Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon on Why Theatre Actors Love The Gilded Age

At the end of season two of HBO’s The Gilded Age, the Van Rhijn family was upended. The elder sister and mistress of the house, Agnes van Rhijn (played by Christine Baranski), was taken down a peg. By her own sister, Ada (played by Cynthia Nixon). After Ada’s husband dies, she discovers that he left her a fortune. That, in the face of Agnes’ own financial troubles, now makes previously meek Ada the head of the Van Rhijn household. Season three of the period drama series created by Julian Fellowes begins June 22, with a new episode airing every Sunday. In the exclusive video interview above, Baranski and Nixon promise some delicious friction in season three of the series, set in turn-of-the-20th century New York.

“It’s not great for Agnes, but it’s great for Christine because it offers so many opportunities for raised eyebrows and pursed lips and attitude for days,” says Baranski with delight. “I mean, how dare [Ada] assume my position. She’s not skilled at it. She has no idea how to run a household. It’s wonderful to see a character [Agnes] who thinks as highly of herself as that, who does have to eat some humble pie.”

Adds Nixon: “We see somebody who isn’t used to being bossed around, all of a sudden not having the power. And somebody who’s never had any power in her life now being given the reins; and really not knowing how to how to control the horses….”

Familial relationships turning sour is also the theme for the Russell household, as Bertha Russell (played by Carrie Coon) and her husband George (played by Morgan Spector) find themselves at odds over marrying off their daughter Gladys. Bertha wants a practical choice, while George wants their daughter to have a love match.

“You’re buying a Duke more than you’re selling the daughter,” says Spector to Coon.

Responds Coon: “I don’t think of it as selling our daughter.”

Spector: “You’re trading her for status.”

Coon: “Which she needs to survive in this world that is not set up for women.” See Coon and Spector rehash their on-screen spousal dynamic in the exclusive video interview below.

In its first two seasons, The Gilded Age has become known, not just for its gorgeous gowns and upper-class intrigue, but also for all the theatre actors who are in its cast. The ensemble cast also includes Audra McDonald, Denée Benton, Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Phylicia Rashad, and so many more. Says Coon: “If you walk onto our set, it’s like you’re doing a Broadway show.”

When asked what about the show is so attractive for stage actors, besides being filmed in New York, Baranski answers: “Theatre actors usually, they have training. We have classical training. We’ve done Shakespeare or classical plays, and we want to use those chops. One of the things that I love most about playing Agnes is I feel like I’ve used a lot of the training that I had at Juilliard—the speech and the etiquette and all.”

Spector says there are still Broadway actors who he’d love to see on the show, such as two-time Tony winner Kara Young: “I’ve seen her do three different shows, I think. She’s just incredibly good. I would love to have her on our show.”

Nixon was also quick to gush about her favorite performers of the 2024–2025 Broadway season, with shoutouts (while Baranski exclaimed in delight next to her): “Cole Escola [in Oh, Mary!], Audra McDonald [in Gypsy], Sarah Snook [in The Picture of Dorian Gray]. These were some incredible performances for the ages.”

Adds Baranski: “There is work being done now that is jaw-dropping in its virtuosity and stamina and bravura and bravery. It’s a season for actors showing off what they can do.”