In fact, both prosthetics and visual effects were used on the actress to distort her appearance in the Hulu mystery, which centers on a teenager (Sam Nivola) who believes his mom (Britton) has been replaced by a doppelgänger when he wakes up from a near-death car accident.
“It was actually quite a process,” Britton exclusively shared with E! News’ Will Marfuggi. “It ended up being sort of a combination of various different techniques, because it had to be so subtle but also consistent for an extended period of time.”
While her physical transformation was “makeup-based” at first, the 59-year-old said a VFX team was eventually brought in to “paint in, frame-by-frame” subtle changes to her face as the story’s mystery deepened.
The result? A “very subtle but noticeable enough” difference that provided a sense of eeriness to her character.
“It’s very jarring for me to see,” Britton said of the final product. “When I look at it, I’m either ‘I look freakish’ or ‘I look like myself. Does it even look different?'”
And for her onscreen son Nivola, the transformation was an “uncomfortable” one.
Disney/David Astorga
“It’s intended to give you a feeling of discomfort,” he told E! in their joint interview. “Connie’s performance elevated the look incredibly to the point of making me feel like, ‘Oh my god, this is like my friend Connie who I’ve been working with—and who I know from all the amazing work she’s done and who we all know and recognize—and that’s not quite how she looks.'”
The 23-year-old added, “It makes you feel weird.”
Disney/Stewart Cook
Indeed, Nivola—whose parents are The Newsroom alum Emily Mortimer and Love Story star Alessandro Nivola—is quite familiar with Britton’s stacked resumé. After all, they’re both part of The White Lotus family, with Britton starring in season one and Nivola appearing in the latest third season.
“It is interesting because even though we were in different seasons, in different places [and] different casts, there are a lot of similarities,” Britton said. “That’s such a rarefied experience.”
Phony premieres Oct. 20 on Hulu.
And for more TV shows hitting the small screen soon, read on.
Snapped: Killer Moms (Oxygen) – Oct. 18
Mothers will do absolutely anything for their children. Snapped: Killer Moms is a true crime series that highlights high-emotion and high-stakes stories where a mother’s unconditional love twists into bloodshed, as matriarchs stop at nothing to protect or avenge their kids. Each episode peels back the layers of seemingly ordinary women whose lives, relationships and maternal instincts ultimately drive them to their breaking point.
Catfish Murders (Oxygen) – Oct. 18
In Catfish Murders, the phone isn’t just a backdrop to a crime – it is part of the crime scene. Every day, millions of people form a relationship with someone they’ve never met. A message sparks a conversation which turns into a connection. Sometimes, however, that connection can become something far more dangerous. Across ten gripping episodes, Catfish Murders explores just how far people will go to manipulate victims through false job opportunities, artificial promises of love, and online coercion, only to lead to devastating consequences when those lies spill into the real world.
The Golden Life (E!) – Oct. 20
Kelly Bensimon, Luann De Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer are bringing decades of friendship and feuds to sunny Palm Beach, Fla., for a new start in the Sunshine State.The series follows the iconic group of New York snowbirds as they pack their bags and head down south to reconnect in their “golden” era of life. Whether it’s yacht parties accompanied by past flings on the not-so-sunny coast of Florida, championing the Gay Polo League, an old-school girls weekend in Miami, or glamorous shop-and-sip events in luxury boutiques, the ladies bring their iconic personalities to the exclusive Palm Beach scene.The drama tells the story of Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who, tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia, moves to a small town in Western Pennsylvania for a quiet life. But, as the town and his family come under attack from the diabolically cunning serial killer Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham), Jonah must protect all that he holds dear. When the desperate search for Jurek’s last missing victim forces Jonah to send his surrogate daughter FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz) up against Jurek, how far will Jonah go?Phony is a coming-of-age mystery about a teenager who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to discover his mom – his only parent and his best friend – appears to have been replaced by an impostor.
Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas (Bravo) – Oct. 20
Lisa Vanderpump is betting big on her most ambitious Vegas venture yet: a namesake hotel. This isn’t just another grand opening; it’s Lisa’s biggest gamble to date and a chance to cement her legacy. With a to-do list longer than the Strip itself, LVP and her A-Team pull back the curtain on what it really takes to get a boutique resort ready for its lavish opening – and VIP check in – Vanderpump style.
The Terminal List (Prime Video) – Oct. 21
From the best-selling novels of the same name, The Terminal List centers on Navy SEAL Commander “James Reece” (Chris Pratt) as he battles unknown conspiratorial forces seeking to upend the world order.This season comes from Jack Carr’s second novel, True Believer, where he puts “James Reece” on a journey of violent redemption, finding a new purpose after finishing his list. The psychological revenge story of Season One expands into a globe-trotting espionage thriller, taking Reece across the Indian Ocean, Southern and Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Joined by returning fan favorites like “Raife Hastings” (Tom Hopper), “Katie Buranek” (Constance Wu), “Mohammed Farooq” (Dar Salim), “Jules Landry” (Luke Hemsworth) and newcomers like “Freddy Strain” (Gabriel Luna), Reece will uncover a conspiracy that reaches from Moscow to Langley and ties into his own family’s history.
Where’s Wanda? (Apple TV) – Oct. 21
In season two, the Klatts (Heike Makatsch and Axel Stein) are back! Just as they thought their lives were finally returning to normal, their daughter Wanda (Lea Drinda) is caught seemingly red-handed, standing over a dead body. They will need to do everything in their power to prove her innocence and avoid losing her again, as their investigation to find the real murderer takes them into the criminal underbelly of their sleepy suburban town. But will their quest to protect their family get them all out of trouble, or ultimately lead them further astray? And can they find out the truth of what happened on that fateful day before it’s too late?
Nobody Wants This (Netflix) – Oct. 22
The comedy starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell returns for season three.
Swipe Right on the Devil (Hulu) – Oct. 22
When 24-year-old Sydney Loofe disappears after a Tinder date, what begins as a missing-person case quickly spirals into a haunting mystery. As investigators race to uncover her whereabouts, they are drawn into an astounding world of manipulation, witchcraft, mind control and black magic. Each new lead uncovers disturbing revelations, exposing behavior that shocks even seasoned FBI agents. With every answer raising new questions, Sydney’s story becomes a cautionary tale about trust, vulnerability and the hidden dangers that can lurk behind seemingly ordinary encounters, culminating in a chilling case that remains as perplexing as it is unforgettable.Omar Sy reprises his iconic role as thief Assane Diop for part four of the French series.Reba McEntire and Co. return for season three.Newlyweds is a later-in-life love story about a free-spirited woman, Jeanie (Téa Leoni), and a buttoned-up professor, James (Tim Daly), who marry impetuously after a whirlwind courtship.
The Wolves of Real Estate: The Alexander Brothers (Peacock) – Oct. 25
The three-part documentary series tells the story of three brothers who were recently convicted of preying on women for more than a decade, masquerading as party boys while allegedly drugging and raping women. These claims only came to light when dozens of women came forward, leading to one of the biggest sex trafficking trials of the decade. Delving into the family and brothers’ early years, and with access to never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews, the series exposes a twisted and disturbing tale.Hosted by Parker Posey, The Mob is a high-stakes reality competition series that sends a group of celebrities to a lavish Italian villa where they will shake down, hustle and whack their way to win up to $250,000 in cash prizes. Every episode, they will tackle mob movie-inspired jobs to survive. But every mob family needs a don, and whoever they choose will have absolute power — deciding who makes money, who stays, and who ultimately gets whacked. In a game where power demands absolute loyalty, can the don stay in control, or will the family rise up and overthrow them?
The One About Matthew Perry (Netflix) – Oct. 27
Told through intimate testimonies from close family and friends, this documentary event reveals the real Matthew Perry—generous, funny, vulnerable, larger than life—and the battles he fought to become the man behind the icon. A raw record of a life lived in full, and the honesty that became his greatest legacy.Nocturne tells the story of Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who, tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia, moves to a small town in Western Pennsylvania for a quiet life. But, as the town and his family come under attack from the diabolically cunning serial killer Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham), Jonah must protect all that he holds dear. When the desperate search for Jurek’s last missing victim forces Jonah to send his surrogate daughter FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz) up against Jurek, how far will Jonah go?Bertha Russell changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn seizes an opportunity to regain her position. Meanwhile, Marian forges a new path for herself, and Peggy works to be accepted by her future in-laws. In this new era, you must be careful what you wish for.
St. Denis Medical(NBC) – Nov. 2
St. Denis Medical is a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity. In season three, romantic entanglements and personal struggles complicate relationships in the Emergency Department, pushing some St. Denis employees to the brink.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC) – Nov. 2
Season two of the hit comedy returns with the unlikely duo of former football star Reggie Dinkins (Tracy Morgan) and documentarian Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe), both still chasing redemption and still making a mess of it. With the help of his family, Reggie will continue his quest to recapture his past glory.In season two, Santi takes the next step in his pursuit of professional golf, only to discover how quickly the game changes when talent becomes expectation. As Santi chases his dream, Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson) finds himself wondering what might still be possible for him. Urged on by his former rival Clark Ross (Timothy Olyphant), Pryce does something nobody expects: he bets on himself, launching an improbable comeback in hopes of becoming the oldest golfer ever to win a major. But the road back proves far harder than he imagined. And the closer Pryce gets to the golfer he once was, the more he is forced to confront why he never fulfilled the promise everyone once saw in him. With brilliant new coach Amanda (Rhea Seehorn) and trusted caddie Mitts (Marc Maron) in his corner, Pryce sets out to prove — to the golf world and, more importantly, to himself — that maybe he really was as good as everyone always said he was.The lawyers of Grant, Ronson & Greene are back for another season of scandals, secrets, and stilettos. As new allegiances form, friendships are tested and a shocking revelation threatens the very existence of the firm.
The Remarried Princess (Hulu & Disney+) – Nov. 4
Based on the hit Naver Webtoon of the same name, The Remarried Empress follows the strained relationship of beloved Empress Navier and her husband Emperor Sovieshu of the Eastern Kingdom. With anxieties rising across the kingdom, the couple’s relationship begins to fracture when Sovieshu falls in love with a runaway slave and attempts to move heaven and earth to win her heart. Unwilling to compromise her dignity, Navier acquiesces to the emperor’s requests on one condition – that she be allowed to remarry rival Crown Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. What follows is a tale of love, lust and regret that threatens the fate of an entire kingdom as Navier strives to reclaim her power.
The Greatest(Prime Video) – Nov. 4
The documentary traces Muhammad Ali’s coming of age story, following a young Cassius Clay through the personal, professional and political battles he fought inside and outside the ring. Set against a changing America, The Greatest follows a once-in-a-generation talent fighting for the right to become his own man. Through the fights that made him a champion and the convictions that made him an icon, a young man from Louisville transforms himself into Muhammad Ali, the greatest of all time.
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