The recipient of the Emmy, Oscar, and Tony awards reflects on the complexity of Lillie Mae Faulk, her association with Ryan Murphy, and the extensive research involved.
Central to the narrative is the figure of Lillie Mae Faulk, portrayed by the legendary Jessica Lange, in the role of Truman Capote’s mother, Nina Capote. In the final episode of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, titled “Phantasm Forgiveness,” Lange’s portrayal of the ambitious and resentful Lillie Mae captivates Capote’s thoughts in his last moments.
Originally known as Lillie Mae Faulk, Capote’s mother harbored dreams of abandoning her Monroeville, Alabama origins to enter the elite circles of New York City. After her separation from Truman’s father when he was just two years old, she reinvented herself as Nina and moved north in pursuit of a more glamorous life, leaving Truman behind in Monroeville. Truman later joined his mother and her new husband, José García Capote, in New York City. Despite her endeavors, Lillie Mae never found full acceptance among the Park Avenue socialites that Capote would later associate with. Tragically, Lillie Mae took her own life when Capote was 29.
Reflecting on Lillie Mae’s tragic demise, Lange comments, “It’s tough, isn’t it?” She shares her thoughts from Los Angeles, just before presenting the best-actress award alongside fellow Oscar winners Charlize Theron, Sally Field, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michelle Yeoh. Lange succinctly remarks on Capote’s mother, stating, “That’s the kind of mother you don’t want.”
As the Feud series wraps up, Lange discusses flawed maternal figures, her meticulous research process, and her disinterest in the high society lifestyle with Vanity Fair.
In the final episode of Feud, the exploration of Truman’s relationship with his mother is profound. Lange sheds light on her approach to interpreting this intricate mother-son dynamic as depicted in the script.
Lange’s collaboration with Ryan Murphy in this project took a different turn, with Murphy adopting a more hands-off approach. Lange delves into her experience of working on a Ryan Murphy production that he didn’t write or direct.
In portraying Lillie Mae, Lange delves into the sacrifices and unfulfilled aspirations of Capote’s mother, highlighting her significance in his life and the metaphorical role she plays in the narrative.
The research intensity for portraying a character like Lillie Mae varies based on the available material. Lange draws inspiration from the limited resources to shape her portrayal.
Lange’s perspective on Truman Capote and the women in his life evolved during the filming process, shedding light on her approach to embodying real personalities and the responsibility she feels in portraying them authentically.
In portraying Lillie Mae, Lange delves into the complexities of the mother-son relationship and the underlying love between them, despite the challenges they faced.