PARTING SHOT

Robin Wright

ROBIN WRIGHT KNEW THAT IN HER NEW PRIME VIDEO SHOW THE GIRLfriend—which she developed and is starring in—she would have to fight the potential for melodrama, because “it could easily go there.” “This was so much of our discussion in the writer’s room. How do we keep it plausible?” Wright plays Laura, whose adult son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) starts dating Cherry (Olivia Cooke), triggering Laura to spiral out of control. “She does not want to lose him to anything.” Despite sharing few similarities with her character—“I’m not that possessive with my son”—Wright still feels a kinship with her. “Everyone you play, as venal as they can be, they believe that they’re doing the right thing. So you have to believe that within them.” Wearing many hats, Wright doubled as costar and director for many episodes. “I could be in the scene with Olivia or Laurie and I’m watching them as a director, like split brain, you know?” And while she’s directed a number of projects, she says she still has room to grow. “I’m still learning and trying to learn how to get my style.”