Academy Award winner Keith Carradine (“Nashville”) chatted about starring in the new series “Imperfect Women” on Apple TV.
In this new psychological thriller TV series, nothing stays secret forever. It is based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name.
“Imperfect Women” examines a crime that shatters the lives of three women in a decades-long friendship.
The unconventional thriller explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that irrevocably alter our lives.
As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest friendships may not be what they seem.
Experience filming ‘Imperfect Women’
On being a part of “Imperfect Women,” he said, “That was great. I had a really good time. It’s funny because I played Joel Kinnaman’s father.”
“My wife has been telling me for 10 years that if I ever get a chance to play Joel Kinnaman’s father, I should take it, because we really look like we can be father and son in real life. Also, Joel looks a lot like I did at his age,” he explained.
Carradine on playing the father of Joel Kinnaman’s character
“It’s interesting when I go back and look at pictures of myself in my late 30s and early 40s,” he noted. “It definitely works in terms of casting. Then, it’s funny because the first day I got on set and Joel came out of his trailer, and we officially met.”
Carradine continued, “Joel is such a good guy, and he was enthusiastic about me getting cast in the role. Ironically enough, his wife has been telling him for 10 years that I should play his father. When Joel came into work, he told me that his wife was looking at pictures, and she told him that I look more like his father than his father does.”
“So, that was fun. Then, getting to work with this cast was terrific. Jill Wagner was fabulous in her role as my daughter,” he added.
Being drawn to R.L. Hennessey in ‘Imperfect Women’
On playing his character, R.L. Hennessey, Carradine said, “Well, it’s interesting to be tasked with playing somebody who is completely venal and whose only concern is material, and that’s where he operates from.”
“It seems that we’re in a moment now in society where there are a lot of those people around who are controlling many things,” he noted.
“I felt as though I was given the opportunity to sort of tap into that sensibility, and especially when it came to playing the scenes with Joel, where I was obviously in the habit of bullying this child of mine his entire life,” he elaborated.
“It was a fun role to sink my teeth into. Then, when you look at the arc of the character and the final scene that Joel and I had to play together, it was just so good. Overall, it was a nice arc that I had,” he explained.
Working with Kerry Washington as an executive producer
Carradine had great words about working with Kerry Washington as an executive producer. “Kerry was there for the last scene that I had with Joel,” Carradine said. “So, that was the only real opportunity that I had to work with her.”
“Obviously, I had a couple of scenes with Kate Mara, whom I’ve worked with before on a movie called ‘The Californians.’ So, that was a bit of a reunion for the two of us, and it was a terrific experience,” he elaborated.
Carradine on his Oscar win for ‘I’m Easy’ from ‘Nashville’
In 1976, he won the Academy Award for “Best Original Song” for “I’m Easy,” which was featured in the motion picture “Nashville.”
“That was so cool,” he admitted. “I was so happy… that was so awesome!”
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, Carradine said, “I’m trying to find my way. I suppose I’m a bit of a Luddite. I’m old school, I have fond and vivid memories of the world with no cell phones. You know, that was, most of my young adult life; cell phones didn’t come into being until I was in my 30s.”
Carradine continued, “I miss the days when you got in your car, drove around, you were alone, and you were unreachable… you had your thoughts to yourself, and you were listening to music or the radio.”
“You didn’t get a phone call while you were driving, or a text, or some email that made you feel as though you have to urgently respond,” he elaborated.
“This new technology is a bit of tyranny now with all this new technology you’re dealing with and all these new technological advances and AI,” he noted.
“This is what Aldous Huxley called the ‘Brave New World’,” he added.
Plans for the future
Regarding his future plans, he shared, “A friend of mine directed a wonderful movie that I might be working with, but I can’t talk about it yet because it is not official yet. I have to be discreet about it but I’ve several films in the can that I did.”
“I worked on some indie films, and they are primarily comedic in tone, which was fun,” he added.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, Carradine shared, “Obviously, being recognized as a songwriter in the way that I had music in a film was certainly definitive. That was an interesting and very heady moment.”
“I was 25 years old and, and I was on the A-list for about six months, so that was cool,” he admitted. “That afforded me the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people.”
Carradine on being influenced by Robert Altman
A major defining moment was working with Honorary Oscar winner Robert Altman, the late iconic director and filmmaker.
“Also, being picked by the late Robert Altman to be a part of his repeat stable of actors was a real honor. I’ve worked with him three times as an actor,” he elaborated. “Robert was an extraordinary filmmaker, and he never compromised.”
“Robert always let it all hang out. He would take giant steps, and he would take giant chances, and he would have enormous successes,” he noted.
“Robert would also have films that didn’t do so well that wouldn’t connect with the audience for whatever reason. He also spoke about how those films were his favorites and he would have a special place in his heart for them because he was the sire of those projects,” he elaborated.
“These films (that many people might not have liked) were his ‘orphans.’ Whenever people asked him what his favorite film was, he would usually say the last one he would make,” Carradine explained.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Carradine revealed, “The Contentment of Wisdom.”
Carradine listed “tolerance” as his superpower of choice.
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Carradine said, “Success means happiness in life, which has more to do with love and family than anything else.”
“Love comes first, and work comes second. Work is important — it’s on the list — but not as substantial as love,” he added.
Message for his fans
For his fans, Carradine expressed, “Thank you for watching and thank you for any time you have approved of what I’ve put out there as a storyteller.”
Closing thoughts on ‘Imperfect Women’
Carradine remarked, “All you get out of anything is the experience of doing it. That’s the only thing you really get. If what you’ve done turns out to be good, then that’s a bonus. Also, the time you spend working together with those people, that’s the only thing that’s real.”
“So, that’s what I look for every time I go to work,” he noted. “That’s what I come away with as the reward of having been given that opportunity… is the chance to have worked and spent time with those people under those circumstances.”
Greek business magnate Aristotle Onassis once said: “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
An individual who has been bringing light, positivity, and levity to music, film, and TV fans worldwide for well over 50 years is veteran entertainer Keith Carradine. His life story is an inspiration to us all.
