The cast of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” speaking backstage after sweeping all three comedy categories at Sunday evening’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, stressed how the show resonates for audiences in the era of Time’s Up.
First-time SAG winner Rachel Brosnahan plays the title role of Miriam or “Midge,” a woman breaking ground in 1958 as a stand-up comic in New York.
“I think the timing of the movement making a resurgence … had fortuitous timing with the release of the show,” Brosnahan said, adding that the issue isn’t new. “Midge’s story is one so many women have experienced before and will again.”
Brosnahan, who also won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for the role, said the industry has made progress.
“We’ve come a long way. We’ve opened the door to new discussions,” Brosnahan said. “We still have yet to follow through.”
She cited statistics showing that only 4 percent of the top 1,200 top-grossing films made since 2007 were directed by women.
“It’s even harder for women of color,” Brosnahan said. “But I feel very hopeful about the way the industry is coming together.”
Tony Shalhoub, who plays the comedienne’s father Abe in the Amazon Prime series, praised the “amazing group of actors” who he said were “perfectly cast in their roles.”
Shalhoub is a prior two-time winner for his lead role in “Monk.”
Comic Kevin Pollak beat the rest of the cast to the backstage press room and handed his Actor statue around, joking with reporters and asking them to note its weight.
“Unnecessarily heavy,” Pollak said of the 12-pound award cast in bronze.
Now that the show has gained critical acclaim and a wide audience, “It’s scary and thrilling, said Caroline Aaron, who plays Midge’s mother-in-law. “When it’s so celebrated because you feel an even greater responsibility.”
And Pollak joked that the show is sure to suffer backlash now that it’s won some big awards, which include a Golden Globe.
“Hashtag `the backlash begins,”’ he said as he walked out.