Michelle Monaghan on Her Bad Marriage with Woody Harrelson in HBO's New Cult Series 'True Detective'
by Emily Zemler
If you’ve been following HBO's True Detective, you know that the new show is pretty addictive. The series, which stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, follows two detectives over the course of nearly 20 years as they deal with the investigation of a serial killer. But ironically, the most compelling character is not either detective, but Maggie Hart, wife to Harrelson’s character, played by Michelle Monaghan, an actress generally seen on the big screen.
We spoke with the actress about her new show, how her fashion choices have changed over the years, and what she been shopping for lately.
When you make a dark show like 'True Detective' how much fun is there actually on set?
You know what, there was a lot. It was a long project – it was like six months and believe me it was very very dark at times. But at the same time you can’t maintain that and you’re working with the likes of Woody Harrelson, who is about one of the funniest guys you can come across, and Matthew.
They take their work very seriously but in general they don’t take life very seriously. They know how to have fun and they have great senses of humor. It was a ball!
Why do you think we're so obsessed with these kinds of dark shows right now?
They take their work very seriously but in general they don’t take life very seriously. They know how to have fun and they have great senses of humor. It was a ball!
Why do you think we're so obsessed with these kinds of dark shows right now?
This particular piece is just so riveting. It’s a really haunting drama. It’s more about the expiration of relationships with a backdrop of this investigation. The series runs the course of 19 years so you really see these men and their relationship and all these other personal details in their lives get revealed. You see how the actual investigation shapes their personal lives. People appreciate a good adult drama and the writing here is so phenomenal. And it’s beautifully shot.
What drew you to the character?
The arc of this particular character. She is the wife of Woody Harrelson’s character and she’s really struggling to keep their family intact. Their marriage is not in a good place. Their home is beginning to be an increasingly intense place to be. As the story progresses she becomes more desperate and ultimately does some very cunning things. She’s a bit of a slow burn. Without giving away too much, both of the men make the mistake of underestimating her. And I’d also never had the opportunity to develop a character over such a long span of time. And to physically age onscreen. That was really interesting.