Sandibel Miron made sure to binge-watch “House of Cards” before actress Robin Wright came to UF.
Wright made fans’ days when she spoke in the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Thursday night.
Miron, a UF biology sophomore, said she admires Wright’s role as Claire Underwood in the popular Netflix series, “House of Cards.”
“She’s such a good role model,” Miron, 20, said.
Wright is Accent Speaker’s Bureau’s last visitor for the semester, and she was paid $75,000.
During the moderated discussion with journalism professor Mike Foley, Wright talked about directing, her experiences acting on “House of Cards,” her classic role of Buttercup in “The Princess Bride” and her dedication to bringing peace to the Congo.
Foley asked Wright why she turned down roles in “Jurassic Park,” “Batman Forever,” “The Firm.”
She said she didn’t see much substance in those characters.
“Give me something challenging,” she said. “Give me something that I’m afraid of.”
She said she initially turned down “House of Cards” because it was a television series, and she said she felt it would be restrictive. The show’s executive producer, David Fincher, changed her mind when he told her the show would be streamed, which would give her the opportunity to develop her character.
Wright said she didn’t study politicians to prepare for the role of Claire. Instead, she studied how bald eagles interacted with their prey.
“Claire was so much more an animal to me,” she said.
Wright said she directed a couple of episodes while filming “House of Cards,” and she said she actually preferred directing over acting.
“It’s a very isolated experience, even though you are acting and reacting with others,” she said. “(With) directing, you’re working with every single department.”
Foley told Wright that Claire is often described as ruthless and conniving, and he asked if she agreed.
She didn’t.
Wright described Claire as industrial, convicted and efficient, an answer that spurred laughter from the audience.
A Q&A followed the discussion.
Many students asked what to expect in season four of “House of Cards.” Wright smiled and said they would just have to wait.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 - 4 on 4/17/2015]
Robin Wright, actress from “The Princess Bride,” and “House of Cards,” speaks at an Accent Speaker's Bureau event at the Philips Center of Performing Arts on Thursday. Wright spoke about getting back into TV, life on the House of Cards set and how she related to her characters. "Give me something challenging," she said while discussing roles she'd turned down. "Give me something that I'm afraid of."
