It took an awful lot out of me, she admits.
The life she constructed is pulled from underneath her….
It was an enormous responsibility and an extraordinary experience that was, in the end, quite spiritual.
Credit: Steffan Hill/MASTERPIECE/PBS
Besides, Alec wasnt a complete cad.
He was adored by Ruths family, Glen says.
He created the problem in the first place, but nonetheless… She only wrote about one wife, and we speculate that she knew about more.
Steffan Hill/MASTERPIECE/PBS
Until after shed died, we didnt find out about the other two.
So growing up, I didnt know anything about my grandfather, and he was never spoken about.
That was normal, that I had three grandparents and that was it.
And then everything came out.
As the story got bigger, it became more curious and intriguing.
I was so removed from it.
As an actress I was just fascinated by what was inside of my own family.
Theres an air of absence around him.
Hes a construct of peoples memories.
And it wasnt an immediate desire todoit at all.
I felt that was a really universal appeal.
I felt the only way I could protect her was by playing her in some way.
How much pressure did you feel playing her?Enormous amounts of pressure.
After making this series, did you walk away with a new understanding of your grandfather?
Do you consider him guilty?I dont know.
Its interesting because I just found him fascinating.
I just thought, Wow, what a cad.
Everyones response are, Oh my God, howd he have four wives?
Im like, Whoisthis man?
By the end, Im in awe of my grandmother and the women.
They were the breadwinners.
They had to make enormously hard decisions in a time when women werent given the choice.
I came out with such respect for them.
I probably have less respect for my grandfather.
He created such chaos.
There must have been something about him that was genuine.
Speaking of your new uncles, youve been in touch with your extended family.
Weve had numerous [family] events.
We first met 10, 12 years ago and biannually we try and get everyone together.
We did a family screening [of the series], actually.
It was the most incredible experience.
There was silence afterwards as everyone took in what they just watched and were crying and hugging.
This is the legacy of this man, this enormous family.
The beauty of it is its solved questions in peoples own origins.
And life is like that, we are not sure well ever find out those answers.
Maybe we are not supposed to, maybe its okay not to.
What wedohave is this wider family.
Mrs. Wilsondebuts Sunday, March 31 on PBS Masterpiece.
Check local listings for times.
