Laura Benanti had second thoughts when "Nashville" decided to introduce a domestic violence plotline into her character Sadie Stone's story. She didn't want it to seem like the show was taking advantage of a serious subject, but once she saw the episode's final cut, she realized the writers knew best.
"I was nervous, to be perfectly honest, to tackle that because it's such a delicate issue. I didn't want anyone to think that we were using it for dramatic purpose or dramatizing it in a way that felt sticky," Benanti tells Headlines & Global News in an exclusive interview. "But then when I saw how they edited it and I saw the finished product, I felt relieved and I felt like it was brave of them to take on something like this."
Benanti joined the cast of the ABC series last fall at the beginning of its third season. Her character Sadie is a strong, aspiring country artist looking for the best record label in town to nurture her talent. She eventually lands at Rayna James' (Connie Britton) Highway 65 and the two women became fast friends.
In addition to Britton, Benanti has had the privilege to work with a number of incredible women on television lately. She has guest-starred twice on "The Good Wife" with the three-time Emmy winner actress Julianna Margulies and recurred last season on "Nurse Jackie" with four-time Emmy winner Edie Falco.
"They are bringing immense intellect. They are generous, committed and hard working. They run really warm and wonderful sets. They come in and they know their stuff," Benanti says. "They're just tremendous actresses. I'm so impressed by them and I feel like I learn from them."
Her future co-star Melissa Benoist will soon enter that fray of women headlining TV shows, and Benanti believes the "Glee" alum possesses the same talent to carry the torch in their upcoming CBS show, "Supergirl."
Benanti and Benoist will soon start production on the "Supergirl" pilot where they will star as mother and daughter, Alura Zor-El and Kara a.k.a. Supergirl, in the DC Comics TV series from executive producer Greg Berlanti ("Arrow" and "The Flash").
"She seems like a woman who is very poised for her years and she's proven herself to be a wonderful actress. I'm sure she'll continue to grow more and more in that direction," Benanti says.
She has yet to meet her TV daughter, but based on what she saw from the younger actress in the Oscar-nominated film "Whiplash," she has no doubt she will make a fine addition to a network that already boast power female performances from Margulies and Téa Leoni in "Madam Secretary."
"I'm excited for a girl-powery superhero situation. I think as we embrace feminism more and more, as well we should, it's important to see that reflected on television and I think that is what Greg Berlanti and 'Supergirl' are going to bring to you," Benanti says.
The 35-year-old actress previously starred on Berlanti's short-lived ABC series, Eli Stone, and they had been searching for another project to do since that show went off the air in 2009.
Her character Alura will appear in either flashback scenes or as a hologram, to advise her daughter as she grows up on Earth. Kara escaped her home planet Krypton as a young child and has since lived with a foster family on Earth.
"The thing they've been saying is their love permeates through time and space. Even though I'm not there with her physically, I am there guiding her," Benanti says.
The role will be recurring (pending the show's pick up) with Benanti starring in a handful of episodes.
In between shooting the pilot, she also returns to the stage for a new musical event at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. She stars in the first "New York Spring Spectacular" alongside "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancer Derek Hough and the iconic Rockettes.
A musical celebration of New York City, the show will run between March 12 and May 3. It tells the inspiring and hopeful story of three New Yorkers who change each other's lives in unexpected ways.
"It's fun, family entertainment. It's good for all ages," Benanti says about the show featuring new dance numbers from the Rockettes, 3D special effects, large-scale puppetry, and original songs, classics and pop hits. "It's really about the visuals and the Rockettes incredible dancing and Derek Hough's an incredible dancer."
Hough will split his time between doing the "Spectacular" in New York and competing on "Dancing with the Stars." Benanti has no idea how he'll pull it off but she says, "Better him than me. 'Byeee. Have fun!'"
"Nashville" airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.
