Carrie Preston continues to shine as Elsbeth Tascioni in Elsbeth, a role that recently earned her a Critics Choice nomination and widespread acclaim. With Season 3 now streaming and available to viewers into spring, Preston reflects on the character’s enduring charm, her Southern roots, and the joy she hopes the series continues to bring audiences.
What excites you most about returning to Elsbeth for Season 3?
What delights me is that Elsbeth still feels like this li’l meteor streaking through the procedural universe. She moves through New York with this mix of awe and curiosity — like she’s both mapping the city and falling in love with it at the same time. And the writers keep handing me these wonderfully intricate puzzles to play with. I feel like I’m hopping onto a moving carousel and seeing which new horse I get to ride.
How do you keep Elsbeth fresh while maintaining qualities fans love?
By Season 3, the audience really knows her rhythms, so I love shaking things up a bit. The shift from a Chicago law firm to a New York police precinct gave her a whole new world to bounce around in — new personalities, new rules she may or may not follow. And I adore discovering the “Elsbits,” as I call them: the funny, physical ways that Elsbeth embodies every moment. The audience expects them, but I like to dig deeper for a new emotional note or make an unpredictable choice, so she remains surprising, even to herself.
What does it mean to see Elsbeth resonate so deeply with viewers?
It lands so deeply when someone tells me our show makes them smile or that it helped them through a tough time or that they watch it with their loved ones. Elsbeth is such a glass-half-full person — not naïve, but actively hopeful — and it’s moving to hear that some of that attitude is infectious. If a little of her optimism spills into someone’s real life, that’s a gift.
How has your Southern upbringing shaped your work?
I was raised by a family that embraced artistic creativity and expression. The freedom and encouragement to pursue acting as my life’s work was invaluable. My parents never tried to persuade me to pursue a “backup profession,” and I’m eternally grateful. I often draw on my Southern background in character work — most obviously as Arlene in True Blood and in My Best Friend’s Wedding. And the innate Southern hospitality in me has been put to great use as I welcome guest stars each week on Elsbeth. I want everyone to feel like they just walked into someone’s home.
What do you hope audiences carry with them after Season 3?
Elsbeth reminds me, and I hope viewers too, that life is brighter when you embrace all things, love your people fiercely, stay curious, and embrace wonder, even when life is messy. My hope is that audiences leave each episode with a smile and maybe a little more appreciation for the joy in everyday life, especially when there are mysteries to solve.
