Beanie Feldsteinsees a lot of herself inMonica Lewinsky.
The actress, 28, stars in the forthcoming FX limited seriesImpeachment: American Crime Story, portraying Lewinsky, a 22-year-old White House intern who had a sexual relationship with then-President Bill Clinton — a late-’90s scandal that captivated the nation and ultimately led to the president’s impeachment.
In anew cover storyforWMagazine, Feldstein explained which ways she feels connected with Lewinsky, who also serves as an executive producer on the series.
“Monica and I are cut from the same cloth in so many ways. We’re both Jewish girls from L.A. who listen to show tunes on the treadmill! But still, I never felt less in my comfort place than when I was playing Monica,” she added. “Obviously, I’m queer, so I don’t know if I’d flirt with the president, but who knows? When Clinton shined his light on you, there was no better feeling in the world.”
“It wouldn’t matter if you were male, female, nonbinary, queer,” Feldstein continued. “When that man put his spotlight on you, the world fell away. And if I was 22 and the most powerful person in the world focused his high beams on me, I would probably do the exact same thing as Monica.”
Beanie Feldstein.Beanie Feldstein.
Beanie Feldstein.
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Feldstein also said that Lewinsky’s “fame wasn’t positive.” She explained: “When you’re hurting, none of that fancy stuff like photoshoots or invitations to parties matters. From my own life experience, you can be on Broadway or at an awards show, but there’s always pain beneath the surface.
“That nuance is very hard to see from the outside,” she added.
InImpeachment, which premieres Sept. 7, Clive Owen stars as President Clinton, andSarah Paulsonplays U.S. civil servant Linda Tripp, whom Lewinsky confides in, ultimately leading to the affair coming to light.Edie Falcostars as Hillary Clinton,Billy Eichneras reporter Matt Drudge andCobie Smuldersas conservative commentator Ann Coulter.
The series is based onJeffrey Toobin’s bookA Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President.
Feldstein said during a Television Critics Association panel held Friday,according toEntertainment Weekly, that Lewinsky had a say in “every word” and “every script page.”
source: people.com
