Lisa Edelstein discusses her House, MD character in a one-on-one interview with Blogcritics magazine.
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.…
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26 - Holly
While I'm not nominally a "Huddy" fan, I did thoroughly enjoy this interview. Lisa was warm and forthcoming, and Barbara, I've always liked your "House" stuff! Kudos to you and Lisa, and of course, "House."
Cheers!
27 - Julane
Love the interview and the episode--that kiss took my breath away! I love both of these characters and the actors who play them. But I have to say I don't agree that Cuddy is House's heart--I think she is his superego, i.e., she's the grown-up part of his brain. That's saying a lot, because the guy is a walking id--and it illuminates this idea that he needs Cuddy to be like a parent to him. If she weren't around, he couldn't push the envelope all the time, because he counts on her to rein him in when needed.
The idea that they are also romantically involved expands the complexity geometrically--that's why it's so fascinating. (That and their palpable chemistry.)
28 - Claire
Barbara, you asked such good questions. You asked her to talk about things we all want to know, but kept it within the realm of some dignity! That is not easy as goofy as some of us get about House! (Hey, I'm talking about myself!)
Thanks so much!
29 - Barbara Barnett
You are all incredibly kind! Thanks so much. I wanted to strike a balance as an interviewer, asking about the character, but avoiding talking about her (CUddy) as if she was a real person. Ask fan questions without seeming too fangirl-ish. She was gracious to answer in such detail (I asked a lot of questions!). Will try to post my review of the episode sometime tomorrow, so stay tuned!
I loved the episode. And that kiss????? Yowza. And "Itch" seems just as intense and fun and fab in the previews. great season, huh?
30 - Tracy
Nice interview, but I feel sometimes Lisa E. puts too much of what she hopes House and Cuddy's relationship will become, rather than what it really is. I agree with a few others who say that Lisa's metaphor of Cuddy being House's heart to be quite wrong and inaccurate. And I didn't really feel the kiss last night, it seemed way too forced and extremely awkward between the two of them. I'm just not buying their relationship on this level, as a friendship yes, very believable. As a love interest, absolutely not.
31 - Phillip Winn
Having finally watched "Joy," I have to say that Lisa Edelstein *may* overstate the case for Cuddy, especially this season, but she did a fantastic job on this episode, and it made me realize how much more of Cuddy we used to see, back when there were three fewer major cast members.
32 - Grace
I have to agree with several posters. I don't think that Cuddy is House's heart. I thought Lisa did a great job in JOY and thought that they made House too much of an ass****.
I'm still digesting the kiss. Not sure what to think of it yet.
I sure hope Cuddy does NOT start going out with Wilson! (previews)
Thank you to Barbara and Lisa!
33 - Barbara Barnett
I think maybe what LE said about being House's "heart" may refer to the emotion that House keeps very far buried. Can she bring any of that to the surface? I think she does, and has. He has let down his emotional guard with her and lets her see --even despite his best efforts, and never voluntarily--what he feels (that scene in Cane and Able in his office, scenes in "Who's Your DAddy," "Human Error," "Games" to name a few.)
34 - Veresna Ussep
I think we often see Wilson being House's conscience (particularly "Insensitive" comes to mind, wherein he prods him regarding whether he wants/needs a nerve biopsy on his CIPA patient for any other reason than hoping it might help him in his own quest to be pain-free). I think Cuddy is his heart as in her prodding him to sometimes admit to the emotions he is burying and to try and persuade him to reveal those feelings to others (as in her admonition to "TELL Wilson" in 'Dying Changes Everything'). I kind of see Wilson as being that little angel on his shoulder telling him to do the right thing when the devil within House doesn't want to do it. And Cuddy is the little voice in his head urging him to follow his heart rather than his brain in some cases, where he is so afraid of being hurt that her prefers to appear completely uninvolved rather than allowing his true feeling to show.
Barbara--review of "Joy" soon, pretty please?
Veresna
35 - Dr. Juliann Mitchell, PhD
Barbara,
That was a great interview and I now can appreciate Cuddy's character even more. The questions were excellent. I really enjoyed this piece. Thank you!
36 - Isa
Anna i think you are wrong about Cuddy not being House's Heart... we all agree that Wilson is his conscience, he always knows what House is thinking.
But regarding that House never shows his fellings, the only person who really knows how he fells is Cuddy, she can see through his heart...
Wilson deals with him... but Cuddy is the only one that undestands him.
37 - Eve K
Thanks for the interview with Edelstein. I suspect that some of the cast and crew of the show may read your blog regulary, and I understand why. This blog is positive and intelligent, unlike most of the trash online.
I read an interesting comment about House being very hyperactive in this episode without really knowing why. Anyway, he decides to torture Cuddy with all kinds of pranks to get her to reconcider having a baby.
And I loved this sentence: "That's the House we know and for some inexplicable reason love."
The interpretation of the kiss was that it was some sort of deflection because he wanted to avoid dealing with the reason for his hyperactive behavior, and that was a desperate way to distract Cuddy not to go there.
Not very romantic, but then again House is not (and should not be) a romantic character. I think he might want to mirror some "normal" human feelings, but its not natural to him. So a relationship between him and Cuddy can never be one that is based on the same emotions. Its doomed. (I think she knows that, but she kisses back anyway, trying to forget about it just for a little while)
Well, he tried to deflect, but it was just to go from the frying pan to the fire. She wont let him get away that easy.
38 - Barbara Barnett
Again, thanks for your lovely and kind comments about the blog (and me) and for your insightful commentary about the show.
Veresna--review of "Joy" is forthcoming later today. Promise! Some personal issue have intervened (ah, real life!) and it's been really insane at my work (and I bet all of you guys thought this was my job!). But things are calmer today, and I've actually had the time to watch the episode a second time (I never write before watching straight through twice) and take some notes.
So, I will reserve all of my comments on the kiss, on House and why he was acting as he was--and on the episode itself for my article on "Joy" later today.
Eve K--I wouldn't flatter myself to think that many people over at House read my ramblings (but it's a nice thought. Thank you.) I hadn't noticed House more hyperactive than usual in "Joy," but I'll keep that in mind as I finish thinking through my thoughts on the episode.
I do think that House has the capacity to be romantic. He certainly was with Stacy--sappily so. And his romanticism bit him rather badly after they had sex; he was quite sure that now that they were reunited, she would leave Mark and have a life with him. He was stung and very hurt when Stacy dismissed his feelings as merely sexual, assuming that this was simply "an affair." Even after Wilson had told her that he had fallen apart after she left. House has feelings; but I think they overwhelm him often, so he suppresses them. But they do surface, and I live for those rare moments.
But I am curious about the idea of his pushing of Cuddy as a deflection, so that she wouldn't delve into his behavior. I'd not heard that interpretation, and I'm curious about your thoughts on that, and what you mean by it. I totally agree with you that a House/Cuddy pairing is doomed before it starts,but I also think that the kiss was a spontaneous reaction to both of their emotions (coming from different angles)getting the better of them.
39 - Eve K
Well, I think that the look on House face just before the kiss was just a terrified one. I think that he has feelings - a lot of them! But they are not romantic in a traditional way. And they are often selfish. And he knows that, and he knows that he is likely to end up hurting people (Stacy) and make them feel all alone, when they are together with him.
Thats why he chooses prostitutes.
But he is also like a child and someetimes act without thinking about the consequeses. Avoiding to talk about his feeling with a kiss? How stupid is that? But it makes sense in Houses head.
I dont think he understand his own emotions. And that scares him. Literally. He dont know what he is feeling. Like a blind person where everyone else can see. But I think he hides it, deflect, and this time, with a kiss. A normal romantic thing to do, that everyone can understand. Not a damaged selfish strange creature, that is doomed to lonlieness and maybe unable to even think of a different life.
40 - Barbara Barnett
Eve K--I agree with you that House is confused by his emotions. He tries hard to pretend not to have them at all, when in fact, it's quite the opposite. He doesn't know how to deal with something that he cannot understand. That kiss was a wonderful and honest moment for both characters, but especially House. More on that in my episode review, which should (hopefully) be up by morning.
41 - NancyGail
Email interviews could be handled by any cast member. They answer at leisure, and don't take time away from filming.
Lucas needs to do background on Chase. THAT would be fun to see!
42 - Barbara Barnett
NancyGail--You're quite right, but they're under no obligation to do them, nor to answer in any detail so many questions. i did another interview not long ago (also by email), and the person (not a cast member) responded selectively and tersely to my questions.
Phone interviews can be short or lengthy--10 minutes or an hour, and are also at the convenience of the interviewee. The advantage is you can ask followups and let the conversation meander a bit in other directions, which is fun in that it can take the interviewer down unimagined lines of discourse.
In any event, I'm always appreciative of the time taken by any interview subject. After all, I'm not Ausiello! ;)
43 - unknown
i think house is sexy as hell
44 - bloopy
i love dr.cuddy this interview is definitely great its a teaser!
45 - Laura
This was really interesting. Especially in how it fleshed out the past relationship between the two characters. I'm glad they've made Cuddy more than just the "No you don't" boss, which would be terribly one-note. There's so many more possibilities with the character. One of the reasons I like the show is because you really don't know what may end up happening. The end of "Joy" was a surprise (despite the teaser scenes at the end of the previous episode) yet it made a lot of sense too. Plus it opens up challenges to both House and Cuddy that will help make the show even more fun and interesting as the season progresses. Great interview!