Interview: Bellamy Young, Pt. 2
BY CINDY ELAVSKY
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Oftentimes, a really great role
comes around maybe once in a lifetime.
For Bellamy Young, at least so
far in her career, that role is that of
first lady Mellie Grant on ABC’s
“Scandal” (airing at 9 p.m.
Thursdays). I spoke with Bellamy
recently, and she told me all about
the fun she has playing the role of
Mellie, as well as what fans of the
show can expect this season.
Daytime Dial: As we saw in the
season premiere, Mellie used the
announcement of her baby’s sex as
a chance to address the nation about
genocide. She isn’t afraid to use any
circumstance to help further her
agenda. Can we expect to see more
of that this season?
Bellamy Young: Oh, positively.
Mellie is going to use every
moment available to her to forward
her agenda. But she really wants to
be the president so she would never
be careless with the country. She
really always believes she’s doing
the right thing in her mind.
There will be plenty of little
bombshells, little smiling, sparkling
bombshells that Mellie will drop
along the way. They also give us
some true moments of grace and
connection, which helps for me
because I always feel like I’m just
playing Mellie in one moment in
time and it’s usually a bad moment.
She’s really hurt. She is not at her
best right now. I think that also
helps you understand her relationship
with Fitz, because there’s not a
person alive who can’t empathize
with that kind of complex relationship
– true love-hate relationship.
DD: What kind of a mom is
Mellie?
BY: I think Mellie is a
very devoted mom. Bottom
line, she is fiercely loyal. So,
is she warm? I don’t think
so. But she is fiercely supportive
of and instills in her
children that they can be
anything they want to be in
this world; they just have to
believe in themselves. But
she is also a working mom. She has
a lot of help during the day while
she’s off trying to make the country
better. I think she struggles like so
many women do with balancing the
domestic with the professional.
DD: What does the future have in
store for Mellie?
BY: That’s the thing – I don’t
really know the answer. But I do
know I’d do this job forever. The
show gives such wish fulfillment for
the audience and the actors but it
also has a conscience. That’s part of
that battle for Mellie: Once you get
to your end game, is it fulfilling?
DD: How is it working with Tony
Goldwyn as your husband?
BY: Heaven. There’s no other
way to describe it. Tony is the kindest
human being and the most
devoted person – personally to his
children and his wife, but also as an
actor. His generosity is unreal. And
also his acting is so organic that it’s
just quietly dumbfounding.
DD: Any teasers for what’s coming
up?
BY: (Writer-creator) Shonda
Rimes plays it all very close to the
vest, so I really don’t know much.
Let’s see ... we have college students
gone missing and sex scandals.
Of course, more sex scandals.
God, there’s always so much sex.
Everyone loves sex. That’s the fun
part. And Olivia Pope (played by
Kerry Washington) will get more
complicated this season, so that’s
fun to watch, because Kerry does it
so well, and it’s just so human. Of
course, Mellie will be up to no good
at all. Just smile and rub her pregnant
belly the whole time.
Associated Images:
‘She’s
really
hurt.’
– Bellamy Young
Photo Credit:
Courtesy
|
