Elisabeth Moss goes from Peggy to Heidi

MOSS. Unusual ability to project innocence and smarts at the same time. RUBEN V. NEPALES

LOS ANGELES—While Elisabeth Moss’ schedule these days revolves around playing the title role in Broadway’s “The Heidi Chronicles,” she took some time off to talk to us about her experience playing the 1960s era secretary-turned-copy chief Peggy Olson for nine years in “Mad Men.”

By coincidence, as Elisabeth bids adieu to Peggy in this last season of “Mad Men,” she has plunged into the feminist art historian Heidi in Wendy Wasserstein’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play, which also begins in the 1960s. The former child actress, who played the youngest daughter of a US President (Martin Sheen) in “The West Wing,” earned Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal of Peggy.

Now, Elisabeth is also winning raves for “The Heidi Chronicles,” including this praise by the New York Times’ Charles Isherwood—that she is “a superb actor who possesses an unusual ability to project innocence and smarts at the same time.”

Below are excerpts of our chat with Elisabeth:

What was the last day on the “Mad Men” set like?

It was sad but cathartic in a way. The plug wasn’t pulled without us being aware that it was going to happen. We had three years of knowing that the seventh season was going to be the last. So we knew that was going to be the end.

Did you have a party?

There are usually ceremonial champagne toasts when you wrap anything. We took a big cast and crew photo. Everyone was there to see the last shot, which was really cool.

Could a guy like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) be your boyfriend?

Hell, no (laughs).

So what do you look for in man?

I’m a sucker for someone with a sense of humor.

What are the deal breakers?

The deal breakers for everyone—dishonesty, not being true to yourself, not being able to communicate. I’m not looking for anything different.

In nine years of “Mad Men,” who did you bond with the most in the cast?

I’d have to say Jon. Just by virtue of the fact that we had the most stuff together over the years. Then all those boys like Rich (Sommer), Jay (Ferguson), Vinnie (Vincent Kartheiser) and Aaron (Staton).

Christina (Hendricks, who plays Joan Harris) and I have a very special relationship that’s different from anyone else’s. We’re very much kind of sisters. We love working with each other.

How is your experience in “The Heidi Chronicles” different from when you made your Broadway debut in “Speed the Plow” in 2002?

I’ve done a couple of plays since that first one. But “The Heidi Chronicles” is definitely the hardest I’ve ever done. It’s incredibly challenging. The rewards are as big as the challenges. It’s very difficult. I’m in every scene.

What do you do in your down time?

I go home after the play and usually watch TV and order from the diner.

Then I watch “Scandal” or “Nashville.” I just like to unwind and not think about anything. There’s a heating pad around my neck. I’m massaging my sinuses. It’s the most unglamorous life you could possibly think of.

Will Peggy go to Paris, a prospect hinted at in the final season’s premiere?

Obviously, I can’t tell you anything. Peggy is a New Yorker and she doesn’t have a lot of money. She’s not high on the totem pole so she doesn’t have a lot of power. She goes to work; she’ll continue to be going to work. That’s the idea of Paris—it’s this dream, this thing that she’ll probably never end up doing because it’s not her life. I myself love Paris. I’ve been there several times.

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