Connie Britton Loves ‘Finding the Power’ Within Her Flawed Female Characters

You likely know Connie Britton from Friday Night Lights, Nashville, American Horror Story, The White Lotus or any of the other numerous TV shows she’s appeared in—often in the role of a well-meaning suburban mom, a familiar area she always manages to inject with surprising depth—but on the brand-new Apple TV series Dear Edward, she sinks her teeth into a whole new challenge: portraying grief onscreen, with all of its attendant challenges.

Based on the novel of the same name by Ann Napolitano, the TV incarnation of Dear Edward is the brainchild of Friday Night Lights creator Jason Katims, and the show shares some emotional DNA with the Texas-football classic, but it’s far more of a tearjerker. Britton plays Dee Dee, a luxuriously decked-out housewife forced to confront the ugly side of life after losing her husband in a plane crash. 

Recently, Vogue spoke to Britton about filming Dear Edward, the potential healing power of discussing grief on TV, the roles she most reliably gets recognized for, and the acting challenges that still lie ahead of her. Read the full interview below.

Where are you based right now?

I’m based in L.A., and Dear Edward shot in New York. I love New York, but my son just turned twelve, and you know, I can’t drag him out of school. Part of what made it possible for me to do Dear Edward was they were incredibly generous and helpful with helping me schedule my time so I would fly in and work for a couple of days and fly straight back out. I would only be gone for maybe three  or four days at a time. It was rough, because I hate being away from my son, but at least it made it possible for me to do the show.

What are you most hoping people take away from Dear Edward?

I really hope that it’s going to create a pathway toward conversation around grief. I really think that the world is in this kind of collective state of grief and loss following years of a global pandemic and a global climate crisis that is just crushing for people around the world, and I think there’s a profound connectedness to the fact that we all go through grief. My hope is that this show will give a sense of understanding to people around that, and let people know that they’re not alone. When we tell stories right on television, we can actually kind of impact the way people know themselves, and that’s my goal.

Dee Dee reminded me a little of your character Ally from the show SMILF, as well as Nicole from The White Lotus. What do you think draws you to that kind of socialite role?

Well, it’s interesting, because I loved playing Tami Taylor, who was not like that. In recent years, though, the idea of playing these characters that are reflective of a certain kind of woman in society is very interesting to me. We all have ideas about women who choose to live their lives with this kind of value system around social status and materialism, and it’s fun for me to kind of break that down and get to the heart of who that woman really is. Who is she? What is she denying about herself or not letting herself know about herself because she’s so worried about all this stuff that’s outside of her? I always believe that every character I play (and, I think, every woman in the world, actually) is really trying to find her own power, even if she doesn’t know how. It’s fun to be like, how can I find these characters’ power?

What was it like working with Jason Katims again?

It was so great. Obviously, Friday Night Lights was where a lot of my values as an actor were created and solidified, and I just really loved the way that show was shot and the way we worked together. I’ve gotten to this point in my life where I’m just like, I want to work with people that I love and trust.

What role of yours do people approach you about most often?

Probably Tami Taylor, but then, there are a lot of American Horror Story fans. Nashville, for sure, and of course, The White Lotus.

Have you watched Season 2?

I’m halfway through it. I’m a very bad TV watcher, but this season is so much fun.

Is there anything you’re dying to do professionally that you haven’t done yet?

I actually would love to do something animated. I’d love to do a kids’ movie or some really fun animated show or a really great movie for kids. I’d love to do something I could watch with my son.