HBO will debut its limited series, White House Plumbers, starring Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt and Justin Theroux as G. Gordon Liddy, on May 1.
The show tells the story of how Watergate masterminds Hunt and Liddy overturned President Richard Nixon’s presidency, a presidency they were desperately trying to protect.
The show also stars Leana Headey, Kiernan Shipka, and Judy Greer.
Greer, who has had memorable roles in Jurassic World, 13 Going on 30, Jawbreaker, and more recently Halloween Kills, plays Fran Liddy, the wife of Liddy, who was convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping for his role in Watergate.
Greer talked with Northern Virginia Magazine about the series and more.
Tell us more about White House Plumbers. Was it fun working with such a talented cast?
Greer: I was fascinated by this version of the story. Part of it is kind of funny in a way. Obviously, Watergate is not funny, but parts of it are kind of comical. And I think, based on what’s happening in the country politically, it’s interesting to look back on other moments in American history and see how we have evolved. I love looking at what’s going on currently through the lens of history because, I think, at least for me, it’s a lot less scary.
I’ve done a couple of projects with Woody, and I love working with him. I’ve always wanted to work with [director] Dave Mandel and HBO, too. I also 100 percent developed a crush on Lena because she’s the coolest. I’ve never worked with Justin before, but I’d always heard amazing things about him and he lived up to them. He was so fun and funny.
There is not much out there about Fran Liddy. Was it fun to sort of take a historical character and have a bit of your own spin on her?
Greer: You’re often in the moment shooting and you’re all dressed up, playing a character from another time period and you think ‘Maybe this will be cool-looking.’ One thing we all decided was really important was to make it work that she was hopelessly devoted to her husband. I always found that to be a really helpful thing because it explains a lot about who she is and why she kind of puts up with his antics. I’ve seen all five episodes already, and I was so impressed.
What was it like shooting in DC? Did you get a chance to explore a bit?
Greer: It was my first time shooting in Washington, DC, and I fell head over heels in love with the city. I’m kind of in awe of it. We had so much fun and actually stayed in the Watergate Hotel. I was kind of geeking out about that. I spent most of my days off wandering around town, checking out the museums and Julia Child’s house which I was really excited about.
It was summertime and so warm out. I remember a bunch of us went on a long, late-night walk to check out the monuments. We started at the Lincoln Memorial and made our way toward the Washington Monument. We stumbled upon another production and quickly realized it was ours. I felt like I was in my 20s again.
I also went to a women’s march and the best yarn store — Looped Yarn Works.
While watching your movies and shows, it’s easy to see that you are a relatable, down-to-earth person with the roles that you take on. What’s the process like for choosing roles that are best for you? You seem to pick memorable characters.
Greer: I hate to burst your bubble, but these days I look for the people I am going to work with. I’m interested in working with cool people who are going to teach me something and people I can learn from. I want to walk away from a project and be like, ‘Oh, I made a great friend,’ or ‘I learned so much from that person.’ Honestly, in our business, you just never know how something’s going to turn out and how others will receive it when it airs. The best thing I can do is try and make it fun.
Feature photo courtesy HBO
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