Prime-time mean queen
Marcia Cross returns to TV soaps as a desperate housewife
By Miki Turner
For RedEye
ANAHEIM, Calif. Although she's played many different roles over the
course of her 20-year career in television, film and theater, actress
Marcia Cross is best remembered for the parts in which she gets a
little wiggy.
She's got a dandy one this season.
Cross, perhaps best known for her role as the psychologically challenged
Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the sizzling '90s prime-time soap "Melrose Place,"
is now part of the celebrated ensemble starring in ABC's "Desperate
Housewives," which premieres at 8 p.m. Oct. 3.
Cross plays Bree Van De Kamp, wife, mother and crazed Martha Stewart
wannabe. Her husband wants a divorce, and her kids hate her. And to
top it off, one of her neighboring girlfriends just committed suicide.
No wonder she's batty! How's a domestic goddess supposed to cope with
all this drama--in the suburbs, of all places?
"Desperate Housewives," which also stars Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman,
Eva Longoria, Nicollette Sheridan, James Denton and Ricardo Antonio,
already has been hailed by the nation's TV critics as one of the best
dramas this season.
Cross, last seen on the WB's "Everwood," talked to RedEye about the
new show and her character, and even spilled the beans on one of her
future goals.
Can you describe what your show is about? Some people say it's a cross
between "American Beauty" and "The Stepford Wives."
Wow, it's kind of about life. Everybody's like, "Is it a drama?" Well,
life isn't just a drama or a comedy. It's about the secrets that we all
have.
What do you like about your character? She seems to have some major
dysfunction.
(Laughs) I just really feel sorry for her! I'm finding that it's really
hard to be her. And it's actually hard to play her because you really
have to keep all the inner-life going and then also put that facade on
and keep it all connected so that it's not just a caricature. It's very
challenging--for me, anyway.
Have you ever dreamed about being a desperate housewife?
I would love to be a housewife. I would love, love, love it! That would
be my dream, yes. As a matter of fact, that's my dream. I have not been
able to achieve it yet, but there's still hope. There's still a little time!
You seen to thrive in this prime-time soap genre.
I think the part that would be similar--and not necessarily for all of
"Melrose"--but the part I play is sort of the black comedy. Kimberly
really had some issues. It was just a really hard tonal line to play.
Somehow, it worked. In this, I think the whole show is more geared that
way as opposed to just sort of my character, so that makes it work in
that world that supports that kind of dysfunction.
What about this particular show really appealed to you initially?
The amazing writing and an amazing cast. And it's such an exciting
process to get to play. If you fall in love with the character, it's
just a great joy to go to work. I am so excited and challenged and
terrified!
You have a degree in psychology. In your opinion, can any of the
"Desperate Housewives" be saved?
I don't think that we want them to be saved yet. That would be no fun.
But I actually do look at them all psychologically. I find myself analyzing
all of my characters and everybody else's characters, and I think of them
all that way.
--miki turner is a redeye special contributor.
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