Clarkson has appeared alongside the greatest names in Hollywood and worked with the most celebrated directors since her screen debut in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables with Kevin Costner.
She’s tackled the toughest roles on stage, such as Blanche du Bois in A Streetcar Named Desire, made cameos in comedy shows like Broad City and done outrageous sketches for Saturday Night Live. She’s played the best mothers and the worst.
So when she says that her latest role in new series Gray is one of her favourites, it’s really saying something. In the spy thriller, she plays a highly skilled agent, brought out of hiding to help uncover a CIA mole.
“Cornelia is rare,” Clarkson explains. “She’s a woman that combines all of the powerful and wonderful aspects that I’d want in a part – intelligence, vulnerability, sexiness. I’m the object of desire in this damn show! That’s rare. I’m the sexy one, I’m the one who’s got the hotpants on.”
The words she uses to describe Gray could easily be applied to her – intelligent, vulnerable, powerful, sexy.
“I’ve been very open with the men in my life, I’ve been very open with who I am and what I believe in and how I feel,” the Academy Award nominee tells WHO.
“I’ve never tried to be anything – anything – other than who I am. I’m happy in the bold choice that I made. I don’t think it should be bold, I think that if a woman chooses not to marry or have children that should be easy. But when my deeply southern family accepts me and doesn’t care, then who cares? Get over it. My mother has more grandchildren than she can count. So I think I’m a relief for all of them in a way because I’m singular. I’m a very good aunt, I’m a very good great-aunt and at times girlfriend. I’m a good sister, I’m a good daughter. What else can I be for God’s sake? I can’t be everything."
“Women, we can strive to be everything, but then at a certain point we have to realise that everything is just exactly what we are. That’s everything. It’s what we are. What I am today is everything I need to be right now.”
Where to watch Gray in Australia
The brand new series, Gray is now streaming only on stan. Start your 30-day free trial, here.