"Every day, I'm deeply thankful, for I never know when this opportunity will come to an end," remarks the star of 'Elsbeth', who has brought the character to life in both 'The Good Wife' and 'The Good Fight.' Prior to her lead role in the procedural series 'Elsbeth' this year, Carrie Preston portrayed the eccentric attorney-slash-detective, Elsbeth Tascioni, intermittently since 2010. Initially, she appeared as a recurring character in 'The Good Wife' and later in its spin-off 'The Good Fight' within the CBS legal franchise helmed by Robert and Michelle King.
"My appearances as her have been sporadic," Preston laughs, referring to her 19 cameos that garnered her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2013. "But what's remarkable about this show is that I now have the privilege to embody her every day. It's a luxury that has been rare."
According to Preston, as early as season three of 'The Good Wife,' audiences began to appreciate her character and envisioned a spin-off. However, it was during the 2020 pandemic, when the Kings revisited one of their favorite crime dramas, 'Columbo,' that they envisioned a series extension centered around Tascioni.
"When I was first offered this role fourteen years ago, Robert King told me, 'We see her as a female Columbo.' It's quite serendipitous that we're now borrowing the structure of 'Columbo' and those classic mysteries, but with this unconventional character at the forefront," Preston explains.
In 'Elsbeth,' Tascioni partners with NYPD officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson) to solve crimes while navigating the nerves of police chief C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce), who isn't entirely welcoming of her presence at the precinct.
"We're accustomed to seeing men in these roles—Sherlock, Monk, Columbo. So, having a woman who is so unconventional, unafraid to stand out in a man's world, is refreshing and a welcome change," Preston remarks.
Each episode kicks off with a crime committed by a guest star, which Tascioni then solves using her unconventional methods. "The experiences I've had—dancing with Keegan-Michael Key, rock climbing with Jane Krakowski, tennis with Blair Underwood—I never could have imagined," Preston adds.
The show secured an early renewal for season two, merely five episodes into its first season, much to Preston's relief. "I was anxious it wouldn't happen, and I'd think, 'We can't have Carrie Preston lead another show.' So, the renewal was like a sigh of relief, a confirmation that I'd done my job," she shares.
"I feel like I represent all those working actors whose faces you recognize but might not know their names. Being entrusted with a lead role after such a diverse career is truly a gift," she adds.
If 'Elsbeth' continues to follow the success of 'Columbo' and other iconic police procedurals, Preston may find herself portraying Tascioni for another decade. And she's more than content with that prospect. "I'll play this character as long as people want me to," she declares. "In our volatile industry, nothing is guaranteed. So, to have this opportunity to not only reprise the role but also double the episodes in season two, I'm grateful every day. I'll cherish it while it lasts."
