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“I Think Bertha Is Actually Quite Noble”: The Gilded Age’s Carrie Coon Defends Bertha’s Season 3 Marriage Plan For Gladys

Published

6 days ago

3rd July 2025

Carrie Coon defends Bertha Russell’s “noble” intentions to marry her daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) to the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb) in The Gilded Age season 3. Known for her single-minded ambition for status in high society, many audience members feel that Bertha crossed a line when she promised her daughter’s hand in marriage to the Duke. Carrie Coon, however, sees Bertha’s point of view.

Speaking to The Official Gilded Age Podcast with her co-star, Morgan Spector, Carrie Coon eloquently defended Bertha’s motivations and her plan to wed Gladys to Hector, Duke of Buckingham. Coon tells hosts Alicia Malone and Tom Meyers why the “power, influence, impact” that Bertha wants for Gladys is also what Bertha wants for herself. Read Carrie’s quote and watch the podcast below:

Alicia Malone: What do you think motivates Bertha? She says she wants the best for her daughter, but…
Carrie Coon: I think that’s true. Yes, she does. Now, you can disagree with how she goes about it or what she thinks that means, but for Bertha, what she wants and cannot have for herself is power, influence, impact. Her sphere is very limited and she does not want that for her daughter. Nor does she feel that her daughter’s life will ultimately be fulfilling without that probability.
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And so, she wants her daughter – even though her daughter is not ready for it yet and claims she doesn’t want it – she knows that well, after 30 years [of] doing the same thing every day, you might not feel that way. So she wants to keep those avenues open for her daughter to be a public figure because that’s what Bertha wants for herself.
And she knows the world is not set up to take care of women. Women have to take care of themselves. They don’t have the vote. They rely on men. They have to influence men to get what they need. And so she wants her to be in the upper echelon of society where she will be protected also, and where her rights will be protected. And, if she gets any rights, she’ll be first. First in line for those rights.
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So I think Bertha is actually quite noble in her effort. And she doesn’t feel that little Billy is ultimately going to be a stimulating partner for her daughter, who maybe maybe maybe isn’t the person she sees in front of her. Maybe. Maybe she wants more for Gladys than Gladys wants for herself, but that’s what a mother wants. As much as she can get.

Why Bertha Russell Does Want What’s Best For Gladys In The Gilded Age Season 3

Even Though Bertha’s Family Doesn’t See It That Way

Carrie Coon’s spirited defense of Bertha Russell makes several good points, despite her family’s opposition. Bertha’s ambition aside, she is correct that Gladys marrying the Duke of Buckingham would place her in the upper echelon of society, not just in New York, but the world. Gladys is also 18 and lacks the wisdom and worldliness to see the advantages that becoming Duchess of Buckingham will bestow upon her.

Gladys Russell terrified in The Gilded Age

“He Failed”: The Gilded Age Actor Explains Gladys’ Heartbreaking Fiancé Twist In Season 3 Episode 2

The Gilded Age’s Taissa Farmiga explains Gladys Russell state of mind after her fiancé, Billy Carlton, breaks her heart in season 3, episode 2.

Gladys wants to marry for love, but her would-be fiancé, Billy Carlton (Matt Walker), easily gave up on his hopes of marrying Gladys. Bertha is right that her daughter can do better. What makes Bertha seem cruel is how she disregards Gladys’s desires and opinion of the Duke. Like many arranged marriages, Bertha’s expectation is that love can grow, but more important is Gladys’ protection and security.

Our Take On Whether Bertha Russell Is “Noble” In The Gilded Age Season 3

Maybe Mother Does Know Best

Carrie Coon as Bertha wearing an embroidered red cloak in The Gilded Age

Bertha Russell may seem unreasonable and unrelenting in her plot to marry Gladys to the Duke, and even Morgan Spector cracked up at Carrie Coon’s assertion that Bertha is being “noble.” After all, the bottom line is that Bertha is selling her daughter to the Duke in exchange for power and influence. Bertha’s methods aside, however, her endgame for Gladys is something her daughter wouldn’t be able to attain for herself.

Carrie Coon’s assessment of Bertha’s tactics is logical.

Carrie Coon approached Bertha Russell’s motivation as a fellow mother since she had to embody and play Bertha in The Gilded Age season 3. I’m impressed by how Coon empathizes with her character, who is, understandably, being cast as a villain from outside perspectives. Given The Gilded Age‘s time period, Carrie Coon’s assessment of Bertha’s tactics is logical. Maybe Gladys may even thank her mother in the future if she does marry Hector and becomes Duchess of Buckingham.

Source: The Official Gilded Age Podcast