In the opulent world of the Gilded Age, actress Carrie Coon had a confession to make when she wore the corseted dress of newly-rich, head of household Bertha Russell. She said the effect was transformative.
In an interview with People magazine, the actress explained, “You can’t help but feel transformed when you wear these dresses — they completely reshape your body.”
But it’s not just the corset; special attention was also given to her eyebrows, as makeup artist Nicky Leatherman carefully shaped them to perfectly match her wig.
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Coon’s commitment went far beyond mere aesthetics. As well as gracing the screen in gloves, gowns, hats and intricate hairstyles, the actress had the misfortune to also encounter the less glamorous side of 19th century fashion.
Wearing a corset for 16 hours, plus high heels, is extremely tiring. How much? According to Koon, “You start to lose your mind.” That’s why she sympathizes with upper-class women who have to change clothes several times a day for relief. During filming, Koon and her dresser, Amber, made corset-wearing a game during breaks. They timed themselves on how quickly they could put on and take off their tight and irritating bodices. But what was the rush?
This was because every moment of these breaks was precious amid the busy schedule and they wanted to enjoy these breaks as much as possible. So, what’s next for their character on screen? Well, a lot.
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As The Gilded Age’s third season begins, Coon expects shocking twists. Though she’s been mum about the specifics, her eagerness to be surprised suggests some interesting developments for Bertha Russell.
She also expects at least one surprise scene with all co-stars. Coon enjoys such moments and lives them up because then the larger group can show off their inner theater kids. Also, Coon works primarily with Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, and Harry Richardson. So she stays quite separate from the rest of the cast.
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That’s why she cherishes the unity of everyone coming together and enjoying singing, dancing and laughing. The 43-year-old star’s corset statement has divided people on the internet, with some advocating for more comfortable attire while others are defending the importance of accuracy in period dramas.
The Gilded Age seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Max.
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