NEED TO KNOW
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Laurie Metcalf spoke candidly to PEOPLE about why she never watches plays she might one day star in, saying it helped her see Linda Lohman in a new light. the play "Death of a Salesman".
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The 2026 Tony Award nominee says she sees Linda not as a "doormat" but as a key figure in the play's tragedy, which helped shape her critically acclaimed performance.
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When he's not performing, Metcalfe relaxes by watching reality television, calling it a way to study "human behavior in its most raw form.".
If Meryl Streep retires from acting, we'll blame Laurie Metcalf. .
Back in April, the three-time Oscar winner jokingly told PEOPLE that after seeing Metcalf in the Broadway production, «Death of a Salesman» , she is ready to end her career.
«"I don't know how to act... When I see other people doing it, I think, 'How did she do that?'" Streep said, noting that she had just attended Joe Mantello's production of Arthur Miller's classic. "I can't believe Laurie Metcalf. And I thought, 'I better retire, because I have no idea how the hell she did that.'".
«"What an artist," she added. "What an artist.".
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It's hard to imagine higher praise. But in Metcalf's case, it's well deserved.
Over a career spanning theater, television, and film, the two-time Tony Award winner and four-time Emmy Award winner has earned a reputation for bringing unexpected facets to characters audiences thought they already understood. Her performances are so nuanced, so deeply nuanced, and so unmistakably human that even the most familiar roles can feel entirely new.
This is exactly what she does in the play "Death of a Salesman"« .
As Linda Loman, the resilient wife who spends much of Arthur Miller's classic play trying to hold together a family crumbling under the weight of disappointment, denial, and dashed hopes, Metcalf found new dimensions in a character often overshadowed by the tragedy unfolding around her.
Laurie Metcalfe and Nathan Lane in Death of a Salesman Photo: Emilio Madrid
Rather than portraying Linda as a passive observer of her family's disintegration due to her husband Willie's (played by Nathan Lane) problems, Metcalf sees her as a full participant in the family's conflicts - a woman whose love, devotion, and practicality make her far more complex than the long-suffering wife she is often portrayed as.
«"I didn't know what to expect from Linda Lohman," Metcalf, 70, tells PEOPLE. "I always heard… Oh, she's just… I don't want to say she's a pushover, but that's what I heard.".
This interpretation never satisfied the actress. Instead, Metcalf began asking herself a different question.
«"How can Linda be a truly fulfilling and loyal partner to Willie if she just stands aside?" the actress recalls while studying the script.
Laurie Metcalf, Chris Abbott, Ben Ehlers, and Nathan Lane in the Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman." Photo: Emilio Madrid
This answer led her to a realization that completely changed her role.
«"She's really the catalyst that sets everything in motion," Metcalf says. "When I was thinking about the story, I never imagined her as the one who sets off the chain of events that leads to the finale.".
It's this reading of the character that helps explain why Metcalf's Linda is so different from many other heroines who came before her. The actress sees a woman whose boundless devotion to her husband is not only admirable—she's also, at times, indulgent.
«"I think you can get to the point where you indulge people, making them lie to themselves," she says. "So I know for a fact that's what she does with Willie.".
Laurie Metcalf at the 2026 Drama League Awards. Photo: Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Metcalf believes she was able to arrive at this interpretation in part because she approached the role without having any memory of other actors.
This is intentional. Metcalf says she long avoided watching productions in which she might one day star, preferring to approach the script with as few preconceived notions as possible.
«"Yeah, that was my modus operandi," she says with a laugh. "Now I'm running out of options, but I'm so glad I never did it, honestly, because I didn't want someone else's version of it in my head that was too hard to shake. You'll always remember it a certain way.".
Metcalf says that without any ideas in her head about the other actor's interpretation, she felt "more free to just follow whatever script" Miller had.
Critics and audiences took notice of her. Her work in «Death of a Salesman» earned her rave reviews and a 2026 Tony Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Play. It was one of nine nominations the production received, including Best Revival of a Play and Best Actor for Lane.
The play "Death of a Salesman"« marks the first half of an unusually busy year for Metcalf, who also received acclaim for her performance in the Broadway production of Samuel D. Hunter's play "« Road to Little Bear Ridge"» and starred in the Netflix series «"Big mistakes ».
«"I may have taken on too much this year," she laughs. "But I've been very lucky. It's rare to get one truly good role in a year, let alone so many. And Linda is basically a bucket list role. So I'm thrilled to be playing her.".
What Metcalf doesn't enjoy is the physical strain of performing a three-hour play over an eight-week run, especially on days when there are two performances.
«"By the end of the show, we're all exhausted," Metcalf says. "I haven't done a play in a long time, even with an intermission. I'm spoiled.".
Laurie Metcalf and Dan Levy in "Big Mistakes." Photo: Spencer Paser/Netflix
However, the actress found a surprisingly suitable way to unwind after performing: reality TV. In particular, she "deeply" immersed herself in «Survivor »" - not just for fun, but because he views it as an unexpected experience in acting.
«"For me, reality TV is more of a study of human behavior in its rawest form," she explains. "I don't know how these people do it, but they forget about the cameras and just act naturally. That's what fascinates me.".
For Metcalf, who has spent decades creating some of the most acclaimed stage productions of her generation, these uninhibited moments can reveal truths that are sometimes hidden in a script.
«"I love competitions, qualifying rounds, and all that," she says. "But most of all, I love observing behavior. That's how I learn the most.".
The play "Death of a Salesman"« The show will conclude on August 9 at the Winter Garden Theatre. After that, Metcalf will return to the set to film the second season of the series. «"Big mistakes.".
But first comes the 2026 Tony Awards, where one of the theater's most distinguished actresses could once again be recognized for work that is unlike any other.
Be that as it may, after Streep's remark, Metcalf is already a winner. "It couldn't be better, right?" she said in program "Live with Kelly and Mark"« on Friday, May 29. "This is the best compliment I have ever received in my life.".
Tickets for the play "Death of a Salesman"« Now on sale. The 2026 Tony Awards ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7. The show will air live on both coasts on CBS (starting at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT) and will also be available to stream on Paramount+.
Read the original article on People.