While The Audacity may not have been shot in Silicon Valley itself, Paul Adelstein and Lucy Punch certainly felt immersed in the tech-driven world of Northern California.
This upcoming AMC drama follows eccentric CEO Duncan Park (Billy Mangussen) as he brings his therapist, JoAnne (Sarah Goldberg), into the diabolical world of data companies.
Lucy Punch, who plays Duncan’s wife Lili, and Paul Adelstein, who plays JoAnne’s husband Gary, sat down to chat with us about their characters on the show.
Despite primarily shooting in Vancouver, the actors got a clear sense of the world from the script alone.
Some cast members from The Audacity visited Palo Alto in person.
“We went and shot a lot of exteriors in Palo Alto,” Adelstein said. “There were just crazy big, ginormous houses.”
Adelstein mentioned visiting the area to film scenes with Gary and JoAnne’s house.
Although they may share a house, the two therapists don’t exactly share equal power in their relationship.
Throughout The Audacity Season 1, there’s a switch in status between Gary and JoAnne.
Adelstein shouted out Goldberg as a “powerhouse” to act opposite to while exploring this changing dynamic.
Gary may have been JoAnne’s doctoral advisor, but JoAnne found her way to influential CEO clientele and made herself indispensable to them.
Similarly, Lili and Duncan’s relationship shifts throughout the season.
Punch discussed how Lili initially had a higher status than Duncan and served as a driving force behind his career.
But now, Duncan’s flourishing on his own, leaving her behind in the dust.
“She’s sort of losing control of the reins with him,” Punch said. “Their lives are quite separate.”
Outside these marriages, Punch and Adelstein’s characters have another important relationship.
Gary and Lili are both parents, but their success in that role is mixed to say the least.
Punch was “appalled” by the way Lili parents her daughter, Jamison.
She has played a variety of mean characters in the past, but being a bad mother was “the worst” experience.
“She’s not a great person, but she’s an even worse mother,” Punch remarked. “She’s fucked up her child.”
While Lili’s parenting style borders on cruel, Gary parents his stepson, Orson, in a different manner.
Adelstein pointed out how ironic it was that Gary is a child psychiatrist who isn’t “particularly interested in this kid who lives in his house.”
But over time, Gary slowly realizes that he should foster his relationship with Orson and makes an effort, though he “massively screws it up.”
“There is a real warmth developing between the two of them,” Adelstein said. “In a show that doesn’t have a ton of hope, I think there’s something beautiful about that.”
It’s true. The Audacity often borders on dark, but, as Adelstein said, there are a few hopeful moments that shine through.
That is, of course, if you can look past the characters’ glaring flaws and giant egos that make the drama so entertaining.
You can watch the full interview right here:
The Audacity Season 1 premieres Sunday, April 12, at 9/8c on AMC and AMC+.
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Paul Adelstein and Lucy Punch chat about how their characters on The Audacity have complicated marriages and parent-child relationships.
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The post “Witches, and Bitches, and Karens” — Paul Adelstein & Lucy Punch Get Real About The Audacity appeared first on TV Fanatic.