Bertha Russell’s business ambition and complicated marriage dominate the spotlight in “The Gilded Age,” giving actress Carrie Coon one of her biggest opportunities to shine. But HBO’s dazzling historical drama is just one of the noteworthy projects Coon has appeared in, and viewers are likely to know her from elsewhere.
A four-time Emmy nominee, Coon has extensive experience on both the big and small screens. Toward the beginning of her career, she played Margo Dunne — the sister of Ben Affleck’s Nick Dunne – in the hit 2014 movie “Gone Girl”. Soon after, Coon had her breakout role on TV. Portraying Nora Durst in all three seasons of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama “The Leftovers,” the actress followed it up with a recurring part in Season 3 of FX’s “Fargo” series as Homeland Security agent Gloria Burgle. Coon landed another high-profile film role when she appeared as real-life journalist Meg Greenfield in Steven Spielberg’s “The Post”.
TV viewers might also remember Coon from two successful anthology shows. First, she played faith leader Vera Walker in Season 2 of the USA Network crime thriller “The Sinner”. More recently, Coon starred as girls trip vacationer Laurie Duffy in “The White Lotus” Season 3. Coon hasn’t spent much of her career acting in major franchises, but she did take on the role of Callie Spengler in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”. Additionally, Coon entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the voice of Proxima Midnight in “Avengers: Infinity War”.
What Carrie Coon enjoys most about playing Bertha Russell
As one of HBO’s more recent flagship shows, “The Gilded Age” has captivated audiences with its splendid decor and intriguing melodrama. For Carrie Coon, stepping into the shoes of a diligent new-money socialite has been an enjoyable experience. A morally complex character who is equal parts ruthless and vulnerable, Bertha stops at nothing to get ahead in New York high society.
In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Coon shared what she loves most about playing a flawed person who is easy to root for, despite some characters in the show perceiving her as a villain. “I love that she calls people out on their BS. That’s the most fun, when she really cuts through the social expectations and just calls it how she sees it,” Coon said. “She’s so uncompromising. She’s so myopic. I love that people don’t like her.” Whether it’s troubles in her marriage with George Russell (Morgan Spector) or using her wealth to gain favor with others, Coon’s Bertha always has her hands full and keeps the dramatic tension high in “The Gilded Age.”
All seasons of “The Gilded Age” are available to stream on HBO Max.
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