Lisa Edelstein stars as Dr. Lisa Cuddy opposite Hugh Laurie in the hit television show House, MD. Tonight’s episode, “Joy” focuses on Cuddy’s desire for motherhood, as she hopes to adopt a baby girl, after trying to get pregnant since the end of season two. House’s hurt and shocked reaction at the end of last week’s episode “Lucky 13,” suggests that he is not too thrilled with this turn of events. And needless to say, “Joy” focuses much attention on House’s feelings about the matter and — possibly — his feelings for his boss.
With Cuddy’s juicy and intense storyline hitting its stride tonight, Ms. Edelstein generously agreed to an email interview. She offered her take on Cuddy and Cuddy’s complex relationship with House. "Joy," airs tonight on FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET.
As an actress, what have you added to Cuddy's back story?
I think the fans know more about Cuddy's back story than I do. The things I added myself were really specific to how she met House, how well she knew him over the years and why she took him on at the hospital.
How much influence do you have over the direction of your character? Do you feel that Cuddy has been written consistently over time? What are her strengths and weaknesses?
In the broad strokes, no, I don't have any influence over the decisions made about Cuddy's story line. However, I think when an actor has been playing a character for long enough, the way you end up inhabiting the character has an effect on the way the stories unfold in the writers' minds. It would be a different Cuddy with a different path if someone else were playing her. In the beginning I was worried that she wouldn't be fleshed out, that she (and I) would be trapped in this mechanical role of saying "Oh no you don't!" every episode. But little by little, as time went by, the character of Cuddy began to emerge. I don't think it's been inconsistent in terms of who she is, it's just that she doesn't get to win very often. She is, much of the time, the one that has to say "Doh!"
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eve
All I can say is :
Thank you from the bottom of my heart !
'speechless'
2 - mouse
Just one word:
wonderful!!!!!
3 - Leah
This is one of the best interviews ever.
I loved the questions and I really loved Lisa's answers!
Especially about how Wilson is House's conscience and Cuddy is House's heart. That makes so much sense.
4 - Anna
I love Lisa Edelstein and I love the character Cuddy, but I always feel like LE overplays Cuddy's part in House's life. I'm not trying to be negative, rain on anyone's parade, inspire a backlash of defensive comments, etc. I just don't think Cuddy is House's "heart." We've never seen her functioning that way in his life the way we see Wilson as House's conscience nearly every episode. Cuddy is a lot of things to House, but no one plays that role in his life. That idea oversimplifies a character that can't even be simplified.
5 - fhmd
The interview is everything and more than I have ever hoped for. It certainly was very kind of Lisa to answer all the questions in such great details. Thank you Barbara for making this interview possible! The interview clears up one thing that has been bugging me for quite some time. I had always concluded that Cuddy hired House after the infarction (since in the pilot, Cuddy said House owes her 6 years of clinic duties). But I never knew for certain how House ends up in PPTH as a patient. As the background of House and Cuddy unfolded I had previously assumed House went to Cuddy but there was always that question mark, but no more after today. It is interesting how House seeks out Cuddy for his infarction (of course he didn't know it was an infarction at the time) but yet he regularly tells Cuddy "she is not a real doctor".
Just 90 min before the long awaited episode. I can hardly contain my excitement!
6 - controlandtony
Wonderful interview - as always.
Super questions!
The one about Judaism brought a smile to my face, as I've just gotten back from watching the Christmas episode of S4 with Wilson wearing the moose hat (remember the dreidel-epiphany...).
7 - Kit O'Toole
Great interview, Barbara--Lisa Edelstein has great chemistry with Hugh Laurie, and this new-ish story line seems to further exploit this. At the very least, the upcoming plot development will give Edelstein more screen time with Laurie--always a good thing!
8 - sassydew
Wonderful interview, Barbara! Thank you! :-)
9 - Victoria
With Cameron being in more than a couple of scenes in the episode that airs on November ll will you try to interview her via email too? And please don't forget to ask her about Cameron's relationship with House, which I think it's pretty intense. Thank you.
10 - Barbara Barnett
thank you for your kind comments, all. This was my (maybe) surprise from earlier this week. I had asked for the interview, but one never knows whether they work out. Lisa was incredibly kind and generous in her responses (and quick).
I've been really fortunate that FOX has been so forthcoming. Perhaps an interview with Jennifer Morrison at another time would be great. Probably not this month, but later in the year. Thanks for the suggestion, Victoria!
11 - Victoria
Do you realize that episode 7 will probably be the last time we see Jennifer Morrison having more than a couple of scenes every other episode for a very, very long time?
12 - iamdaffodils
Excellent interview Barbara. I love Lisa Edelstein and Cuddy. She is such a wonderful actress, and from everything I've read an amazing person. You asked great questions as always. Thank you!
Cathy
13 - Bertha S.
Ugh!!!! Lisa E. just increased my Cuddy and Huddy hate. And maybe LE should watch the show sometime because some of the stuff she says is OUTRIGHT wrong. Oh well. I ONLY watch for the Wilson and House/Wilson so I'll be TiV'ng past all the hysterical Cuddy/Huddy.
14 - Houseguest
LOVED the interview, Barbara! You asked the right questions covering both House and Cuddy's characters, separately and together. Lisa E seemed very in tune with your questions, and generous in her responses. I'm glad for you, too, that you were able to do this, and am keeping my fingers crossed that you'll be able to interview Robert & Hugh in the (hopefully near) future...
Thanks to both you and Lisa E for this wonderful interview!
15 - Orange450
THANK YOU BARBARA!! THE MOST WONDERFUL SURPRISE EVER!!!
Great questions and great answers. I especially loved this:
"I think he has a deep trust in her, something a person like that has a hard time finding elsewhere. He constantly pokes and prods at the boundaries but he appreciates the tenacity of his true friends."
Kinda says it all, doesn't it?
Was it Half-Wit where we get to see Cuddy's living room, with a Jerusalem pottery plate and a small Chanukiyah on one of her bookshelves? I loved that touch of authenticity :-)
16 - sdemar
Barbara, that was excellent. I loved every bit of it. What a delight Lisa is and I can imagine if you two met face to face, you would be sitting there chatting and laughing for hours.
Great questions and wonderful answers by Lisa E. I loved her line about House loving her body and she said that's weird because it's my body. I also like that her and Hugh pretty much view their relationship the same way but she doesn't ask too much so she can keep it mysterious like his character.
You can tell she is having fun.
I just finished watching "Joy" twice and then I just read this. It made for a perfect evening and truly I got my Huddy fix tonight.
17 - Sue
I had seen Lisa in shows before House, and she was always "that girl" I had seen in small parts on different shows. I never saw her in a continuing role, and certainly not in a drama like House. Her role is particularly complicated because she has to play off a character who can be snarky, flirty, sarcastic, serious, humorous, and many other personatlity traits maybe all in one scene. She has to be authoritative yet tolerant, snarky and serious, sometimes all within a scene. She handles House brilliantly in every scene. Cuddy is a departure from Lisa's bubbly personality. She is perfectly cast in this role. Her chemistry with Hugh is magnificient.
18 - Mary Dagmar
Barbara, what a wonderful interview. Although an exchange of emails, it seemed like overhearing intelligent and well informed friends passionately discussing a matter of intense and mutual interest. When an interviewee is able to trust her interviewer everything flows and is utterly fascinating. Excellent. Congratulations.
19 - ahmetgoz
that was great...
20 - Vanessa
This was a great interview. It is rare for a interviewee to be so responsive with their answers. But I do feel Lisa E has taken a little more liberty than what is deserved when she describes the relationship between House/Cuddy. Lisa states that Hugh and her are on the same page, but all it seems to me is that there is a lot of brother/sister bantering rather than any real and true chemistry between their characters.
Sorry Lisa......
21 - JL
What a terrific surprise! Thankyou so very much for this interview, Barbara! It answers lots of questions. And gives me lots more to wonder about.
One might assume that actors simply show up and perform the script they're given. I'm very interested in the amount that Lisa seems to contribute to her character, her history and possible future direction (and I suppose I could potentially say the same about Hugh).
In your recent interview with the writers of 'Birthmarks', they commented that all the writers argue about the relationships between the different characters. Coupled with Lisa's comments, I wonder how anyone works out where the show is going...
(I, for one, appreciate where it's going. And I hope that, despite people's strong opinions in this area, that they will continue to demonstrate the intelligence and respect for others that I appreciate so much in this blog.)
Thanks again, Barbara! Looking forward to your reviews of this episode...
22 - Lisa Solod Warren
last night was one of the best episodes ever and that kiss....boy will there be repercussions. Cuddy never looked more beautiful than she did with those huge eyes full of tears. She was great and House was suddenly vulnerable. Superior episode. And I LOVED the anhedonia diagnosis. Excellent. What fun.
23 - sf
Lisa Edelstein combines intelligence and experience with a trusting candor that can't help but charm. She doesn't scuffle over territory or erect defenses. She consistently shows us what grace under pressure looks like without losing her spontaneity.
I recognize her 'heart metaphor' as a kind of acting shorthand to describe part of her role in the series. House M.D. most often emphasizes a brand of ethics mixed with logic over pure emotion. Therefore, her metaphor isn't appropriating a large role for herself, rather the opposite.
24 - Mew
From a french fan : Thank you very much, that was one of the greatest interviews I've ever read !!
25 - blacktop
What an excellent interview, Barbara! A perfect pairing of interviewer and subject. You posed precisely the questions I would have asked, and it was great to have Lisa E. answer in such generous detail. I particularly loved her response to the question about how the baby-quest story line will play out as I am delighted to hear that we will get more from that emotional rollercoaster of a plot.
The chemistry between Lisa E. and Hugh Laurie is sparkling and fresh. It delights me to know that they have talked over how House feels about Cuddy, but not too much so as to preserve the mystery and intensity of the relationship. Theirs is a partnership made in heaven and we are so lucky to get to see it on our screens.