Exploring Motherhood: Laura Benanti on Her Powerful Role as Jane in Hulu’s ‘Life & Beth’
In Hulu’s critically acclaimed series Life & Beth, Amy Schumer guides viewers through a poignant and often humorous exploration of self-discovery and the lasting impact of family. The series follows Beth, Schumer’s character, on an profound internal and external journey triggered by the sudden death of her mother, Jane, portrayed with remarkable depth by Broadway veteran Laura Benanti. As Beth grapples with her present, the narrative seamlessly weaves in flashbacks to her turbulent childhood, revealing a past shaped by complex family dynamics and subtle traumas.
Jane, Beth’s mother, emerges as an undeniable, albeit flawed, central figure in Beth’s formative years. Her actions, though sometimes misguided, were consistently rooted in a deep love for her children, alongside a personal yearning for external validation and a better life. HollywoodLife had the exclusive opportunity to speak with Laura Benanti about the nuances of Jane’s character, her relentless pursuit of “love” or “betterment” that often stemmed from a need for external approval, and how this profoundly affected her daughters. Benanti also shared her insights on the evolving nature of motherhood and how this powerful role has shaped her own understanding of parenting. Below, we delve into the highlights of our exclusive Q&A, offering a deeper look into the themes of Life & Beth and Benanti’s captivating performance.
Crafting Jane: A Nuanced Portrayal of a Flawed Mother
Laura Benanti’s involvement in Life & Beth came about through a pre-existing connection with Amy Schumer. Benanti revealed that their friendship blossomed during their time performing in Steve Martin’s Broadway production, Meteor Shower, which also starred Keegan-Michael Key and Jeremy Shamos. It was this rapport that led Schumer to directly approach Benanti for the role of Jane, Beth’s mother. Benanti’s enthusiastic acceptance was immediate, recognizing the potential for a deeply compelling character.
When asked what specifically drew her to Jane, Benanti highlighted the remarkable nuance embedded in all the characters within Life & Beth. She felt a particular resonance with Jane, seeing it as a role she was uniquely suited to inhabit. Her intrigue stemmed from a desire to investigate Jane’s worldview and how she navigated life’s challenges. Benanti explained that Jane, like many women of her generation, perceived the world through a “lens of lack.” In a time when societal options for women were severely limited, and in some ways still are, Jane believed her choices were stark: either secure a man to improve her life or endure suffering. This perspective, deeply ingrained, became the operating principle throughout her life, and observing how it inevitably impacted her daughters’ lives was a particularly fascinating aspect of the role for Benanti.
The series masterfully portrays how parental decisions, whether conscious or unconscious, shape a child’s development. Benanti emphasized the universal truth that parents are, at their core, just people. Children, especially when young, often idealize their caregivers, viewing them as all-knowing and infallible. However, as one matures, a deeper understanding emerges – one that acknowledges parents’ imperfections and the challenging circumstances they navigated. Life & Beth beautifully encapsulates this realization, showcasing Beth’s journey to come to terms with her mother’s choices, fostering an empathy that was impossible in her youth.
“One of the many things I love so much about this show is the idea, the notion, that we’re all just doing the best that we can,” Benanti stated. She praised the show for avoiding simplistic portrayals of good and evil characters. Instead, it presents a rich tapestry of “good people doing questionable things and questionable people doing good things,” all striving to survive and move through the world. The profound beauty of Life & Beth, according to Benanti, lies in its protagonist’s ability to transcend mere survival and ultimately thrive, recognizing the underlying love in her parents’ actions despite their human foibles.
The Echoes of Motherhood: Love, Hurt, and Generational Shifts
The emotional culmination of the series, particularly a powerful monologue delivered by Amy Schumer in the final episode, left an indelible mark on Benanti. She referred to it as one of the most affecting scenes she had ever witnessed, articulating the complex truth that “no one loves you like your mom, and no one hurts you like your mom.” This line resonated deeply with Benanti, herself a mother to a five-year-old daughter. She acknowledged the inevitability of unintentionally causing pain to her child, despite her boundless love. The show’s raw honesty in portraying this paradoxical bond, and Amy Schumer’s generosity in bringing such vulnerable truths to the screen, is something Benanti finds incredibly rare and moving.
Beth’s reflection that Jane often lived in her daydreams as a coping mechanism also struck a chord with Benanti. She views this as a realistic portrayal of many mothers, particularly those growing up in the tumultuous transition from the 1980s to the cusp of the new millennium. Jane, being a child of the 1950s, experienced an even more stark contrast in societal expectations. Benanti pointed out how dramatically women’s roles and opportunities have shifted over generations. She recalled her own childhood in the ’80s and ’90s, where media programming offered limited aspirations for young girls. Unlike today’s heroines like Elsa from Frozen or Moana, who embody strength and self-reliance, the prevalent narratives of her youth often suggested that a woman’s primary role was to be pretty, sing, and await a prince’s rescue.
One of the show’s greatest strengths, according to Benanti, is its refusal to paint Jane as a simple villain. While it would have been easy to blame Jane for Beth and her sister’s childhood traumas, Life & Beth opts for a more intricate exploration of human experience. It acknowledges Jane’s flaws and the pain she inadvertently caused, but it consistently underscores her profound love for her children and her genuine efforts to improve their lives. This complex portrayal highlights a crucial understanding: Jane lacked internal validation and, consequently, sought external approval. This pursuit, unfortunately, manifested in the “wisdom” she imparted to her daughters, such as teaching them to “act like you need a man” to gain attention. While such lessons undoubtedly contributed to trauma and less-than-ideal behaviors in her children, they were born from Jane’s own life experiences and the limited tools she had at her disposal. Benanti praised Amy Schumer’s ability to clearly convey that despite these challenges, the love was always present, urging viewers not to mistake a “lack of ability to see beyond one’s limitations” for malicious intent.
When asked if Jane ever believed she failed her children, Benanti offered a powerful insight: “I don’t think Jane could allow herself to go there.” This denial, common among those raised in the 1950s and ’60s, reflects a societal pressure to maintain an outward facade of perfection. Benanti referenced a scene where Jane dismisses her other daughter’s struggles with, “Your sister’s not calling you back, and I’ve done nothing wrong.” This highlights Jane’s inability to confront her own impact. Her influence shaped Beth into a people-pleaser seeking external validation, while her sister retreated into reclusiveness. Benanti believed that Jane simply couldn’t clearly see these outcomes without being utterly devastated by them.
Amy Schumer’s Brave Vision and Collaborative Spirit
Benanti was profoundly impressed by Amy Schumer’s courage in bringing such a deeply personal narrative to the screen. While fictionalized, elements of the show are clearly inspired by Schumer’s own childhood experiences, a vulnerability Benanti found incredibly brave. Working alongside Schumer was a deeply positive experience. Benanti described her as “generous, loving, warm, helpful, funny, and direct.” This directness was particularly appreciated, as actors always knew where they stood with Schumer, who communicated clearly and kindly. The environment Schumer fostered on set was remarkably loving and safe, a crucial element for actors delving into the deep emotional exploration required for such complex roles. Benanti admired the show’s unique comedic tone – laughter born not from cheap punchlines, but from a profound sense of recognition and truth, where audiences connect with shared feelings and experiences.
A Mother’s Evolving Perspective: Lessons from Playing Jane
The role of Jane significantly influenced Laura Benanti’s personal approach to motherhood. It helped her embrace the challenging truth that despite her best efforts, she will inevitably, albeit inadvertently, cause her child pain. This acceptance is not about negligence, but about acknowledging human fallibility. Her focus has shifted to the importance of repair and apology. If she behaves in a way she’s not proud of, she apologizes to her daughter, regardless of her age. Benanti believes in respecting her child as an individual, not merely an extension of herself to be tamed. While she was already on this path, playing Jane further illuminated the critical importance of fostering respect and understanding within the parent-child relationship.
Benanti also related to the theme of external validation, acknowledging that it resonates with many women, making the show’s narrative feel universally relatable. As a 42-year-old who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, raised by a mother of the ’50s, and with her own mother having been raised by a woman born in the ’20s, Benanti has witnessed firsthand the rapid and profound changes in women’s roles and expectations over a relatively short period. She recognizes the immense pressure across generations to adapt and catch up. This understanding reinforces her commitment to doing her best as a mother, while also accepting that sometimes her best might not be “good enough” in every moment. This acceptance, however, is not born of laziness, but rather a deliberate act of self-kindness as she navigates the complex and often “crazy” journey of raising a human being in today’s world.
Beyond her powerful role in Life & Beth, fans of Laura Benanti can also look forward to her reprising her role as Kiki in the second season of Gossip Girl. Benanti confirmed that Kiki will have a significant storyline, commencing around episode six, promising audiences much more of her character. However, she noted that at its heart, Gossip Girl remains a show centered on its younger cast, even as adult characters like Kiki contribute to its rich narrative tapestry.