Lizzy Caplan plays Virginia Johnson, a pioneer in the field of sex research, on Showtime’s intelligent and provocative new series Masters of Sex. Caplan previously starred in the cult comedy favorite Party Down and played Janis Ian in Mean Girls, but her captivating performance in Masters of Sex achieves a new level of greatness.
SSN spoke with Caplan about playing a woman considered ahead of her time, her onscreen chemistry with Michael Sheen—who plays Johnson’s research partner Dr. William Masters—and their emotionally tough, physically intimate scenes together.
SSN: How did you wind up doing this role? What intrigued you most about it?
Caplan: There are a million reasons it intrigued me. I read the script, fell in love with it. That was surprising to me and my agents as I don’t usually gravitate toward dramatic roles in general, certainly not procedural roles. Also, I usually never go after a role set in another period because I’ve been told throughout my career that I give off a very modern vibe. The fact that it took place in the ‘50s made it even more interesting and more layered. I became obsessed with her and tried to get people to see me in this way. And it worked!
Caplan: There are a million reasons it intrigued me. I read the script, fell in love with it. That was surprising to me and my agents as I don’t usually gravitate toward dramatic roles in general, certainly not procedural roles. Also, I usually never go after a role set in another period because I’ve been told throughout my career that I give off a very modern vibe. The fact that it took place in the ‘50s made it even more interesting and more layered. I became obsessed with her and tried to get people to see me in this way. And it worked!
