Picture this: Carrie Preston, the charming star of the mystery series Elsbeth, plays Elsbeth Tascioni, a quirky attorney-turned-unconventional detective. Now, here's the fun part—Elsbeth carries around a couple of big bags everywhere she goes. "We started thinking of her as somebody who was constantly filling her bags with whatever she might need for whatever case," Carrie exclusively tells Closer. This little detail paints a vivid picture of Elsbeth as someone who can juggle a lot of things, but maybe not always with success. Carrie adds, "I think it’s fun that we don’t see what’s in her bags, because we don’t see what’s in her brain either." This mystery keeps us hooked, doesn’t it?
The Georgia-born actress first brought the quirky character of Elsbeth to life on The Good Wife back in 2010. Fast forward through more than a dozen appearances on that drama (and an Emmy win, mind you!), Carrie carried the character over to its Paramount+ spinoff, The Good Fight. And now, she’s the star of her own series, Elsbeth, which recently returned for a second season. It’s been quite the journey!
How Did Carrie Preston Get Into Acting?
Now, let’s rewind a bit. Carrie shares that she’s what you might call a "lifer" in the acting world. "I started doing plays when I was in fourth grade in Georgia. My brother was doing plays, and I wanted to be just like him," she says. "I was that kid who would sit in the aisles or backstage and memorize the entire play. If a kid was absent from rehearsal, I’d jump in and say, ‘I’ll do it!’" She knew early on that acting was her calling. Thankfully, she had a wonderful mentor in her hometown who ran the theater and was incredibly encouraging. And her parents? They were all for it too. "My brother is still a professional theater actor. My parents never tried to talk us out of pursuing acting, which a lot of parents do," she adds with a smile.
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What Was Carrie's Big Break?
During college, every summer was dedicated to Shakespeare festivals all over the country. Carrie says this experience was one of the best educations she could have had. "From that, I got The Tempest, first at Shakespeare in the Park in New York, and then on Broadway with the legendary Patrick Stewart. That put me in front of some key decision-makers, and it got me into rooms," she explains. "I started booking some film and TV roles. My first big film was My Best Friend’s Wedding, and I also got cast on an episode of Sex and the City." It’s clear that Carrie’s career took off from there, and she hasn’t looked back since.
From Blonde to Redhead: A Career-Changing Decision
Here’s a fun fact: Carrie used to be a blonde! She dyed her hair red for True Blood, where she wore a wig for the first couple of seasons as Arlene. "I just wanted to not have to wear a wig anymore," she says. "It was the best decision I ever made, because it was right after I dyed my hair red that the Elsbeth thing came along. They realized the red hair would be great for Elsbeth. The stars were aligning," she laughs.
Could Carrie Have Predicted Elsbeth’s Longevity?
When Carrie was first cast as Elsbeth in 2010, she had no idea the character would have such staying power. "It was a guest spot, and I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to play the character more than a couple of times because I was on True Blood," she recalls. "I had to really throw myself on the mercy of HBO and beg them to let me play the character when The Good Wife started asking me to do more of it. Thankfully, it worked out!"
Taking Elsbeth from Supporting Role to Lead
Carrie admits she was thrilled and honored to be trusted with the responsibility of bringing Elsbeth from a supporting character on a drama to a lead character on a mystery series. "I wanted to make sure that when we took this character from seeing her a couple of times a season to seeing her all the time in every scene, it wouldn’t be too much," she explains. "And also to make her accessible for people who hadn’t watched The Good Wife or The Good Fight and were just meeting Elsbeth for the first time. It was a delicate balance, but I think we’ve pulled it off beautifully."
Elsbeth: A Modern-Day Columbo
Carrie notes that Elsbeth has a throwback charm, reminiscent of shows like Columbo. "The audience is really drawn to our old-school storytelling, which is less stressful than some of the other things on TV," she says. "You know who did it, and you get the joy out of watching this unconventional woman and this trio piece it together. We have a great core ensemble with Wendell Pierce and Carra Patterson. Outside that strong triangle, we get guest stars who are new every week. It keeps the show very fresh and exciting."
Favorite Roles Throughout Carrie's Career
When asked about her favorite roles, Carrie admits it’s hard to top Elsbeth, given she’s been playing the character for 14 years. "But I really did love playing Polly on Claws, which I think was a woefully underappreciated show," she says. "Polly was a con artist who would not only steal people’s money, but she would steal their identities. I took that to mean she would also act like she was other people. So it was kind of like playing 10 or 12 characters in one. It was a blast!"
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Secrets to a Happy Marriage
Carrie is married to actor Michael Emerson, and she shares that the secret to their happy marriage lies in the basics. "It’s about the things you learn, or hope to learn, in kindergarten. You learn to respect other people. You share. You love, you have empathy, you listen, you have compassion," she says. "All those things that sound very basic are, I think, the key. Plus, we just enjoy the same things. We’re lucky that way. We have the same goals in our marriage and in life. We’re aligned—and we really enjoy each other a lot."
What Does Carrie Love to Do Outside of Work?
When Carrie isn’t working, you’ll likely find her in a rocking chair, gazing at a gorgeous flower bed that she and her husband tend to at their little country place in the Hudson Valley. "I love to hike, to be out in nature. I love to be with my family and my dog, Chumley," she says. "He’s a 15-year-old poodle-Chihuahua-shihtzu mutt we rescued in Los Angeles. He’s a very handsome, serious little guy, seven pounds
