Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, the grand arbiter of New York high society.
We have to start with the giant painting of you as Mrs. Astor.
Did you have to sit for the portrait?Mrs.
The production designer on the show, Bob Shaw, is an old friend of mine.
When I read the script for the second episode, I just laughed my ass off, quite frankly.
I love to do research anyway!
She was friendly but not intimate.
The most powerful people dont play their hand.
She also had a complicated home life.
Mr. Astor wasnt around the house a lot, and thats all in the history.
I always joked that if I got paid every time they mentioned me, Id be rolling in it.
Its not an insincere grin, but its a practiced grin.
Bring all the grace and charm, but only give in an appropriate way.
There are so many people on this show, like you, from the New York theater world.
There was a historical character Ward McAllister who had a close relationship with Mrs. Astor.
He was very prominent as a partner with her in the social hierarchy of who was in and out.
I was like, When are they going to cast my Wardie?
And then they said, Its Nathan Lane.
And I said, Of course it is!
But then we did, with so many really well-thought-out protocols.
Youll see a lot of gold and bronzes in her costumes.
Youll see other colors, but those elements are almost always present.
Given the historical record, can we look forward to some sort of Bertha RussellMrs.
Astor confrontation?I think were going to see them in the same room together.
Thats all Im saying.
I feel that way about quite a few actors on the show.
Theres a lot of actors and characters I hope I get to have the opportunity to work with.
