“The Gilded Age” Star⁢ on Bertha Russell’s Ruthless Ambition ⁤and Disturbing parallels to Today’s Billionaires

Bertha Russell, the ambitious and determined⁤ matriarch at the heart of HBO’s‍ The ⁣Gilded Age, isn’t simply striving for social acceptance – she’s building an empire. Actress ‍Carrie Coon, who brilliantly portrays Bertha, delves into the character’s motivations, the⁣ ancient⁣ context of the era, and⁣ the ⁣unsettling echoes of the⁢ Gilded ⁢Age in modern ‍America.

Bertha’s Calculated Ascent: Self-Preservation and Social Domination

Coon reveals that Bertha’s drive isn’t purely about climbing the⁣ social ⁣ladder. “It’s not entirely altruistic,” she explains. “She⁣ always has an eye toward the future. In the event ‍something were to happen to her, on some level, I‍ think she’s taking care of ⁤herself too.” This pragmatic ⁤approach underscores Bertha’s shrewdness and determination to‍ secure her⁢ family’s‍ legacy, even if it means challenging the established order.

The series ⁢dramatically depicts a pivotal moment where Bertha seemingly ⁢surpasses ⁢mrs. Astor‍ as the leader of New York society. ⁤Coon confirms this is ‍rooted ⁣in historical fact.⁢ “yes, and⁣ that happened in real life. Mrs. Astor ultimately had to let all these ‘new money’ ⁣families into ⁢society, as‍ their wealth was undeniable. They ‍were going to build their own society if she didn’t.” This highlights the⁤ shifting‍ power dynamics ⁣of the era and the inevitable ⁣collision between old and new money.

But will Bertha’s reign be unchallenged? Coon‍ is ⁣emphatic: “Over her dead body. She’s going to ⁢go down swinging.” This fierce protectiveness suggests‍ Bertha isn’t⁤ willing ⁢to relinquish her hard-won position easily, setting the stage for continued conflict and intrigue.

Echoes of the Gilded Age in the‍ Age of Billionaires

The timing of The Gilded Age’s ⁤release coincides with renewed scrutiny of the billionaire class, from Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg’s political ‍maneuvering to the highly publicized‍ wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. Coon doesn’t shy away from drawing parallels⁢ between the show’s depiction of wealth and power ⁣and contemporary America.

“I see devastating parallels,” she states. “On one level, I worry that we are humanizing billionaires?‍ But on another, I’m glad people are paying⁣ attention to the consequences‍ of late-stage capitalism that were set into⁤ motion during the Gilded Era.” She believes the show sparks a crucial conversation about the enduring impact⁣ of unchecked wealth and ‍its consequences.

Coon points out a key difference between the Gilded Age ‍titans and their modern counterparts. “These ‍people that we are⁢ playing were⁣ not necessarily good people. The reason they built museums ⁣and ‍opera houses is to rehabilitate their reputations as ‍terrible, horrible, punishing ‍overlords of labor. They took advantage of everybody, and then they had to give some⁢ of their money back as charity to pretend like they weren’t ⁢that bad.”

She contrasts this with the current landscape, observing, “Our billionaires today ‍don’t even do that. There’s no shame anymore. They don’t even pretend to be good. They’re just openly, shamelessly acquiring whatever they want at the expense of everyone else.” This‍ stark observation underscores the show’s relevance and its ability to provoke critical thought about the ethics of wealth and ⁤power in both⁤ the past and present.

This⁢ interview has been edited and condensed.