She may be one of the world’s most lauded actresses, but even Glenn Close, at 78 years of age no less, still has things to learn.
The eight-time Academy Award nominee and Fatal Attraction star is appearing in Ryan Murphy’s new divorce lawyer drama All’s Fair, alongside a rolodex of stars including Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash and Naomi Watts.
Yet Close is less known for her TV parts than her extensive list of leading film and theatre roles, and so appearing in a Ryan Murphy drama felt all new to the legendary actress.
Speaking to PinkNews and other media ahead of the All’s Fair release on Disney+, Close explained that it took “a little while” for her “get” the show.
All’s Fair follows a group of women who open their own divorce attorney firm, with Close playing HBIC Dina Standish. American Horror Story’s Sarah Paulson is Carrington Lane, with Kardashian playing Carrington’s arch nemesis, Allura Grant. Upon the release of its trailer last month, the show was praised for promising to be for both “insane” and “c***y”.
“A team of female divorce attorneys leave a male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice,” reads the show’s official synopsis.
“Fierce, brilliant, and emotionally complicated, they navigate high-stakes breakups, scandalous secrets, and shifting allegiances – both in the courtroom and within their own ranks. In a world where money talks and love is a battleground, these women don’t just play the game – they change it.”
While the show impressed Murphy fans before it was even released, Close appeared to take a little more convincing.
“[Murphy] called me and said it was about women lawyers and I said, ‘Well, I did [noughties FX series] Damages. I don’t want to be like her.’ I’ve done that territory of being everyone that everybody says is a b***h, but truly, she was just acting like a man,” she explained.
“He said, ‘No, no, no, you’re gonna be the matriarch, you’re gonna be the mentor. Um, you’ll have great clothes.’ Um, which is, coming off some of the things I’ve been doing recently, was very seductive.”
Close said that she was “totally in” on starring in All’s Fair considering its stacked cast, but needed to get to grips with what a show like it encompasses.
“I had never done a Ryan show, so, it took me a little while to kind of get it. But then I got it. And [I] started having a really wonderful time, but also connecting with these women on a personal basis, you know, and looking forward to seeing them every day was a very, very great blessing for me on this project.”
Asked how she felt to be joining Murphy’s extensive world – which includes American Horror Story, Glee and Monsters – Close said that it was a “huge learning experience”.
“I have to honestly say that this was a huge learning experience for me. I’d never been in a show like this. I’d never experienced the way it’s shot and I’d never been in this kind of company of women,” she said.
“It took me a while to get my feet. I was actually kind of intimidated in the beginning. But, I learned. I learned and I think it has been an experience and hopefully will continue to be an experience that will always have great surprises, buoyed by the fact that you have all these great women behind you and the fact that we sit around that conference table and can look into each other’s eyes and basically have a wonderful time together.”
All’s Fair also stars Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka, Grace Gummer, Judith Light, Steven Pasquale, Brooke Shields and Jessica Simpson.
All’s Fair premieres November 4th on Disney+.
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