Is production for USA Network's hit drama
In Plain Sight as enjoyable as the show itself? Perhaps, if you ask the show's stars
Mary McCormack and
Frederick Weller. The two, who play working partners in the drama about the goings-on in the Witness Security program, talked to
TV Guide about how their off-screen relationship somehow seems to mirror their on-screen one.
The series sees McCormack playing the lead role of Mary Shannon, the tough-talking yet bighearted WITSEC operative based in Albuquerque. Weller plays Marshall Mann, Shannon's partner and best friend, whose personality seems to contradict with the lead's—he's more cerebral, while she's more instinctive. Yet they are extremely protective of each other, and of the witnesses they handle, of course—and it leads to some interesting encounters, on screen and off.
“Fred would say that our relationship is the same off screen,” McCormack revealed. “He carries a mirror in his pocket to check his hair, so I give him the hardest time. He's kind of the girl and I'm kind of the boy.”
“Tell her I challenge her to an arm-wrestling match, and I'll beat her two out of three times easily!” Weller mused. “There's never a dull moment with Mary. She's a total wiseass and a great actress,” he added, turning serious.
Their off-screen friendship is fortunately played on by the series itself. “Mann's intense affection for Shannon will be a constant subtext,” Weller proclaimed.
The series' executive producer, David Maples, also talked about many “astonishing coincidences” between the character, Mary Shannon, and the actress, Mary McCormack. Among them is Shannon's nickname for her sister, “Squish”—the same name McCormack calls one of her actual daughters. “I'm not a crystal-ball type,” he said, “but it seems this was fated to be.”
But he is happy with how the series turned out, particularly the audience's response to the lead character. “She has this physical presence that makes you believe she can kick someone's ass.”
“I've certainly lost tons of roles because I'm not the right size,” the 5-foot-8 McCormack added, frustrated at how her height sometimes works against her. But the actress is happy she finally got the perfect role—one that would see her shoot guns and go against the bad guys. “It's nice to finally use those skills before it's too late,” she enthused. “I'm a lucky girl.”
She can certainly do it more often, as
In Plain Sight was picked up for a second season. For now, though, you can still catch new episodes from the first season on Sunday nights at the USA Network
-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source:
TV Guide
(Image courtesy of USA Network)