'How To Get Away With Murder’ star Liza Weil shares how Viola Davis taught her to be brave and gave her confidence
She is best known for her starring role as Paris Geller in the comedy-drama series ‘Gilmore Girls’ and its Netflix revival series ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’, followed by her portrayal of the White House aide, Amanda Tanner in the political drama series ‘Scandal’. But her character of attorney Bonnie Winterbottom in the hit legal drama series ‘How to Get Away with Murder’, is what gets all the attention. We got into a candid conversation with Liza Weil at the Paley Center for Media and learned more about how she became Bonnie Winterbottom. We have seen her in iconic roles in earlier shows and were curious about what excited her to be a part of the HTGAWM family.
“The pilot episode of the series was one of the most amazing things that I have ever read, or seen. In fact, Bonnie was a very presence in the pilot. I am not sure I would have ended being a part of this show if she had a bigger presence. It is always amazing to be considered for such a big project with talented actors and the kind of story that we are telling is really exciting. It does feel grateful”, she excitedly commented.
On the show, Bonnie meets with an almost fatal accident and cannot help but be scared about the fate of other characters. While we might assume that one near-death experience would save her, Liza has the promptest response saying “No one is safe”, an answer that you could expect only from a character of HTGAWM.
For someone who has worked with myriad actors and artists over the years, some for a short time, while the others for longer, we were intrigued to know about how it was working with the lead character Viola Davis and for so many years at a stretch. Liza had the most touching response to our query.
“It’s an amazing thing to be able to look in her eyes in a particular scene and learn, or even be with her every day. She has taught me so much. Most importantly, our equation goes beyond work. We have daughters of the same age and they are friends, they visit us on the set, and that creates a wonderful bond between us. She has taught me to be brave and helped me learn so much about myself, and helped boost my confidence.”
As the current trends of television shows go, we wonder if a reprisal of HTGAWM would ensue in the near future. Liza seemed excited to be a part of such a project, if it at all happens. “I would love to be a part of such a project if it ever happens. It’s quite hard to let this just go and if there is a possibility of all of us reuniting, that would be great!”
On that note, we bid adieu to Bonnie Winterbottom and the team of HTGAWM as they head for a fall/winter break and come back in a few months with the climax episodes of the final season.
Watch the second half of ‘HTGAWAM’ Season 6 as it returns after the holidays on April 2, 2020 at 10 pm ET, only on ABC.
