Exclusive: Sonja Warfield on Executive Producing and Writing Season 2 of HBO's The Gilded Age
Currently playing on HBO and Max is the second season of its critically acclaimed series The Gilded Age, created and written by Julian Fellowes.
The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, of great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and of huge fortunes made and lost. Season two of THE GILDED AGE begins on Easter morning 1883, with the news that Bertha Russell's bid for a box at the Academy of Music has been rejected. Through the eight episodes of the season, we watch as Bertha challenges Mrs. Astor and the old system and works to not only gain a foothold in Society, but to potentially take a leading role in it. George Russell takes on his own battle with a growing union at his steel plant in Pittsburgh. In the Brook House, Marian continues her journey to find her way in the world secretly teaching at a girls school while much to everyone’s surprise Ada begins a new courtship. Of course, Agnes approves of none of it. In Brooklyn, the Scott family begins to heal from a shocking discovery, and Peggy taps into her activist spirit through her work with T. Thomas Fortune at the NY Globe.
In Season 2 of The Gilded Age, Bertha inches toward a leading role in society, Marian starts teaching, Ada begins a new courtship, and Peggy taps into her activist spirit.
The cast includes Christine Baranski as Agnes Van Rhijn, Cynthia Nixon as Ada Brook, Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook, Blake Ritson as Oscar Van Rhijn, Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell, Morgan Spector as George Russell, Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell, Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, Denée Benton as Peggy Scott, Simon Jones as Van Rhijns’ butler Bannister, and Jack Gilpin as Russels’ butler Church.
Promoted to series regulars from Season 1 are Kelli O’Hara as socialite Aurora Fane, Donna Murphy as NY society leader Mrs. Astor, Debra Monk as Van Rhijn’s lady’s maid Armstrong, Kristine Nielsen as Van Rhijn’s cook Mrs. Bauer, Taylor Richardson as Van Rhijn’s housemaid Bridget, Ben Ahlers as Van Rhijn’s footman Jack Trotter, Kelley Curran as Bertha Russell’s former lady’s maid Turner, Douglas Sills as Russells’ chef Baudin aka Borden, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Russells’ housekeeper Mrs. Bruce, Michael Cerveris as George Russell’s valet Watson, Erin Wilhelmi as housemaid Adelheid Weber, Patrick Page as George Russell’s secretary Richard Claym and Sullivan Jones as publisher T. Thomas Fortune.
Returning in their recurring roles for Season 2 are Audra McDonald as Peggy’s mom Dorothy Scott, Nathan Lane as social powerhouse Ward McAllister, John Douglas Thompson as Peggy’s dad Arthur Scott, Ashlie Atkinson as socialite Mamie Fish, Claybourne Elder as Oscar’s secret lover John Adams, and Ward Horton as Aurora’s husband Charles Fane.
The Gilded Age is created, written and exec produced by Fellowes with Gareth Neame and David Crockett also exec producing. Michael Engler directs and executive produces with Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Bob Greenblatt. Sonja Warfield is a writer and co-executive producer and Erica Dunbar serves as historical consultant and co-executive producer.
Warfield is a best known for her work on the Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom Will & Grace as well as BET’s hit comedy The Game. Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke to her regarding the second season of The Gilded Age.