‘The Americans’ Season 4 – Alison Wright Exclusive Interview on Martha and Clark

The Americans Alison Wright Season 4
Alison Wright as Martha Hanson in ‘The Americans’ (Photo Copyright 2016, FX Networks)

After three years of Television Critics Association panels, FX finally added Alison Wright to the season four panel for The Americans. I have been wanting to talk to her ever since I saw Martha in season one. As Clark, Philip (Matthew Rhys) endears himself to Martha (Wright) by giving her romantic attention when all the men in her office make fun of her.

Martha has become a major part of The Americans and Philip’s double life. This season, she is finally confronted with what Philip/Clark really is after he’s murdered an FBI analyst to protect her. Showbiz Junkies got to speak with Wright before the TCA panel. The Americans returns Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on FX.

Alison Wright Exclusive Interview:

What took you so long to come to TCA?

Alison Wright: “I know, right? Finally invited us.”

I’ve been asking for you in the past.

Alison Wright: “Oh yeah? You didn’t ask loud enough. You should’ve kicked up a fuss about it.”

So there are all these lines about how Martha is ugly, and I think you are lovely, so why did they miscast you?

Alison Wright: “Ohhh. There’s one particular story about a secretary and I think it was between East and West Germany. Hers was a case that everybody at work, she was seen in two drastically different ways. She was caught eventually and the Stasi officer confessed that it had all been a ruse and he was never in love with her. There was all of this controversy about her because everybody at work thought that she was this dowdy, plain secretary. And then outside she was this glamorous sexy woman. There was this disparity between the two things so I know they’re hitting on that to be truthful to that particular story in history. But I also look pretty rough in the show, I will say.”


I’m serious, Martha is my type. So when they cast that, how sensitive do they have to be to prep you for how the characters talk about her?

Alison Wright: “In the original breakdown, it just said that she was very plain. All my phones started ringing. They’re like, ‘This one’s for you, Alison.’ I have to just let that bit go.”

It sounds like in real life the spy wasn’t as sympathetic as Clark is.

Alison Wright: “Different ones. There are different cases. Some of them were super cold. There was one particular case, when they were talking about they would take her love letters and pass them on to a psychoanalyst so they could figure out exactly how they could target her. They would laugh at her and find her weak spots. All of this came out in the trial. So there was particularly cruel ones, but then there was times when the line got muddy for the spy too because they would develop a friendship, a love of some sorts with the person. They would have a good relationship and it became difficult for them to separate business and personal. So there was certainly different times when that happened and that was the case, and it did get a little bit complicated, yeah.”

Is the plan to follow the real stories, or could Martha have a happier ending?

Alison Wright: “I think everybody would hope that Martha could have a happy ending. They weave in the reality of it so much in all the elements of the show, so I know that they want to stick to that. In terms of where she ends up, I’m sure that they know and they have known from the very beginning, but that I’m not privy to.”

Would playing a tragedy be appealing too?

Alison Wright: “Sure, yeah, as an actor you want to have all the juiciest stuff that you can possibly have. Happy doesn’t take you very far. Great art isn’t made out of happiness. The sadness and the pain is where all the good stuff comes from. She’s definitely on the road for that. That could easily become her reality.”

Has The Americans opened more doors for you in film and television?

Alison Wright: “I think it has. There’s a tremendous amount of respect for the show. Almost everyone that I come across in the business is a fan of the show, of the work that’s done on the show, the way that it’s created. It’s opened doors for me in terms of my technique as well and my ability, and learning to do different things. So across the board, yeah, and I’ve had great work come from it of course. Work begets work but right now I’m feeling very grateful for the position I’m in. This is going to be a fantastic season for me.”

Figuring out that he wore a wig was pretty clever of her.

Alison Wright: And it’s up in the air about how long she’s known that for too. About whether when she said, ‘Oh, I know you’re wearing a toupee, sweetie,’ whether she really knew it was a toupee or she really actually knew it was a wig. The threads come out as we move through the show about what she did know and when she knew it and that’s something that we do get to explore.”

It was a reasonable assumption that he was bald.

Alison Wright: “Yeah, that would be what you would think, unless you had maybe gone picking around there at night while he was asleep.”

When you read the kama sutra sex scene last season, what were your thoughts?

Alison Wright: “I think I threw up, put down a box of chocolates, put away the cheeseburger. No, that sort of stuff is always tricky, but the way that they shot it and the humor that they brought into it and how funny Matthew was in it, I think it came out really great. Of course that stuff is daunting for everybody, I think, across the board.”

Were you apprehensive about it at first?

Alison Wright: “Yeah, but I don’t have a choice. They just kind of throw the scripts at you and then they run away and you have to do it. Whatever it is, whether it’s having a breakdown or having a baby or being naked, you need to do what’s asked of you.”

Have you ever done an ‘80s period piece before The Americans?

Alison Wright: “I just did something, a project for HBO, Confirmation. That was set in ’90 I think but it was very much still hanging on the back. The ‘80s was still present in all the costumes and everything, but I would like to do 1940s. That’s what I’d like to. I think I have a very good face for that. I love the hairstyles and everything. That’s what I want to do.”

Have you ever dressed up in ‘40s era costumes just for fun?

Alison Wright: “Oh sure, yeah, absolutely. I’m a big fan of musicals. That’s how I found my way into this business as a child. I feel like 1940s musicals are always sort of an element of my general fashion sense anyway. A lot of the shoes I like are sort of character shoes a little bit, like dancers would wear on stage, so I incorporate that all the time.”

Who are you playing in Confirmation?

Alison Wright: “I play Virginia Thomas, Clarence Thomas’s wife.”

Was that the first time you’ve played a true historical person?

Alison Wright: “Yes, yes it was. And of course she’s still alive, which is its own complicated thing. They weren’t a part of the process. They weren’t a part of the film. Hopefully they won’t be upset or offended by it though. I think they get a very fair shake. It should be a great film.”

What was the process for you of delving into a real person?

Alison Wright: “Really for Virginia, she knows a lot about the government and that’s her business too. It’s not just her husband’s. Her whole family have been involved and she was an active participant in many things since she was a teenager and her mother was involved too. Really, one of the main things was learning all about the things that she would know about. Whether the script she’s talking about them directly or not, she has to know them in the first place and that’s going to inform her opinion of whatever it is she’s saying. So it was a good time for me to learn about the American government and how the senate works and how judges work and how they’re moved between different departments. That was really cool to know about. I just applied to become an American citizen this year as well so I think that helped.”

When would you get your citizenship?

Alison Wright: “I did it already. I just need to be sworn in.”