This interview is part of a series of interviews from the red carpet of Warner Bros.’ “Television Out Of The Box” exhibit at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, CA. To read all of KSiteTV’s “Out Of The Box” coverage so far go here.
TNT is bringing back one of the most legendary shows in TV history, as Dallas returns to the airwaves with a new series of new episodes beginning June 13.
One of the new additions to the franchise is Brenda Strong, playing Bobby Ewing’s new wife, Ann. Strong is soon to wrap a many-years-long run as the voice of the doomed Mary Alice on Desperate Housewives. You may also remember her from a memorable role on Seinfeld and appearances on dozens of series within the last 20 years.
Even though Strong is a bit younger than the “older generation” of Dallas characters, her character of Ann seems to command a respect and a warmth that, from what we’ve seen of the show’s first seven episodes, would make Barbara Bel Geddes, who played “Miss Ellie” on the original show, proud. When we asked Brenda Strong about this, she confirmed that that was something that she wanted to try to achieve. “Ann is a young matriarch, and Barbara Bel Geddes was just the rock. She listened, and she watched, and when she finally said something, it had weight,” she says.
Brenda Strong actually appeared as a different character on an episode of the original Dallas, a 1987 episode called “Cat and Mouse,” as “one of Cliff Barnes’ one night stands.” All of her scenes were with Ken Kercheval, who will reprise his role as Cliff in multiple episodes of the new show.
Already with Dallas’ first season shoot completed, Strong has scenes that stand out. “One of my favorites is a scene between Patrick (Bobby) and I,” she tells us. “It’s a very simple scene, but it’s so true to a married couple. I felt like in that scene, we really kind of cemented our relationship. I hope that the audience can — I know that the other wives have been beloved, and I’m hoping I’m not stepping on anyone by being the new wife. I really honor everything that they did and they contributed, because it was a great show. But I want the audience to move forward, feeling like Bobby’s okay.”
As we will see in June, Ann Ewing is an “interesting mix of opposites.” “She’s elegant, and she’s beautiful, and she’s graceful, and she’s educated; and then she carries a shotgun and rides a horse, and talks turkey. It’s such a great range, and I’m having so much fun playing her,” Strong says. To us, Ann sounds like the kind of character Miss Ellie would have loved to have had in the family.
Come back tomorrow for another “Television Out Of The Box” interview with a TV favorite! Don’t miss Dallas as it premieres on TNT June 13, and if you’re curious to revisit the original Dallas, the entire original series is available on DVD.
