Laurie Metcalf Plays TV Moms: Dark Roles & Big Shoes

Actress Laurie Metcalf recently explored complex maternal roles in two Netflix productions: "Big Mistakes" and "Monster: The Ed Gein Story." In "Big Mistakes," she plays Linda Morelli, a frenetic mayoral candidate and overbearing mother to Nicky (Dan Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), who unintentionally draws them into organized crime.

Metcalf expressed initial trepidation about playing Levy's TV mom, acknowledging the iconic performance by Catherine O'Hara in "Schitt's Creek." She aimed to provide a different dynamic while still being present for Levy's character, as Linda Morelli is a forceful presence in her children's lives.

In contrast, Metcalf portrayed Augusta Gein, mother to serial killer Ed Gein, in "Monster: The Ed Gein Story." She focused on finding depth and the dysfunctional relationship's influence on Ed's path rather than pure evil. Metcalf also reprised her role as Debbie Salt in "Scream 7" this year, noting her enjoyment of playing highly opinionated characters.

Metcalf finds the exhilaration of performance, whether on stage or screen, to be a key motivator. Both "Big Mistakes" and "Monster" provided significant acting challenges, with the latter offering extended scenes with Charlie Hunnam that allowed for deep exploration of their characters' relationship. She also noted that the fast-paced, organic nature of "Big Mistakes" felt akin to theater.