Carrie Preston is Ready for Her Quirky Spotlight in CBS’ ‘Elsbeth’

Carrie Preston is ready to step into the spotlight. The Emmy-winning veteran character actress will helm the title role in Elsbeth on CBS (February 29), playing Elsbeth Tascioni, a character she originated 14 years ago on The Good Wife and its spinoff The Good Fight. “When this part came along, what was happening on the page was so extraordinary for television, because she was so unusual.” We now find the colorful lawyer assisting the NYPD in solving crimes. “People don’t quite know what to do with her either, and she knows that. She’s not like the other kids.” And Preston, best known for her supporting performances on True Blood and Claws, says, “I’m more prepared for it than I would have been in my 20s when I was just sort of dreaming about it.” But she’s still finding acclaim in smaller roles, too. She recently appeared in a small but key role in Alexander Payne’s Oscar-nominated film The Holdovers. “I knew watching other Alexander movies that he was going to treat my character with the same amount of care that he treated [the main] three, and it comes across.” Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.