YOUNGER & WISER
Stars Shor, Foster and Duff have plenty to say about recent season
Younger ended its standout fifth season with a finale that rocked the lives of pretty much every character.
Three of the show’s leading ladies — Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff and Miriam Shor — in separate interviews — spoke about the show’s pivotal season and what it means for each of their characters.
Q What did this season represent for your character?
Duff (Kelsey): ... In the workplace, she is continuing to fight to be heard and to be supported ... The things that she wants to take risks on are, kind of, not ever backed by Charles. So at the end of the season to have someone like Quinn (Laura Benanti), come in and realize that what’s working in the company is Kelsey’s imprint ... It’s a really big win for her ...
Shor (Diana): She has tended to date people who were perfect on paper and find out ... that’s not how the heart works and it hasn’t worked out well for her. Along comes this man who is obviously great-looking and they have this incredible chemistry, but on paper he’s all wrong for her ... That’s a big challenge for her that I think is a good one ...
Foster (Liza): Liza kind of owned her power. She stopped playing games. She became more real. She grew up, as ironic as that sounds.
Q Were you surprised by the finale? How soon in advance do you typically find out about what’s going to happen to your character?
Duff: We get the episodes sometimes right before the table read, so not very far in advance at all. It’s always fun. Sometimes we’re at the table read with our jaw hanging open like, “Wait, what is going to happen?!” I think that the biggest (surprise) moment for me was the pregnancy thing with Claire and Josh. And then obviously, Charles stepping down and Kelsey getting the promotion.
Foster: The only thing they told me was that Kelsey was going to be boss at the end and I was like, “Whaaat?”
Q Let’s talk about that ending. Charles and Liza are officially together. They share an amazing kiss, and then ... they look terrified.
Foster: There’s a moment where Charles says, “I have everything I want. I’m happy,” and Liza says, “Well then, I’m happy too,” and they realize, we’ve made all of these sacrifices. Charles is really the one that loses ... He has to step back from his company ... I mean it’s amazing and, I guess, romantic, but at what cost?
Q Team Josh or Team Charles?
Duff: I’m so wishy washy. I’m back to Team Josh. I think Charles has done Kelsey so wrong that she’s over him ... I hope that baby is not Josh’s baby. Because I want Liza and Josh to be together.
Foster: Someone just asked me, “At the end of the series, who is the couple that you want to see standing ?” and I said, “Kelsey and Liza.” It’s hard to pick ( between Josh and Charles) ... I don’t know if I see Liza walking off into the sunset with either of them.
Q What was your favourite episode or moment this season?
Foster: I love episodes 7 and 8 — the Charles love story. The end of episode 7 is just such an awesome moment of (Charles and Liza) finally coming together. And episode 8, where the writers give Charles and Liza at least one episode where they can be happy.
Shor: I directed my first episode ever (episode 5, Big Little Liza) ... It means so much to me ... I did really love the Staten Island episode, and the episode with Enzo’s mom.
Duff: One of my favourite moments was (Kelsey) walking into Charles’ office and being like, “I know you want this book, but I want this book and I think both could work,” and him saying they couldn’t afford both, and then her kind of blackmailing him by being like, “How about if I have Liza ask you over dinner or after dinner.” ... I was so proud of her.
Q Is there anyone in the cast that you love having scenes with or have become particularly close to?
Duff: Molly Bernard and I have become extremely tight friends, so I think working with her is always pretty dreamy.
Shor: I’ve known Sutton since she was 17. So, it’s been really fun (working with her). And if you don’t want to be Debi Mazar, you’re not thinking right. Foster: The first person that popped in my mind was Debi because we often will do all of our scenes together in one day. It’s usually just, like, the two of us in our pyjamas, sitting on the couch, drinking coffee. It’s the best.