TV & Movies
The actor relishes the material she explores inBarry, HBOs anti-morality play.
TheBreaking Badcomparisons came fast forBarrywhen it premiered in 2018.
But Sarah Goldberg, who plays Sally, embraces her characters shortcomings.
After all, as Goldberg says, Nobody is just one thing.
Hitler loved his dog.
Goldberg has much more insight into her characters situation than Sally does herself.
Half of this show is full of incredibly graphic violence.
These characters are in really extreme circumstances that most of us wouldnt find ourselves in.
Sally operates in much the same way.
And thats what all the characters have in common.
I think that that passive aggressive violence that you bring up is really interesting.
Do you use it wisely?
I thought a lot about Tom [Wambsgans] onSuccession.
Hes my favorite character on TV right now.
Matthew Macfadyen [who plays him] is so good.
Hes a perfect example of someone whos constantly bullied, and you feel [for] him.
[The writers] really wanted to explore that with Sally.
Its not out of malice.
Its not intentional in any way.
Its like breathing in and out for her.
And that sort of guile is cruelty.
We thought a lot about it and I had a lot of input there, actually.
I wanted to show exactly what youre talking about.
We could have made a very nice version of that.
So I really fought for that because its really important.
So this is how people can speak to each other and, again, not intentionally.
In her mind, shes empowering Natalie.
She got her a great job.
They have that moment where theyre like, Well, what do we do?
Who do we even talk to, and what did he actually do?
Because of [Sallys] past, shes in a patterned behavior.
There was an ecosystem that were all still unpacking and trying to rectify.
And the show does a brave job of showing that nuance.
Exactly, and am I a good person, and what constitutes a good person?
Thats not spoiling anything.
Thats the kind of work I want to make.
Thats the kind of story that interests me.
Weve all done things that we regret.
Weve all made mistakes.
And those mistakes dont necessarily define us as a person.
Or are you only a good person when it doesnt cost you anything?
This interview has been edited and condensed.
This article was originally published onMay 2, 2022
