Melissa McBride: “She’s a Rare Talent”
The Walking Dead is not known for getting a lot of attention from awards shows, so it felt like validation for the whole TWD Family when Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier) was nominated for a Critics Choice TV Award. Hopefully that’s just the first step on the path to the 2014 Emmy Awards — and one person who would be thrilled to see Melissa honored is TWD’s fearless leader, Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes).
The Emmy nominations will be revealed on July 10, and AMC produced a campaign to promote the cast of TWD Season 4. Fans and critics have shared hopes for several stars — including Danai Gurira, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs, and Andy himself — but there’s been a special push to give Melissa an Emmy.
Season 5 is now in production, and Gold Derby talked to Andy about the past and future of the show, mentioning how Melissa was singled out at Critics Choice TV Awards. Andy worked with Melissa a lot in the first half of the season, and Carol had a huge showcase in the second half in Episode 14, “The Grove.” What’s it been like for Andy to see Carol’s character develop over the past four seasons, and to see Melissa get recognition?
“It makes me so happy,” Andy said, and he really got animated about it complimenting Melissa, which you can see in the full video below. “It makes me more happy than getting recognition myself, because she’s … any actor that has acted with Melissa McBride knows they’re in the company of — I won’t say genius, but a uniqueness that is extraordinary, and incredibly captivating. I mean I came to this country to work with people of that quality.”
He said she’s a perfect example of how the ethos of the show is developed — that you are rewarded for your talent.
“Melissa McBride said maybe five sentences in the first season and now look at what she’s done,” he continued. “It’s wonderful when you see talent, pure talent, being recognized in this way, and even more thrilling when critically it’s recognized as well. The fans knew it quite some time ago, I think, but it’s wonderful that she had the opportunity and had that incredible episode to show what she is more than capable of doing. She’s a rare talent.”
Well! Isn’t he just the sweetest thing? Andy also gushed about his on-screen son, saying Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes) arrived on set as a 32-year-old trapped in a 10-year-old’s body and they lucked out to find him. If he was asked about each member of the cast he’d surely find something wonderful to say about them. He just happened to be asked about Melissa’s awards recognition and he had a lot of great things to say. Of course, anytime anyone is asked about Andy they rave just as much, and interview like this just show why.
The Walking Dead Season 5 premieres in October on AMC.
