#anyways ah. for future reference we may discuss our traumas more? it’s up in the air but i believe we’ve talked about it vaguely…

[ozzyfromthecafeteria]

i need to be compensated $5 every time i get one of those random out of the blue flashbacks or those flashbacks where something so small and almost entirely unrelated triggers a flashback. come on now.

[hellyeahomeland]

An HYH Exclusive Interview with Amy Hargreaves

[Saint. Heroine. The only real adult on this show. Future President of the United States. Here at HYH, we love Maggie Mathison something fierce. We are beyond excited today to share an interview with Amy Hargreaves herself, who’s brought Maggie to life so vividly the last seven seasons. Amy was gracious enough to answer all our questions about Maggie, her relationships with others on the show, what it’s like to work with her fellow cast members, and her wonderful dog Fred. Thank you, Amy! –the HYH team]

Hell Yeah Homeland: You first appeared on Homeland in the second episode of the series. How did you get involved with the show in the beginning, and what do you remember about your audition? Amy Hargreaves: I auditioned for Maggie. It was like any other audition. I went over to Judy Henderson’s office and the casting assistant (not Judy) put me on tape. It was just the two of us in the room. I know it was the scene in the kitchen in 1.02 when I’m giving [Carrie] meds and she’s annoyed because it’s less than normal. I did the scene once, thought it was really good, and the casting assistant gave me some notes based on what they wanted in the character and had me try it again. I wasn’t really feeling her notes to me but I took the direction anyway. When I got the job and was on set for my first day, Michael Cuesta was directing. He let me know that they REALLY liked the second take of my audition scene, and wanted me to play the character in that direction. So much for my first take that I thought was amazing!

HYH: What do you love about Maggie? What qualities of hers do you most admire?   AH: I love how capable and strong Maggie is. I love that with all the tumult surrounding her (for most of her life) she has managed to have a full and satisfying career, raise a family, and keep a marriage together. Major achievements!

HYH: What do you feel that you have in common with Maggie? How are you different? AH: I’m so different from Maggie. I’m way less serious and much more adventurous. What we do share is the ability to juggle all the things working moms juggle. I’m pretty darn good at it. I’m working and traveling all the time and it’s tricky to do that, run a household, and raise two kids (with my great ex- husband and co-parent). It ain’t easy, but I’m doing it and so is Maggie.

HYH: You’ve appeared in five out of seven seasons. What has been your favorite scene to film so far and which scene was the most difficult to shoot? Why? AH: There’s a scene in 7.10 that was my favorite to shoot as well as the most difficult. I haven’t seen the edit yet but you’ll understand why when you do. It was particularly challenging and emotional and I love going toward what scares me.

HYH: Speaking from our own experiences, relationships between siblings can be difficult. We love the sisterly dynamic that you and Claire Danes have on the show. Can you talk about what it’s like to work with Claire? Did the two of you do any preparation at the beginning of the series to explore what their relationship as sisters might be like?   AH: It has been an absolute pleasure working with Claire from day one. We had no real preparation and I'm pretty sure met each other on my first day on set. We didn't get into tons of back story about Maggie and Carrie but, as happens on long-running TV shows, the back story kind of reveals itself as you go forward. It's a tricky challenge because you have to create a fully-formed person and relationship from day one, then two years later you find out... “Wait, our mom left us when we were teenagers? We have a half brother?” It's all part of the fun though. Working with Claire [has] really been a professional highlight for me. I've been on a lot of film and TV sets and rarely is the star of the show so down to earth, talented, focused on the work, open and accessible, AND well-liked by the crew. She's kind of a unicorn. She sets a fantastic tone on the set that allows us to come, focus, do good work, and get home to our families. All this and as an acting partner, she’s fantastic.  When the cameras roll and they call action, we just look at each other and it flows. The relationship feels very real.  

HYH: Maggie has been the sole constant in Carrie’s life from the beginning of the series until now. How do you think the relationship between Carrie and Maggie changed after Frank died in season four? How has it changed since Carrie became a mother?   AH: Wow. Well. I think that losing Frank was a tricky thing for both Carrie and Maggie. I feel like although Carrie was clearly his favorite, it was Maggie who was doing more of Frank’s care-taking (Maggie forever the martyr lol). But somehow Frank was a glue that held the sisters together. After his death perhaps there was less of a reason for them to see each other... and with Carrie traveling/working in Europe and NYC, and Maggie taking the sabbatical in Rome (sigh)... perhaps the sisters are coming into season seven with a relationship that has evolved a bit.  

HYH: One of the more important Carrie/Maggie scenes was in the season 4 finale when their long lost mother turns back up. Carrie had previously remarked that Maggie would never forgive her mother for leaving them, but as we see, Maggie has a change of heart. What do you think inspired that shift?   AH: I think that Maggie grew up (like a lot of us do) and realized, what’s the point of holding onto all of this anger and bitterness now? It’s a really healthy approach and I admire Maggie for it. The past is past, let’s look forward.

HYH: Maggie seems to have a lot on her plate where Carrie is concerned to open season seven. How do you think Maggie views Carrie's life at the start of the season? AH: I think Maggie is cautious and caring with Carrie because she is aware of the trauma she (and Franny) had been through in the recent past. I think Maggie is happy to be back on [American] soil and able to provide a spot for Carrie to circle her wagons and Franny to have a more normal existence.

HYH: We see Maggie and Saul first meet at the end of season one during Carrie’s manic episode. How do you think Maggie views Saul? Does she think he had/has Carrie’s best interests at heart? Do you think her opinion has shifted over the seasons? If so, in what ways?   AH: I think in those early seasons that yes, Maggie thought Saul had Carrie’s best interests at heart. We had some loose discussions during that time period about how well Maggie and Saul knew each other. I remember Alex Gansa saying that perhaps Saul had worked with Frank (who was supposed to have been CIA at some point. Even if that was never spoken about on the show, it was told to us as back story), and that Maggie considered Saul something of a close family friend. I also think that for her sanity, Maggie chooses not to dive 100% into current affairs and the news--and perhaps takes what she sees on CNN, etc. with a grain of salt.

HYH: We only saw Maggie and Quinn meet once, at Frank’s wake in the season four finale. In the second episode of this season, Carrie’s psychiatrist refers to Quinn as Carrie’s “best friend,” borrowing language that Maggie had previously relayed to the psychiatrist. How do you think Maggie viewed Quinn and his relationship with her sister? AH: Well we only SAW Maggie and Quinn meet once, but I feel like they may have had a few more encounters. I also think that Carrie spoke about him to Maggie over the ensuing years. I think Maggie felt good about Quinn and Carrie’s relationship (of course, based on her limited info) and saw how devastated Carrie was after he died.  

HYH: Before this season, Maggie’s husband Bill was only ever talked about but never seen. Can you elaborate on what it was like to finally get to portray that relationship after so many years of it only ever being alluded to? How did you and Mackenzie Astin, who plays Bill, approach portraying that husband/wife relationship?   AH: HA!! Yes, well, the eagle-eyed viewer would have noticed a background artist playing Bill in the funeral scenes. I'm not sure if he was every really shown on camera but there was a person sitting near me in the pew. I'm thrilled that after so many seasons of “golfing” that Bill gets to exist for real. Mackenzie Astin has been fantastic. He dropped seamlessly into our pretend family as well as into the larger Homeland family. It's great casting. It has also been fun to play a relationship where the two people are 100% solid as a team, even despite ups and downs. I'm inspired by their relationship and their strength together.

HYH: In the early seasons of Homeland, Maggie had two daughters: Josie and Ruby. Is that still the case? If so, where is Ruby?   AH: Ruby is away at college!!! The timing works out! Maybe she'll come home for Spring Break?

HYH: We’ve loved your behind the scenes featurettes exploring the various departments involved in the production of Homeland. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned filming those videos?   AH: I have enormous respect for stunt people so that part was tons of fun to explore!!

HYH: You’ve been filming Homeland and season two of 13 Reasons Why. Are there future projects in the pipeline you can share?   AH: I'm really excited for everyone to see season two of 13 Reasons Why.  We don't have an air date yet but it will be this year. I also work quite a bit in independent film. I have a film called Buck Run that will be making the festival rounds soon--it's a moving and meaningful project--I'm eager to see how the audience takes to it!!

HYH: Last but not least, we love all your Instagram posts of your dog Fred. How is Fred doing? AH: FRED!!!!! He's my third child really.  As we know, it takes a village to raise a child (and a dog). Lucky for me, my brother loves Fred as much as we do. When I travel for work, Fred goes to the country and stays with my brother. Fred gets to be a city dog and a country dog!!! I need to pick him up this week!!!