Maura Tierney on cheating, hardest role, and fave leading man

Prolific television, film and stage actress Maura Tierney, 50, was born and raised in Boston and studied acting at New York University. First known for her work on the sitcom NewsRadio, she starred on ER for eight seasons and had roles on The Good Wife and Rescue Me before her current turn as cheated-on wife Helen Solloway in the Showtime drama The Affair. On the big screen, she has appeared in Primary Colors, Nature Calls, Baby Mamaand Liar, Liar, while her extensive stage work includes her 2013 Broadway debut opposite Tom Hanks in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy. She divides her time between Los Angeles and New York.


Maura Tierney: The first thing that comes to mind is Rescue Me, because I really, really liked the character that I played on that show. It was after doing ER for so long, and it was really nice that somebody cast me as a completely different character than the one I’d played for eight seasons. She was snarky and irreverent and funny, and I wore awesome clothes. I guess I judge the shows I like by how much I like my wardrobe.

ROLE YOU DIDN’T GET BUT WISH YOU HAD? 

You kinda can’t think like that, because you have to move forward. But early in my career, I really wanted to be in Say Anything. I read for that movie, I’m not shitting you, four or five times. I desperately wanted to be in it. I also read for Jerry Maguire and got really far down the line with that. I read with Tom Cruise. But Cameron Crowe just won’t put me in a movie.

HARDEST ROLE YOU EVER PLAYED? 

Hmmm. Lucky Guy, the play I did with Tom Hanks, wasn’t quite finished before Nora Ephron died. It was a struggle every night to see if I would land it. It wasn’t entirely there, so I had to sweat it, because it was important that it be good.

BROADWAY AND TOM HANKS. ISN’T THAT JUST BEING GREEDY? 

Listen, I throw deep, as Tom Hanks says. I know. Can you imagine? No, you can’t imagine. Our audiences were so dying to see the show. We were sold out every night. The play was wonderful. Every night the audience would leap to their feet the moment it was over. It was something I’ll never experience again.

DID BEING TREATED FOR CANCER AFFECT THE WAY YOU APPROACH ACTING? 

Well, I don’t know. I guess it affected everything, so if you look at it that way, yes. But not really. An interesting thing, though, is that as soon as I finished treatment, the first job I got was with the Wooster Group, which is this very avant-garde theater company in New York, and that experience changed my whole approach to acting.

WITH ALL THOSE SEASONS ON ER, DID YOU LEARN ANY REAL MEDICINE? 

Absolutely not. I don’t even know how to take someone’s pulse. Although I know all the lingo, so I could talk to a doctor about a procedure. But I couldn’t actually do anything. The most might be stitching someone up and leaving them with a really bad Frankensteiny scar.

WOULD YOU EVER HAVE AN AFFAIR? 

Yes. I don’t mean to say that eagerly. But life is really complicated. I was married for 15 years and never did, but I could never say never. I don’t know. That’s why I like the show. It asks a lot of questions.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND OUT YOUR HUSBAND WAS CHEATING? 

I did find it out with a boyfriend, not my ex-husband, and it was hard. But I remember talking to my mother like 15 years ago. There was someone we knew who had an affair, and the wife took him back. I remember saying, “I would never, ever do that.” And my mother paused, then said, “You know, when you get older, you’d be surprised by the shit you can put up with.” And she’s right. Everybody’s human.

YOU’VE HAD SUCH A RUN OF GREAT LUCK WITH HIT SHOWS. TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT? 

Hard work. And talent. [Laughs] Seriously, there were times when I really didn’t work for, like, two years. But I did get lucky, and I think that a good part of that was that I happened to work with really good show-runners. The beginning of my career, I worked with Norman Lear. NewsRadio was created by Paul Simms, a really unique voice and a very strong show-runner. John Wells and then David Zabel on ER. I’ve been very fortunate to work with super smart and talented show-runners, as well as great writers.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A SCRIPT? 

If it’s unique. If it’s a perspective I haven’t seen before. If the female character is not two-dimensional. And I really do think it’s important that there’s humor. Nothing works without some humor.

COMEDY OR DRAMA? 

I’ve been doing drama for so long now, I would love to do another half-hour comedy. I’d love to do a multi-cam half-hour, which is something that’s disappearing.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ERASE FROM YOUR RESUME? 

Dead Women in Lingerie. [Laughs]

WHAT WAS THE MOVIE YOU DID WITH O.J. SIMPSON? 

That was my first job. Student Exchange. It had O.J. Simpson, Lindsay Wagner, the Bionic Woman, Captain Stubing from The Love Boat, Gavin MacLeod, Heather Graham, Moon Unit Zappa…

WAS THAT MOVIE UNFAIRLY OVERLOOKED BY THE ACADEMY? 

Ahh, no. O.J.’s work might have been. You know what Jim Carrey said to me? We were making Liar, Liar right around the time of the trial, and I told Jim Carrey, “Y’know, I worked with O.J. Simpson.” He said, “Oh, really? Did he try to cut your head off?” [Laughs]

YOU’VE WORKED WITH HIM, JOHN TRAVOLTA, RICHARD GERE. WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE LEADING MAN?

Hmm…I’m going to go with Richard Gere, because that was sort of the first big movie I got. I remember walking onto set at Paramount with him, thinking, “I’m walking onto a movie set with Richard Gere!” He was such a movie star. A lovely, charming man and super foxy.

ANYONE YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO WORK WITH AGAIN? 

Al Pacino, because he just didn’t like me. [Laughs]

WEIRDEST THING YOU EVER READ ABOUT YOURSELF? 

Probably from my time on ER, stuff about fighting on the set that just never happened. But I escape the tabloids for the most part.

WEIRDEST FAN ENCOUNTER? 

Well, there was one guy who used to send me so many letters. They were very nice, but really hundreds of them. Anyway, he suffered from severe agoraphobia, and he was convinced that if I would just meet him somewhere, he would finally leave his house. He also wrote a script for me. It was actually pretty funny.

RED CARPET AWKWARDNESS? 

Well, it’s always funny when people won’t let you go because they can’t figure out who you are. And it becomes an interrogation. It’s kind of amazing when people start getting annoyed at me because they can’t remember who I am. I’m like, “Just IMDB me. I have to go.”

RED CARPET SECRET? 

I should take a class. I feel dorky. I remember going to the Golden Globes and being voted one of the 10 worst dressed, which made me sad, because I liked my dress. But there is nothing natural about that whole experience. It’s so awkward to stand there and hold your body in a way that’s completely unnatural, but that’s what you have to do to look good. It feels really phony and self-conscious.

THING YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BOSTON? 

Oddly, my grandmother’s apartment in the projects. She lived there for 55 years, in Southie, and I went there my whole life. It was just so full of life and stuff from childhood, and I can never ever go back there. The other places I miss I can still go back to.

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Maura Tierney talks about her new cable drama "The Affair"

Maura Tierney is dipping her toe into unfamiliar waters, and we're not talking about those off the shore of Montauk; the Emmy nominee is heading to cable with The Affair.


Tierney spent almost 10 years on ER, NBC's hit medical drama. Before that there was nearly 100 episodes of the comedy NewsRadio. Stints on Rescue Me, The Good Wife and a short-lived legal drama The Whole Truth followed, but now Tierney is heading to Showtime for the provocative new drama costarring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson and Joshua Jackson.


"Initially, I had really wanted to work on cable television. I was on network TV for about 15 years or so, which I loved. I was on two amazing shows on network, but I've never worked without those kinds of constraints, so I really wanted to work in that environment," Tierney said.


The Affair tells the story of, well, an affair. Tierney plays Helen, the wife to Noah (West), and mom to four kids. The show tells the story of Noah's affair with Alison (Wilson) from their two points of views. And for Tierney, her first cable drama starts off with a bang.

You kick it right off with a sex scene.

Yes, I know, I know! I was more thinking about the subject matter freedom, not that, but that was really interesting to me. Sarah Treem, who wrote it, I think is really talented, she's a playwright. I think she's a wonderful writer. I like that the show is built around the two different perspectives of the two characters.

Will we ever see your perspective?

I believe…I'm not sure because I don't ask any questions. Some of the other cast members ask questions, I don't just because, I don't know, I'm OK not to. But I do believe if the show continues to next season…the viewpoints will expand. Not just to me, but to some of the other characters.


Right. As I watched I was wondering, "How many seasons can this last?"

I think the whole thing is going to be a memory piece. That's what's special about it, I think. I think two things: It's special that it's a memory piece and that it's a difference between a feminine and masculine perspective on events, a memory. I like that.


When I watched, I vaguely knew what the show was about, but I didn't realize it'd be split. Everything, down to the clothes was different.


That's what's fun about it. It's not just they remember different—everything's different. I get to play two different characters, sort of, which is really fun.


Do you prefer one perspective to the other?


I like it when I'm in Ruth's [Wilson] perspective because it's more of a stretch for me. In her character's perspective, I'm very chic and intimidating and kind of cold…It's fun to play. It's not like me, but it's more fun because she's a little bit of a bitch. I like that. Not so much in the pilot, but down the line.


The Affair seems like something I have ever seen on broadcast or cable.


Yeah! I think it's really, really fun.


Is that what kind of drew you to the project specifically?


Yes. I liked the writing a lot and like that I essentially get to play two different versions of the same person.

It's definitely provocative.


Totally.

I think that's the right word.


No, I think it is.

What's your elevator pitch to people?


This is what I say: It's called The Affair, it's about an affair. [Laughs.] It is what I say!

The subject matter, adultery, can turn people off in a way. Did that worry you at all?


No. Does it turn people off?


I feel like it does sometimes. Like, happily married people?


But sometimes happily married people—someone has an affair. There are weird statistics that sometimes when infidelity occurs, the person who cheats says, ‘I was happy in my marriage.' It's a mysterious thing what keeps people together...I think infidelity is difficult, monogamy is difficult and marriage is difficult. It's sort of like, what's that little trip wire that makes the thing happen, that goes wrong?


At this point, do you prefer drama or comedy?


I've been doing dramas for a long time. Actually, this year I was looking to do a comedy. I thought it'd be really fun, that's the stuff I was reading. Then I was offered this role and it was too good to not take. I do miss comedy, yeah. But I try to be funny on the show. You'll see, my character is kind of funny.

TV revivals are all the rage these days.


Mhm.

Would you ever do an ER TV movie?


I mean, probably not. I don't know, it depends on who wrote it...They did it already!


The 20th anniversary is coming up.


Note: This interview occurred prior to the 20th anniversary of ER's premiere in September]

Yeah, but when they ended the show everybody came back. I feel like they did that already.

You never know.   Strange things have happened, especially lately. Do you want to add anything about The Affair?

I think it's going to be a really fun show. The idea is to have the audience not know who to root for, which couples to root for. Hopefully we'll do that and hopefully it'll be fun.


The Affair premieres Sunday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m. on Showtime. You can watch the first full (edited) episode now below.

eonline.com

Maura Tierney to star in new Showtime drama pilot "The Affair"

ER alumna Maura Tierney is set to star opposite Dominic West and Ruth Wilson in Showtime‘s drama pilot The Affair. 

From playwright and writer/producer Sarah Treem and co-creator Hagai Levi, The Affair is an intense and intimate exploration of two marriages and an affair that disrupts them — with all of the complex consequences that result. 

It centers on Noah (West), a good husband, devoted father of four, and New York City high school teacher whose settled, comfortable world is about to implode when he meets a woman (Wilson) he thinks is his soul mate. Emmy-nominated Tierney, repped by UTA and Untitled, will play Helen, Noah’s college sweetheart, best friend, mother of his children, lover and wife of 17 years. 

Her world will be buffeted by Noah’s infidelity and, over time, she will swing back and forth from understanding to furious, from forgiving to vengeful. Tierney, who recurs on CBS’s The Good Wife, recently made her Broadway debut opposite Tom Hanks in Lucky Guy.

deadline.com

Maura Tierney to debut on broadway in March

Tom Hanks is one lucky guy.

Maura Tierney -- a.k.a. Dr. Abby Lockhart from NBC’s "ER" -- will make her Broadway debut this spring in Nora Ephron’s final play, "Lucky Guy." Tierney will play the wife of Hanks, who will star in the drama about Pulitzer Prize-winningnewspaper columnist Mike McAlary, the play’s producers said on Monday.  

Tierney, 47, may be new to Broadway, but the Emmy Award-nominated actress has logged many hours acting onstage. She appeared in the Wooster Group’s revival of the satire “North Atlantic” in 2010 (which played at Los Angeles' REDCAT). In 2008, she appeared in Nicky Silver’s “Three Changes” at Playwrights Horizons off-Broadway.

More recently, Tierney starred in the revival of Jon Robin Baitz's play "Three Hotels" in 2011 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts.   

On the small screen, Tierney -- who successfully battledbreast cancer in 2009 -- is known for her roles in  TV shows such as "Newsradio” and "The Good Wife." She’s also appeared in a host of films including 1997’s “Liar Liar” withJim Carrey;  2002’s “Insomnia” opposite Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank; and “Baby Mama,” starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in 2008.

The cast of “Lucky Guy” also includes Peter Scolari, who costarred with Hanks in "Bosom Buddies," as well as Peter Gerety, Christopher McDonald and Michael Gaston.  

“Lucky Guy” will begin previews at the Broadhurst Theater on March 1. Opening night is set for April 1.

losangelestimes

Maura Tierney to reunite with "ER" co-star as guest star on "The Good Wife"

It's an "ER" reunion on "The Good Wife" when Maura Tierney makes her debut as Maddie Hayward, a millionaire business professional who considers giving to Peter Florrick's (Chris Noth) gubernatorial campaign.

In the photos from "And The Law Won," Julianna Margulies reunites with her former "ER" co-star Tierney. It looks like Christine Baranski's Diane Lockhart will also have a meeting with Tierney's character. Take a look at the new photos below.

"The Good Wife" Season 4 premieres Sun., Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/the-good-wife-er-reunion-maura-tierney_n_1871336.html#slide=1497254

So nice to see her back and doing so well :).

Just for fun: Which t.v. character are you?

Which Buffy the Vampire Slayer Character Are You?

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Yay, I'm Willow!!. *LOL*. I've always known that I was a big nerd and now I have proof :D.

Which ER Character Are You?

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Dang, I was hoping for Abby Lockheart, but Mark Green is not a bad second (I've always loved his character). The description definitely sounds like me.

'ER' receives 4 new interns for it's final season

Well, as is tradition for this show and as a way of keeping things fresh, the producers are adding 4 new characters to the mix this fall.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, they will be played by Shiri Appleby, Julian Morris, Emily Rose and Victor Rasuk. Aside from Shiri Appleby (who I know from Roswell and Xena) I can't say I'm the least bit familiar with the other 3.

The characters are described as follows:

Appleby and Morris will play siblings Daria and Andrew Wade. Daria is a smart and eager to learn, while Andrew uses his looks, smarts and charm to get ahead.

Rose will play Tracy Martin, an ambitious intern who likes to control things, which often doesn't go over well with her superiors.

Rasuk was cast as Ryan Sanchez, a native New Yorker who's a tad nervous and is often found on his cell phone, fielding questions from his wife.

Basically nothing we haven't seen before in the last 15 years lol. But still I think bringing in some new young blood will give the series a boost.

Especially since Goran Visnjic and Maura Tierney will probably leave around the middle of the season.

More good news on' ER's final season

Well, it seems that I have one more reason to tune into my favourite medical drama this fall, the wonderful Angela Basset will be joining the cast of 'ER' as a regular.

NBC is certainly doing it's best to give the show new life before it's final curtain call.

The addition of Angela Basset is definitely a good move, and could only mean good things for ER in terms of viewership. According to the Hollywood Reporter Basset will play a "tough attending with a troubled past who's coming back to Chicago after a few years in Indonesia doing tsunami relief. Her arrival in the second episode next season promises to shake County General's ER to the core".

Sounds good to me!.

I've been a fan of hers since her portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It. I also loved her guest starring role as CIA Director Hayden Chase on Alias .

If that wasn't enough, Noah Wyle aka Dr. John Carter will be making an appearance as well (here's hoping for the return of some other favourites from the original cast).

Oh, and Abby/Luka fans need not fret, Maura Tierney and Goran Visnijc will be sticking around until early S15 upon which their story line will sadly be concluded.

Still no word on whether the characters will have separate exit episodes.

Just thinking about the end of this show depresses the hell out of me. Thursday nights will never be the same (even if NBC somehow manages to once again pull a rabbit out of their hat and replace it with a decent show). Although I highly doubt it.

'ER' hangs on for another year

Last year there were rumors that season 14 (the current season) which comes back this Thursday April 10th would be the show's last.

Well, that rumor turned out to be just that. According to T.V. Guide.ca and The Hollywood Reporter ER will indeed return for a 15th and final season on NBC.

The news is somewhat bittersweet however, apparently the season will be shortened by 3 episodes. Not that the current one will fare any better in that regard, due toi the WGA strike.

As per ER tradition the new season will welcome 2 new possibly reoccurring characters in the final year. Gotta say from the article description I'm definitely intrigued.

Though personally I'm still eagerly awaiting the conclusion of Abby and Luka's storyline, here's hoping they do not have a tragic ending.

Just once I would like my favourite tv couple to be happy at the end. Although I'm not entirely certain they will.

I also can't wait to see what returning favourites will pop-in as the season draws to a close (so far we've only had Gloria Reuben). I think we can definitely rule out Juliana Margulies (Carol Hathaway), since she's got her own show on FOX. Canterbury's Law which is pretty good actually.

As sad as I will be to see ER go (what the hell will I watch on Thursday nights?!). I really have to applaud it's actors, writers and creators for bringing one of the longest and the best running medical dramas to television.

One thing is for sure with ER gone NBC will have some very big shoes to fill.

"ER" surprises

Forgot to mention this yesterday in regards to "ER" there are rumors that S14 will be it's last. Which I'm so hoping isn't true, what the hell am I gonna watch on Thursday nights!.

The good news however is that there are plans to bring back a lot of characters from the previous seasons, characters like Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle) . Gloria Reuben (as Jeannie Boulet) and Julianna Margulies (as Carol Hathaway), yay!. Eriq La Salle, William H. Macy, Sally Field, Danny Glover, Laura Innes and Shane West. There's even a possibility of George Clooney making an appearance.

All my old favourites in one season?, pinch me I must be dreaming :D. Although, Shane West? really?, interesting since I've heard he was being written out. I guess it's a very short leave lol. Who am I kidding? he can come back as many times as he wants;) :D.

It's also interesting to note that Sherry Stringfield (Susan Lewis) is not mentioned, well I guess it's not like we really had time to miss her character, she came back so frequently lol.

Is it Thursday yet?

No more re-runs!

The end of September means, the end of the t.v. bore-fest that is summer reality t.v. This week my fave t.v. shows return from their summer hiatus. (yay!! and about damn time lol). The most anticipated new show for me is of course the new "Bionic Woman" this Wednesday on NBC.

Which I will be watching with a fresh perspective having not seen the original series, (plus as I've mentioned before you can't go wrong with Katie Sackhoff as a villain:D).

Then there's my favorite forensics team from "Bones" (Tuesday on FOX). Which I'm hoping will finally get something going between Booth and Brannon. No more teasing! lol. And I'm curious to see the resolution of the cliffhanger between Angela and Hogins.

And finally there's the long running hospital drama "ER" back for it's 14th season!. This is one show I'm looking forward to the most. Finally we get some answers to the big cliffhanger we were left with in May. Will Neela survive?, will Gates go off the deep end?, how will Ray be written out? and of course most importantly how will Luka and Abby exit the show?. But that we probably won't know till next year.

It's gonna be a good season, I'm already getting excited! lol. I'm also curious about some of the other new shows like "Caine", "Pushing Daisies" and "Life" and of course "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (which starts next year, damn!). Definitely planning on checking those out.

Although at the same time I can't help but wonder how many of these shows will actually survive. Let's just hope that t.v. strike mentioned earlier this year doesn't come along and put the kibosh on everything.

Say goodbye to 'Lubby'

I have been hearing rumors about Maura Tierney and Goran Visnjic leaving ER since the end of last year, well sadly it looks like the rumors were indeed true. Both Maura and Goran will be leaving ER sometime next year according to the TV Guide blog.

Both actors are apparently seeking a movie career which of course is impossible with ER's shooting schedule. As a long time ER and 'Lubby' (Luka and Abby) fan this was not happy news.

The characters of Abby Lockheart (Maura Tierney) and Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic) have always been my favourite. They have been the couple that I've been invested in and rooting for over the past 7 years.

Being a total romantic I cannot wait till the end of this season when we finally get to see the happy couple get married (yay!) and may I add about time!.

Goran and Maura are wonderful actors who have undeniable chemistry, and there's no doubt in my mind even with NBC's uncanny ability to find new cast members that gel well together that their presence will be sorely missed come next year.

There's no word yet on exactly when or how the characters will make their exit (well ok I'm sure there is but I'm avoiding spoilers), and I won't bother speculating. I will say this, no more deaths please! (sorry Maura).

It also remains to be seen whether both characters will leave the show simultaneously, or whether both will have a separate story arc, but we won't have to worry about that till next year.

I'm sure we'll all shed a tear when the time comes, for now lets just enjoy the Abby/Luka goodness in all their soon to be wedded familial bliss.

Oh, I do want to add that even though I will miss their characters immensely I wish both Goran and Maura success in their future movie careers.