The Good Wife

One of my favourite US dramas is The Good Wife, so I was excited to chat with Graham Phillips, who plays Alicia Florrick’s son Zach, when he was in Australia recently. He was here for a holiday with his dad and brother and to check out the Australian Open, and he was keen to get a tan before heading to Sundance to promote his new movie, Goats. The third season of The Good Wife premieres on Network Ten at 8:30 p.m. with a double episode, so we talked to Graham about what we can expect from the award-winning show.

In what ways are you similar to your character Zach?
I’m a total computer dork. It’s been interesting because I’m two years older than my character, so Zach’s going through a lot of the same things I was going through two years ago. But I’d say that we’re different in that he’s a little bit vulnerable and . . . I feel at times that he’s a little bit immature, and that he can get played by a certain situation. But at the same time he can do the total opposite. There’s an episode coming up where he plays his mother against his grandmother, because they hate each other, to basically get what he wants. His mum and grandma are saying, ‘You should be hanging out less with your girlfriend, Nisa,’ the girl from season two, and he’s basically tells Alicia that Jackie’s been saying the same thing, but she’s saying it because we’re too different — Nisa’s black. So Alicia, basically being the politically-correct woman she is, says, ‘Yeah, okay, she can come over.’ So that’s how I get what I want in that situation. I’d say we’re similar in a lot of ways and that we’re different in a lot as well.

My friend and I were wondering what had happened to Nisa!
You know what? That’s so weird, because I had no idea for almost an entire year — she just kinda dropped off the map! And then I got the script, about halfway through season three. And not only is she back, but apparently they’ve been dating the whole time! So it’s interesting how even the actor playing the character has no idea what the character is doing.

More from Graham when you keep reading.

Julianna Margulies won the SAG Award for outstanding female performance in a drama for The Good Wife for the second year in a row tonight. After her speech, she popped into the press room to talk a bit about her win, how happy she is to have the role, and what still makes her nervous during award season.

• On winning the SAG two years in a row: "I was overwhelmed, honestly, I was taken aback. Last year it felt like the character was someone people related to, and in the sophomore year, I think the writing has become more complex, more interesting. It's such a fun role to play, I'm so grateful to have this job let alone be recognised for it and have people watch. It's an embarrassment of riches and I feel very lucky."
• On her character being a little too relatable: "I've had women come up to me and start weeping to me about their cheating husbands. There's moments I don't want them to think I'm someone to give them advice!"
• On the role that got her her SAG card:"Are you ready? Steven Seagal's Out for Justice. I played a hooker with a heart of gold, which is what you do in a Steven Seagal movie. I made $2,000, I remember. I've come a long way. Now my husband sleeps with them apparently."
• On what makes her nervous during award season: "The red carpet is the only thing that makes me nervous. Once I get through that, anything can happen. It's a little daunting, a lot of people yelling. I'm an actress so I'm still trying to perfect that hand on the hope. I find it a very strange juxtaposition between the art of acting and the art of fashion."

The Aussie posse was MIA when it came to the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards tonight at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Toni Collette won the trophy for lead actress in a comedy category last year, but the award went to Edie Falco for her role in Nurse Jackie this time around. Rose Byrne attended the ceremony with her brother George and received her second nomination in the supporting actress drama category for her role in Damages but the prize went to The Good Wife’s Archie Panjabi. Former Australia’s Funniest Home Videos host Kim Kilbey is now a producer on the US version of Dancing With the Stars and missed out with the award going to Top Chef. The only other member of the Gum Leaf Mafia we managed to spot was sexy True Blood star Ryan Kwanten. Aussie, Aussie Aussie oy vey.