2 l April
12 - 18, 2020
Northeast Oregon TV Weekly
‘Mrs. America’ recalls the roots of the
feminist movement
BY JAY BOBBIN
Such names as Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Phyllis
Schlafly have very particular places in U.S. social history.
Those women played various roles in regard to the Equal
Rights Amendment, which the famously conservative
Schlafly opposed while making a bid for a House of
Representatives seat as the 1970s began. She had a major
opponent in author and activist Friedan, one of the principal
feminists of the era – and that battleground is dramatized in
“Mrs. America,” which debuts by streaming the first three of
its nine episodes Wednesday, April 15, on FX on Hulu.
Also an executive producer of the project, Oscar winner
Cate Blanchett stars as Schlafly, with Emmy recipient Tracey
Ullman and Rose Byrne respectively playing Friedan and
Steinem. With Emmy winner Margo Martindale (“The
Americans”) and Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”)
as politicians Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisholm, the cast
of “Mrs. America” also includes Sarah Paulson, Elizabeth
Banks, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Melanie Lynskey, Ari Graynor
and John Slattery (“Mad Men”).
“Phyllis herself didn’t initially have an issue with the Equal
Rights Amendment,” Blanchett maintains. “She thought it
was a piece of fairly innocuous political business, and her
primary focus was defense. That was her passion; that was
her area of research and her focus. It wasn’t really until – as
Tracey Ullman stars in
“Mrs. America,” premiering
Wednesday on FX on Hulu.
541-786-8984
Alliance Self Storage
2105 E L Ave., La Grande • allianceselfstorage123@gmail.com
FREE eBooks
and audiobooks
Thousands of titles
AVAILABLE DAILY
Noon to midnight
Unlimited # of sessions at NO CHARGE!
It’s PRE-PAID with your taxes.
Access with
your Baker County Library Card
from www.bakerlib.org/kids-teens
Explore the ONLINE LIBRARY at www.bakerlib.org
541.523.6419
info@bakerlib.org
described in our series – her friend Alice (played by Paulson)
turned her on to what were called ‘the dangers of the ERA’
that meant that women could be drafted. I think it was
through the concept of its impact it would have, from her
perspective, on the military that she got involved.”
As the piece’s Friedan, Ullman reports that “it was really
hard to get this role. I did really want to be a part of this.
I started as a dramatic actress in theater and (since), of
course, I have done lots of comedy shows – but I’ve always
portrayed real people, real heart. I like the poignancy and
reality and sadness of people, and I’ve been in America for
30 years. I know people like Betty Friedan. It struck me
how incredible it was to write a book like (Friedan’s) ‘The
Feminine Mystique’ in 1963.”
The makers of “Mrs. America” also include veteran studio
executive Stacey Sher and “Captain Marvel” filmmaking
partners Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The latter duo
directed the limited series’ first two episodes, and Boden
reasons, “I don’t think any of the actors in the cast did an
impersonation. They did a lot of research, and they’re all like
the most studious actors I’ve ever worked with. They put
us to shame ... in terms of how they tried to embody the
characters and their complexities.”