RSS
Home
In Plain Sight star Mary McCormack talks about USA series
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
In Plain Sight, the USA Network series starring Mary McCormack as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Federal Marshall who works in the witness protection program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mary is a conflicted character with a serious career, an on and off again lover, Raphael (Cristian de la Fuente); and a dysfunctional family life with her mother (Leslie Ann Warren) and sister who have moved in on her. .jpg)
Recently I was invited to join in an interview Q&A session with actress Mary McCormack. Following are some of the questions and answers, as Mary McCormack talks about the series, her character and her life.
What about your role continues to challenge you? (J. Steinberg)
Well, a number of things. I mean one of the weird things about TV and one of the things that some actors don’t like but I kind of dig is that you never know where you’re headed, I mean you never know what the writer might think of next. So, unlike a film or a play where you know the entire story and you know where you have to end up, with In Plain Sight and with “Mary Shannon” I never really know what he’s cooking up. For example, my relationship with “Rafael” and my intimacy issues and all the push and pull of that; this season is completely different than it was last season. Then, there’s more development with me and with the mystery of where is my father and what happened to him. I mean there are just so many kinds of question marks with “Mary Shannon” that that’s always a challenge, just sort of trying to figure that out
But I’m trying to think of what else in the role is challenging. I mean trying to make her vulnerable, trying to balance the vulnerability because I don’t want it ever to be two dimensional and I don’t want her to seem, I mean even though she has sort of bad ass qualities and she’s a tomboy and all that, she doesn’t really take a lot of garbage, you have to sort of see how she ended up that way and why she ended up that way and where. she’s weak and where she’s frail and where she’s girly. So, trying to make her three dimensional and complex, that’s always challenging.
There’s great chemistry between you and “Rafael” who is played by Cristian de la Fuente. How do the two of you continue to maintain such great chemistry between each other and how will you continue in season two? (J. Steinberg)
We really enjoy each other. I’m crazy about him. I’m really just crazy about him. He’s a great guy. I mean no one that pretty should be that nice as well and funny and smart. God went to town when he made him. He’s just fantastic. I get along well with his wife and my husband gets along well with both of them. Actually, his wife is guest starring in this episode now that we’re shooting right now and my husband is directing it.
With her, she has obviously issues with her family relations. Are we going to see sort of a change in dynamic with that … things are kind of out on the table. (J. Bensoussan)
Yes, quite a bit. I mean actually in the beginning of the season - honestly, I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say or not, so I’ll just say everything. In the beginning of the season, my mother - I forget which episode, but very near the beginning of the season she hits sort of a new low in her drinking, which is extraordinary to watch and you think it’s going to be funny and it’s not at all funny. And then, she decides to try to stop drinking and she goes to rehab.
“Mary Shannon’s” never known her mother without alcohol involved, so it changes the entire family dynamic, and my sister goes back to school and she decides to try to turn over a new leaf. Because it’s television, I don’t know how long these things will last or if they’ll make it or not, but the dynamic completely changes, and then the mystery of “Mary’s” father is still floating and looming and you get some more clues as to what happened to him.
Can you kind of run us through a typical day on the set? (J. Ruby)
Oh, my goodness gracious. I get there super early. I mean a typical day for me is door-to-door somewhere around 15 hours or 15 to 20 hours usually. Hair and makeup is first and I spend an hour or so in hair and makeup and we all get ready for the work of the day and then we rehearse the first scene. Then, they light the first scene and we shoot it. We start shooting and we never leave the set and we just work all day. That’s it. That’s our day. We sort of rehearse and act all day long, move the camera and move the lights and do it again and again and again. We’ve been at it for seven months now. We have about two weeks left and we’re a tired group. If you came now, we’re almost punch drunk; we’re crazy.
The way I view the show is that you essentially have three different families. You have your pretty darn dysfunctional family with “Brandi” and your mother and then you have your work family where “Stan” is the father figure and “Marshall” is a brother figure, in my opinion and then you have “Raf,” which he kind of represents the potential for what could be in a highly functional normal family life. Is that how you view it, or do you see it differently.
I’m pretty close, and I don’t know where this show is headed. So, I actually have no insight in terms of like if “Rafael” would be the—it certainly would be healthy because he’s kind and he’s gentle and he’s nice to her and he knows her well and he sort of forgives all of her rough edges and all that. I mean I don’t know where we’re headed, but I think you’re right. I do view it that way. I think her home family is more like the crazy cousins. I think her work family is probably her primary family. I mean I think “Stan” and “Marshall” are her actual family-family and the mother was never really a mother. I mean I think she raised “Brandi” and sort of took care of “Jinx” from when she was little.
But yes, that’s nice. I’ve never actually thought of it as broken up that way. We’ll have to see what happens with “Rafael” because it’s definitely an interesting—intimacy doesn’t come easy for “Mary Shannon.” In the second season, she certainly tries harder in that department, a lot harder.
What was it like initially meeting Leslie Ann Warren and then as an actress, working alongside her now? (J. Amos)
Initially meeting her was fantastic. So like, I was a big, big fan. It was daunting, but thrilling because I just love her work. We both worked with Steven Soderbergh. So, I remember our first conversation was about our mutual love of Steven Soderbergh. And so, I think once we had that out of the way, we knew we were going to work similarly because Steven works in a very specific way and not every actor would dig it. I mean a lot of actors obviously dig it a lot, but it’s just very specific and we were sort of having a lovefest gush session about how he works and how he is.
And so, I think from that moment on, we sort of knew we were going to work in a similar enough style that we could get along great and we have. We’re both really lucky actually. I’m crazy about her husband. She loves my husband. It’s all very comfortable. She lives down the street from me in LA. She comes over at Christmastime and spoils my girls. She’s great. She’s the best.
Thank you to Mary McCormack for taking the time to talk about In Plain Sight.
In Plain Sight airs on USA Network on Sunday night at 10 PM Et/9 PM Central.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
2010 Valentine Guide
Single, married or something in between? Find what you need for Valentine's Day.
Single, married or something in between? Find what you need for Valentine's Day.
TV Highlights for Wednesday February 10, 2010 include American Idol in Hollywood of Fox TV, A Charlie Brown Valentine on ABC and Inside Polygamy and …
White Collar, the hit USA series about a con man and a FBI agent, stars Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay. Diahann Carroll has a recurring guest role as June, …
- Hope for Haiti music track list and pictures
- Pictures from star studded Hope for Haiti Now
- CNN on the scene of earthquake disaster in Haiti
- Hope for Haiti Now accepting donations and selling music
- Beyonce and Madonna join Hope for Haiti concert
- All star lineup Hope for Haiti telethon
- Hope for Haiti airs on multiple television channels
- Hope for Haiti a global teleehon
- Rescue Dogs on scene of Haiti earthquake disaster
- CNN on scene of Haiti earthquake
- Earthquake in Haiti killed hundreds of thousands
- Earthquake in Haiti CNN live on scene
- History Channel remember 9-11 with slideshow of WTC Memorial
- History Channel to air 102 Minutes that Changed America with slideshow of Pentagon
- CNN Anderson Cooper live from Afghanistan with slideshow of pictures
- WWII in HD premieres on History Channel
- Berlin celebrates 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall
- The Fall of the Berlin Wall of BBC America
- HBO honors WWII Navajo Code Talkers at NYC Veterans Day Parade
- Federal Government honors Fort Hood fallen
- No Dog Left Behind on Military Channel
- Sabi the Australian Army Dog found after 14 months MIA
- WWII discovery on Hunt for Samurai Subs on NGC
- Golden Globe nominees for best TV movie
- Golden Glove nominees for best dramatic TV series
- Golden Globes for best comedy TV series
- Showtime garners 6 Golden Globe nominations
- 2010 Golden Globe nominations announced
- HBO garners 17 Golden Globe nominations
- Nurse Jackie and US of Tara on Showtime
- Big Love returns to HBO for season four
- Lifetime TV garners 4 Golden Globe nominations
- Stars on the Red Carpet at Golden Globe Awards
- NBC coverage of Golden Globe Awards
- 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards list of winners and pictures
- Primetime Emmys list of winners and pictures
- Mad Men on AMC wins Emmy for Outstanding Drama
- HBO Grey Gardens wins Emmy for Outstanding Made for TV Movie
- Jessica Lange wins Outstanding Acresss Emmy for Grey Gardens on HBO
- Stars arrive at the Emmy Awards
- Emmy nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series
- Emmy noominees for Outstanding Drama Series
- Emmy nominees for Outstanding Made for TV Movie
- HBO wins 21 Primetime Emmy Awards
- Red gowns on the Red Carpet at the Emmy Awards
- Ladies in classic black gowns at the Emmy Awards
- ABC to broadcast the Michael Jackson Memorail live
- Judge awards control of Michael Jackson estate to friend and lawyer
- HLN to broadcast the Michael Jackson Memorial live
- Comedy Channel spoofts CNN report on Bubbles the Chimp
- Michael Jackson Memorial to broadcast live on E!
- TV Networks to cover Michael Jackson live on Tuesday
- CNN to broadcast Michael Jackson Memorial live
- CNN reports on drug allegedly found in Michael Jackson home
- CNN Larry King Live tours grounds of Neverland
- CNN Larry King Live inside Neverland Ranch
- CNN airs viedo of Michael Jackson rehearsal
- Paris fans pay tribute to Michael Jackson
- Michael Jackson may join Elvis Presley as a performer who lives past death
- CNN presents Michael Jackson Man in the MIrror
- BET Awards dedicated to Michael Jackson
- Biography Channel airs Bio Remembers Michael Jackson
- Filipino inmate tribute to Michael Jackson a Thriller
- Michael Jackson autopsy reports discussed on CNN
- Michael Jackson remembered pictures from London
- Michael Jackson fans remember the King of Pop at Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Fans around the world mourn Michael Jackson slideshow
- Michael Jackson death a shock to fans and celebrities
- Michael Jackson dies of cardiac arrent
- NBC and MSNBC to broadcast Michael Jackson Memorial live
- CNN video starts rumors of Michael Jackson ghost sighting
- Jackson family gathering at Forest Lawn in Hollywood HIlls
- Michael Jackson estate and custody of children legal issues
- Michael Jackson hearse and motorcade heads toward Staples Center
- Michael Jackson fans at Staples Center respectful and celebratory
- Motown Barry Gordy pays tribute to Michael Jackson at Memorial
- Paris Katherine Jackson pays heartbreaking tribute to her father
- Michael Jackson Memorial a service filled with touching moments
- Michael Jackson Memorial Brooke Shields describes friendship and Jermaine sings Smile
- Michale Jackson Memorial a tribute to a great performer and friend
- Al Sharpton credits Michael Jackson with breaking the color barrier
- Michael Jackson noted for good works at Memorial
- Usher and Smokey Robinson pay tribute to Michael Jackson at Memorail
- Heal the World introduced by Kenny Ortega at Michael Jackson Memorial
- Shaheen Jafarpholi sings at Michael Jackson Memorial
- Michael Jackson fans pay tribute at O2 arena in London
- Video of Michael Jackson with burning hair
- Michael Jackson movie to be made from rehearsal tapes
- TV tribute to Michael jackson to be filmed at Vienna Palace
- Michael Jackson death reportedly homicide
- Jackson death ruled homicide due to acute propofol intoxication
- Michael Jackson funeral coverage on CNN
- Michael Jackson This Is It premieres around the world
- Pictures from the LA Red Carpet at This Is It premiere
- Michael Jackson impersonators at This Is It premieres
- This Is It a stunning Michael Jackson production
- Jackson brothers interviewed by CNN Larry King Live at This Is It premiere
- Michael Jackson This Is It movie trailer debuts on MTV VMA
- New Moon movie trailer debuts on MTV VMA show to delight of Twilight fans
- Janet Jackson music and dance tribute to Michael Jackson at MTV VMA
- Madonna pays touching tribute to Michael Jackson at MTV VMA
- Beyonce shares moment with Taylor Swift on MTV VMA
- Taylor Swift win rudely interrupted by Kanye West at MTV VMA
- MTV VMA big winners include Beyonce - Green Day - Lady Gaga
- Serena Willians and Kanye West are celebs behaving badly
- President Obama calling Kanye West Jackass tame by definition
- Gangsters by Christine
- Wedding by Christine
- Eco Friendly Travel by Christine
- Pet Friendly Travel by Christine
- Eco Friendly Living by Christine
- Healthy Living by Christine
- Celebrity by Christine
- Beautiful by Christine
- Holiday by Christine
- Animal World by Christine
- Chicago by Christine
- Cable TV by Christine
- Home Style by Christine
- Midwest Travel by Christine
- Christmas by Christine
- Festivals by Christine
- Slideshows by Christine
- Chicago by Christine
- Traveler by Christine
- Holidaya Examiner
- Providence Food Examiner
- Boston Pets Examiner
- Pet Photo Examiner
- Beauty Examiner
- Weddings Examiner
- San Francisco Wildlife Examiner
- San Francisco Gardening Examiner
- Miami Running Fitness Examiner
- Miami Working Moms Examiner
- Oklahoma Alternative Medicine Examiner
- Watchdog Politics Examiner
- Atlanta Working Moms Examiner
- Cape Cod Travel Examiner
- Chicago Children's Toys Examiner
- Portland Fitness Examiner
- Manchester Parenting Examiner
- Madison Political Buzz Examiner
- Seattle North American Travel Examiner
- Insurance Industry Examiner
- Wichita Cocktails Examiner
