Masters Of Sex Paleyfest 2014! Lizzy Caplan! Michael Sheen! Annaleigh Ashford! Caitlin Fitzgerald! Autographs! And More!
Paleyfest returned last night with the Masters of Sex Panel. Starring Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex has been one of Showtime’s most buzzed about shows. The 1950’s set drama/comedy series is about the study of human sexuality and is based on the real life work of Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson.
The panel included the two stars Annaleigh Ashford, Caitlin FitzGerald, Teddy Sears and Michelle Ashford. The panel was subdued with Michael Sheen trying to jokingly class up the place with talk about Hamlet to which Lizzy Caplan countered with Hot Tub Time Machine. Sheen’s comment, “I say Hamlet and there’s crickets, she says Hot Tub Time Machine and it gets huge applause!” was hysterical.
Highlights from the panel include:
Michelle Ashford on the casting process, “We were looking for ferocious intelligence and people who had an unconventional bent to their work and to the roles that they had chosen.”
Lizzy Caplan saying that she leaned to comedy because that’s all she thought she could get as an actress but that’s what she sought out to do.
Michael Sheen said that playing the real life Dr. William Masters was interesting because he was intensely private and that he has to take liberty because not much is known about him.
The demonstration of how to pee in a girdle from the women, who also said that the clothing helps get them into period and character. Especially the undergarments.
Sheen while not looking for a television series to do said, “you can tell a story over 12 hours that really opens the door, as an actor, to explore character in a different way.” You just can’t do that on film.
The entire panel talked about the bar being set really high right now on television and that pushes them to do their best.
Lizzy Caplan said, that she had to push away some of the things she used to do as an actress like make up a line here or there, because the dialogue is so specific. “If it’s written yes, you have to say yes, not yeah, or like…”
Annaleigh Ashford said that she had to have someone help her pee with the period clothing and she hadn’t had to do that since she was four!
Caitlin FitzGerald said, “The truth is, women would run everything, but we’re too busy getting ready!” when talking about the hair and clothing required for the series.
And Sheen’s favorite episode from season one? The one with the glass dildo named Ulysses. “The poor girl had to just go mental… a for a long time!”
After the panel it was time for the stage rush, It wasn’t so much a rush as a walk to be honest, which was a nice change of pace. The cast was awesome covering as much ground as they could before the security made them leave.
I got Lizzy Caplan first on my press kit and mini poster. Then went over to Michael Sheen who I’ve always liked from Underworld and Tron:Legacy as well. He was super nice, taking time with everyone and going side to side and signing.
The rest of the cast made their way from one side of the stage to the other, and I was able to get everyone!
It was a really fun night and simple.
Until next time kids…
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