•• In this exclusive interview with AMCtv.com Virginia Madsen, who plays Hannah Durant on AMC’s Hell on Wheels, talks about being a history buff and why you should never drink water while wearing a corset.
Q: You were a fan of the Hell on Wheels before joining the cast. What did you like about it?
A: I’m a big fan of Colm Meaney, and The Swede is such an intriguing villain, such a nemesis. And Anson Mount is one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen in my life and a really good actor. I know I shouldn’t objectify him because he’s such a good actor, but really, ladies, really? I also really love the love story between Robin [Eva] and Common [Elam]. I’m also a Chicago girl, so I’m also a really big fan of Common’s music.
Q: What attracted to you the role of Hannah Durant?
A: I’m a history buff, and so I knew who the Durants were, although there’s not much about [Hannah]. I just thought, “Oh, that’s going to be really interesting, especially the conflict with the fair-haired maiden of the West.” I just loved the idea that I would come and stir the pot.
Q: Since less is known about the real Hannah Durant, how did you prepare for the role?
A: The only thing I could do with this character is go by the script…and research the period that a woman like that lived in, what a woman like that would be like, especially if she’s powerful. Not easy to do that back then.
Q: Hannah makes herself quite at home in Hell on Wheels. Did it take long for you feel welcome on set?
A: I thought, well, if I’m going to play this woman who might be described as Hell on Wheels personified, I knew that I was going to have to really gently take my place in the cast. But it turned out to be effortless. This cast was so excited to have me there. They’re all like family, and they just invited me to be a member of the family. I couldn’t believe it. It was just wonderful. The whole cast went rafting with me.
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•• Phase 4 Films has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Sarah Siegel-Magness’ “Long Time Gone,” a drama starring Virginia Madsen, Amanda Crew and Zach Gilford.
Virginia Madsen plays Augusta, a Connecticut resident who has a nervous breakdown after discovering her husband is having an affair. Her son tries to comfort her with the help of his older brother (Zach Gilford) and live-in girlfriend (Amanda Crew).
“We are thrilled to be working with Sarah on her directorial debut after her past success as a producer,” Phase 4 president and CEO Ben Meyerowitz said in a statement. “We cannot wait until audiences see the great performances by Virginia Madsen and the rest of the wonderful cast involved.” Phase 4 will release the film day-and-date in theaters and across all VOD and digital platforms Spring 2013.
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•• AMC is giving a show of confidence to “Hell on Wheels”, its two-year-old western that kicked off with former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) helping to build the transcontinental railroad. The cable network ordered 10 more episodes of the drama. It’s unclear when they will air. The series that also stars Colm Meaney and Common averaged 2.4 million in it’s second season.
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•• Oscar-nominated actress has come a long way since she got to Hollywood. Today she is enjoying the sweet ride of success and the advantages it brings. Below, an edited version of MORE interview with Virginia Madsen.
More: You recently turned 51 years old. How are your fifties treating you?
VM: The older I get, the smarter and stronger I get. My body is great, I feel youthful, and I see changes that I am really grateful for.
More: It’s great that you celebrate your age.
VM: Oh, yeah! I was raised by an incredible mom. My mom always had all the candles on her birthday cake, whereas all the other moms never talked about their age. My mom was open and honest about her journey in life. She was never ashamed of having a few lines or a few more candles. I wasn’t raised in an environment where age was the enemy. If anything, age made you stronger. Age made you smarter and even more sensual. Age also made you feel free.
More: Sounds as if you don’t miss your twenties.
VM: No. Look, I get that Hollywood is about being young and beautiful and age is the enemy. These young actors may get the abundance of work, but I get the quality of work. Hollywood may come across as a youth-oriented town, but there is plenty of room for actors of all ages.
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•• New movie project for Virginia Madsen has been confirmed! She has joined the cast in “The Wilderness Of James”, an indie film coming of age tale that was scripted by Michael James Johnson, who will make his directorial debut and who also wrote the script. Already announced cast are Isabelle Fuhrman, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Ross and Tabor Helton. The film takes place in Portland and is the coming of age story about a young boy dealing with absence of his father. Virginia Madsen will play the role of Abigail Charm. Super Crispy is producing the low-budget indie and shooting is scheduled to begin next month. Nicholas Frenkel and Glenn Howarton are exec producing.
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The Hot Flashes (2013)
∞
An unlikely basketball team of unappreciated middle-aged Texas
women, all former high school champs, challenge the current arrogant
high school girls' state champs to a series of games to raise money
for breast cancer prevention. Sparks fly as these marginalized women
go to comic extremes to prove themselves on and off the court, and
become a national media sensation.
Virginia
Madsen as Clementine Winks
Director: Susan Seidelman
Genre: Comedy
IMDb ∞
Photos ∞
Trailer ∞
Official Site
The
Last Keepers (2013)
∞
When the teenage daughter of a reclusive
family of artists falls in love with an unusual boy at school, she
awakens mysterious powers and discovers ancient family secrets that will
change her life forever.
Virginia
Madsen as Abigail Carver
Director: Maggie Greenwald
Genre: Teen Fantasy ∞ Romance
IMDb ∞
Photos ∞ Trailer ∞
Official Site
Jake Squared (2013)
∞
A surreal comedy about a filmmaker who decides to make a
movie to help figure out out how he's managed to screw up every
relationship he's ever had.
Virginia
Madsen as Beth
Director: Howard Goldberg
Genre: Comedy
IMDb ∞
Photos ∞ Trailer ∞
Official Site
Crazy Kind of Love (2013)
∞
A broken family finds their relationships
to one another changed by a new arrival in the household.
Virginia
Madsen as Augusta
Director: Sarah Siegel-Magness
Genre: Drama
IMDb ∞
Photos ∞
Trailer ∞
Official Site
Road To Capri (2013)
∞
A full detailed plot synopsis to be
released
Virginia
Madsen as Katherine
Director: Boris Damast
Genre: Comedy
IMDb ∞ Photos ∞ Trailer ∞
Official Site
The Wilderness of
James (2013)
∞
A young boy in Portland comes to terms with living without his dad.
Virginia
Madsen as Abigail Charm
Director: Michael James Johnson
Genre: Drama
IMDb ∞
Photos ∞
Trailer ∞
Official Site
The
Anna Nicole Story (2013)
∞ Biopic about Vickie Lynn Hogan,
a pretty but plain small town Texan girl who transformed herself into
the voluptuous, Marilyn Monroe-esque Anna Nicole Smith.
Virginia
Madsen as Virgie
Director: Mary Harron
Genre: Drama
IMDb ∞
Photos ∞ Trailer ∞ Official Site
Virginia Madsen
∞
A cool, classic beauty,
with a vibrant blonde mane and an exuberant flair for the dramatic,
Virginia Madsen
is one of Hollywood's most versatile and unique
actresses. Not only did she receive amazing reviews for her Academy
Award and Golden Globe nominated performance in Alexander Payne's hit
film, Sideways, but this Independent Spirit Award-winning actress has an
illustrious resume of roles alongside the most notable and respected
actors in the business.
Virginia
Madsen's Agent
United Talent Agency
9560 Wilshire Blvd # 500
Beverly Hills, CA
www.unitedtalent.com
Virginia
Madsen's Publicist
Carrie Gordon &
Heidi Slan
11400 W.Olympic Blvd.
Ste. 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90064
www.42west.net
Elaine Madsen
(Mother)
∞ Visit the official
website
for Emmy award winning documentary maker, playwright, author and poet,
Elaine Madsen.
Michael Madsen (Brother)
∞ Visit the official
website
and fanclub for actor, poet and photographer, Michael Madsen.
∞
Virginia-Madsen.org is the official
website of actress Virginia Madsen therefore is endorsed, approved and
visited by Virginia herself. This website is maintained solely by LaLa. All
original material on this site should be considered copyrighted, owned by
Virginia Madsen, the webmistress and reserved for usage only with written
permission. All rights are reserved. All graphics and content were made
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Please use the contact form for any inquiries.
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