eye out for the upcoming review for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season Three.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
