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.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
