All Of It with Alison Stewart

Guest: Molly Ringwald

Episode: "Molly Ringwald Plays a Capote Swan in 'Feud'"

Date: September 13, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode of "All Of It" features actor and writer Molly Ringwald, who discusses her role as Joanne Carson in the Emmy-nominated series "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans." Host Alison Stewart and Ringwald explore the complexities of her character—a California outsider who shared a unique, unconditional friendship with Truman Capote—as well as themes of loyalty, the insider/outsider dynamic in high society, and the challenges of portraying real-life figures. The conversation also delves into Ringwald's collaboration with co-stars, director Gus Van Sant, and showrunner Ryan Murphy, plus insights on actorly process, period costuming, and Ringwald's broader creative ambitions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Molly Ringwald’s Portrayal of Joanne Carson

• California vs. New York Contrast

  • Ringwald explains her California roots inform her portrayal, emphasizing Joanne’s cultural difference from the uptight New York "Swans."
    • "I'm originally from California, so no matter what, I feel like it's in my blood... there's definitely Californian in there from, you know, too many generations." —Molly Ringwald (02:04)
  • Joanne is depicted as more open, friendly, and bohemian compared to the reserved, status-conscious Swans.

• Joanne as Capote’s True Friend

  • Unlike the Swans, Joanne has no agenda and offers Capote unconditional support after his scandal.
    • "I also believe that Joanne really absolutely adored him unconditionally and may have been one of the only people in his life who did." —Molly Ringwald (03:21)
  • She facilitates Capote’s creativity and sobriety, even after both lose some social status.

2. The Capote-Swans Relationship Dynamic

• Friendship vs. Transactional Relationships
  • Joanne stands out because her bond with Capote is based on genuine affection and respect for his talent, not mutual social climbing.
    • "At that point, there really wasn't that much that she could get from him or needed from him... she really just kind of wanted to facilitate his literary genius." —Molly Ringwald (03:49)
  • The Swans, by contrast, treated Capote as something of a pet or jester.
    • "He was sort of happy to play that role for a while. But I think maybe there might have been some unexpressed anger." —Molly Ringwald (04:41)

3. Tom Hollander’s Performance as Truman Capote

• Voice and Mannerisms

  • Ringwald praises Hollander's transformative acting:
    • "He would go back and forth between Tom and Truman... it wasn't just the voice. It was the mannerisms. It was the way that he walked." —Molly Ringwald (06:47)
  • Hollander listened to recordings to dial in Capote's signature, idiosyncratic voice before scenes.

• Working Dynamic

  • Tom was not a strict method actor; he moved in and out of character, which Ringwald found effective and refreshing.
    • "In my experience in England, they don't do the method sort of, you know, in character all of the time. So it was nice. I got to know Thomas, Tom. Then I also got to know him as Thomas Truman." —Molly Ringwald (07:49)

4. Costume and Character

• Costume as Characterization
  • Wardrobe choices highlight Joanne’s individuality and Californian spirit.
    • "They really wanted Joanne to seem like a lot more free and bohemian. So I'm in colorful caftans and... really sort of embody that quintessential California ease." —Molly Ringwald (08:16)

5. The Depth of Joanne and Truman’s Relationship

• Enduring Friendship

  • The real-life closeness is highlighted, including Carson keeping half of Capote’s ashes.
    • "She apparently kept him pretty close and talked to him... That was really, really important to her." —Molly Ringwald (09:00)

• Joanne’s Unique Understanding

  • Joanne respected Capote’s literary talent, not just his persona.
    • "I think that they really valued him as a character and as a storyteller. I don't know that they respected him as much as a writer. And I think Joanne did." —Molly Ringwald (09:45)

6. Filming Challenging Scenes

• Portraying Violence and Crisis
  • Ringwald describes the emotional impact of acting in scenes involving domestic abuse and Capote’s struggles with addiction.
    • "Even though I knew that it was made up, I couldn't help but... raise the cortisol... it made me gasp." —Molly Ringwald (11:43)

7. Working with Ryan Murphy

• Murphy’s Creative Vision and Inclusivity
  • Praises Murphy for casting complex roles for women beyond Hollywood’s youth obsession and prioritizing diversity.
    • "He’s really interested in giving voices and giving power to people who might not have that opportunity." —Molly Ringwald (12:35)
  • "I would say yes to anything of Ryan’s... if he wants me to come read the phone book, I’m there." —Molly Ringwald (13:44)

8. Ringwald’s Creative Ambitions

• Singing, Acting, Writing, and More
  • While currently focused on acting and writing, she expresses a desire to combine all her creative passions in a single project someday.
    • "I'm hoping that one day I get to do everything I want to do, all on the same project. So maybe like directing, writing, acting, singing, everything else. Maybe a little French in there." —Molly Ringwald (14:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Tom just completely nailed [Capote], you know, and I liked him and I enjoyed working with him, which was so important for my character because... my character really [had] this unconditional love for him." —Molly Ringwald (07:19)
• "[Joanne] really just kind of wanted to facilitate his literary genius, because I really do believe that she had an incredible amount of respect for his writing." —Molly Ringwald (03:57)
• "I also believe that Joanne really absolutely adored him unconditionally and may have been one of the only people in his life who did." —Molly Ringwald (03:21)
• "He was very entertaining. He always seemed a little bit like a train wreck, but he had this very specific way of moving. And Tom just completely nailed it." —Molly Ringwald (06:56)
• "He’s really interested in giving voices and giving power to people who might not have that opportunity... which makes him very interesting as a filmmaker." —Molly Ringwald (12:35)
• "I'm hoping that one day I get to do everything I want to do, all on the same project... Maybe a little French in there. Who knows?" —Molly Ringwald (14:20)

Key Timestamps

• 02:04 – Ringwald on channeling California spirit for Joanne Carson
• 03:21 – Joanne's unconditional love for Capote
• 04:41 – Capote’s dual role as insider and “dance monkey” outsider
• 05:39 – In-episode scene: Joanne welcomes Capote to Thanksgiving
• 06:19 – Ringwald on Tom Hollander’s immersive performance
• 07:49 – On Hollander’s acting style (not full-method)
• 08:16 – Describing Joanne’s bohemian wardrobe and contrast with Swans
• 09:00 – Real-life bond: Carson and Capote’s ashes
• 09:45 – What Joanne understood about Capote that others didn’t
• 11:43 – Filming harrowing scenes of violence and its on-set emotional impact
• 12:35 – Unique qualities of Ryan Murphy as showrunner
• 14:02 – Ringwald on balancing singing, acting, and writing

Overall Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, thoughtful, and grounded in both admiration and curiosity about the show’s subject matter and the relationships within it. Ringwald is candid about her process, generous in her praise of colleagues, and reflects on nuanced questions with a mix of wit and sincerity.

Conclusion

This episode is an engaging exploration of how “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” reconstructs a glamorous yet fractious social world and how Molly Ringwald approached her role as Joanne Carson. Listeners come away with deeper appreciation for the real people behind the story, the art of performance, the show’s creative leadership, and the emotional complexities at play in the Capote saga.