The cast from Showtime’s The Affair attended a screening of the show and a panel discussion at the historic Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, hosted by Hollywood Reporter’s Stacey Wilson. Joshua Jackson (Cole Lockhart), Ruth Wilson (Alison Bailey), Maura Tierney (Helen Solloway) and Julia Goldani Telles (Whitney Solloway) joined the audience in conversation about the show along with the show’s producers Sarah Treem and Jeffrey Reiner.
Jackson talked about how he almost did not want to take on the role in this show. “I was not keen on diving all the way back into TV, but [The Affair pilot] script was one of two scripts I’d read all year that was truly excellent.”
Talking about the progression of the show’s season, Wilson explained, “We pushed each other to the edge, but it was worth it.” Added Tierney, “As the season went on, the challenges increased – but it was fun.”
Wilson also enjoyed playing three different versions of her character. She revealed it “thrilled her” more than it “scared her.”
This next season will give fans more of a glimpse into Noah so “people can see where he’s coming from … He’s a guy making mistakes and dumb decisions … but he’s trying to find out who he is right now. He’s not just a bad guy,” says Reiner.
And sex? Yes, there was talk of sex. “These sex scenes were hard for all of us because Sarah would write things that were so primal,” shared Reiner.
The Affair delves into the psychological ramifications of two affairs. It follows a young diner waitress Alison and her husband, rancher Cole, as they struggle — personally and financially — in the wake of tragedy. Then there is Noah, a settled teacher and would-be novelist, who is summering at his in-laws’ Hamptons estate with his wife, Helen, and their four kids. When Noah meets Alison, their affair begins. He’s a welcome escape for her, and for him, she’s a pretty distraction. Unfortunately, as affairs often tend to do, it could end two marriages — one that’s a bit shaky and the other that was on solid ground (or was it).
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