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Brenda Strong Reflects on the Impact of Desperate Housewives

Brenda Strong, best known for her role as Mary Alice Young on the iconic television series Desperate Housewives, shares her unique journey with the show and its recognition.

Strong vividly recalls the moment she became aware of the show’s widespread popularity. “I was in a Starbucks, ordering my tea, when someone recognized my voice and called me ‘Mary Alice,’” she explains. This moment marked a significant turning point in her life, prompting her to think carefully about her interactions with others, as she became cognizant that her voice alone could trigger recognition. “I realized that I needed to be mindful of how I speak to people on the phone because they may know who I am just by my voice,” she adds.

In the world of Desperate Housewives, Strong portrayed the character of Mary Alice Young, who initiates the series with her tragic suicide in the very first episode. Following her death, her friends—Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Weston (Marcia Cross), and Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher)—embark on a quest to uncover the secrets surrounding her life. Strong’s soothing and insightful narration guided viewers through the series, often appearing in crucial flashbacks that emphasized the emotional depth of the story.

“When we first aired, the audience’s reception was overwhelmingly positive,” she recalls, acknowledging a collective intuition that they had created something special. Despite the eventual association between her voice and the character of Young, Strong initially faced hurdles in securing the role. A filming overlap led to another actress being cast for the pilot. However, that show did not continue, allowing Strong to audition for a character that would define her career.

Strong reflects, “When they reconsidered casting, it was clear they wanted someone with a distinctive vocal quality for Mary Alice.” She was lucky to be available to audition, as her circumstances permitted her to walk into the audition room during a break from performing in Montana.

During her audition with creator Marc Cherry, Strong was advised to perform without concern for appearance, with the lights dimmed and all eyes closed. “He told me to just tell a story,” she recounts, a request that helped her achieve a successful audition, ultimately leading to a role she cherished. “I felt hopeful when he asked whether I could step back from my commitments in Montana,” she says, reflecting her optimism about the opportunity.

Mastering the voice of Mary Alice wasn’t an instinctive process for Strong. “It’s a unique voice that contrasts with how I typically speak,” she admits. Strong attributes the vocal stylization to the intricacies of Cherry’s writing, which emphasizes both rhythm and pitch, creating a distinctive narration style referred to as MAVO (Mary Alice Voiceover).

To refine her performance, producer Michael Edelstein offered insightful advice: “He suggested that I drop my voice down into my heart.” This guidance transformed her approach, shifting the narration from mere commentary to a compassionate expression of the emotional struggles faced by the characters. Strong believes that the reason the show continues to resonate lies in its relatability. “These female characters resonate deeply because they embody archetypes that audiences can identify with,” she states. “Mary Alice serves as the soul of the series, illuminating universal truths about human struggles.”

Desperate Housewives is currently available for streaming in its entirety on Hulu.

Source
people.com