‘It’s A Full Circle Moment For Me:’ Elsbeth’s Wendell Pierce Shares The Sweet Story Behind Why Vanessa Williams Guest Starring Role Was So Special To Him

‘It’s A Full Circle Moment For Me:’ Elsbeth’s Wendell Pierce Shares The Sweet Story Behind Why Vanessa Williams Guest Starring Role Was So Special To Him

As a fan who cherishes behind-the-scenes stories and the connections that bind actors to their characters, I am absolutely thrilled about this week’s episode of Elsbeth. The fact that Wendell Pierce and Vanessa Williams have known each other since high school adds an extraordinary layer of authenticity and emotion to their on-screen dynamic. Their friendship spanning decades is a testament to the power of art and its ability to bring people together, even before they’ve had a chance to make a name for themselves.


In our series, we all have our desired celebrity cameos, and in Season 2, we’ve already welcomed fantastic ones like Nathan Lane as a lethal opera enthusiast and Christian Borle portraying his character from “The Good Wife”. This week, we extend this impressive lineup with the addition of Vanessa Williams. Yet, her fame isn’t what makes this guest role unique; she shares a personal bond with one of our main actors, Wendell Pierce.

During the broadcast of Elsbeth’s Season 2 in the year 2024 television lineup, I was fortunate enough to interview its main cast members, Wendell Pierce and Carrie Preston, at New York Comic-Con. During our conversation, we discussed the upcoming fourth episode titled “Elsbeth’s Eleven,” featuring guest star Vanessa Williams. As soon as the topic came up, Pierce was eager to share a heartwarming anecdote about their past and why her appearance in the show holds such personal significance for him. He explained:

It feels quite serendipitous for me to say that I find myself back where it all started – in high school, I crossed paths with Vanessa. We were both part of an arts recognition and talent search program at the time. My very first weekend in New York was spent at her home. Over the years, we’ve remained friends, and every opportunity to collaborate with her has been a delight.

Read More About Elsbeth’s Upcoming Guest Stars

‘It’s A Full Circle Moment For Me:’ Elsbeth’s Wendell Pierce Shares The Sweet Story Behind Why Vanessa Williams Guest Starring Role Was So Special To Him

In the upcoming season 2 of Elsbeth, showrunner reveals the reasoning behind casting Carrie Preston’s real-life husband, Michael Emerson as a guest star. This is how they strategically bring in performers with existing relationships for a more authentic and engaging experience.

Indeed, that’s a truly heartwarming moment. For over three decades, both Pierce and Williams have been diligently making their marks in the industry. To witness them collaborating again on this delightful series feels like completing a full loop, as the actor himself described it.

Additionally, what enhances the appeal is that this installment tackles themes beyond mere murder; it includes a heist as well. The character portrayed by Williams is not only a high-end client of a jewelry store but also masterminds the heist. However, she’s also implicated in the poisoning of an employee at the store.

It’s a super fun mystery that’s different from the others Elsbeth and co. have solved, and Pierce went on to tell me that Williams was incredible in her role. He also noted that she would tell everyone that they’ve been friends for a very long time, as he explained:

Not only is she incredibly at ease, but she’s the type of person who always seems completely comfortable in her own skin. She exudes a sense of tranquility that’s hard to ignore, and it was truly a full-circle moment when we realized we had come full circle since our teenage years. We would often find ourselves reminiscing, “Remember when we first met?” And she would casually remind us, “Wendell and I have been friends since we were teenagers,” making it all the more special to work with her.

Indeed, I’m deeply fond of this scenario for their potential reunion. To be honest, it also stirs within me a wish that actor Williams could reprise his role in Elsbeth, regardless of the result of this episode, so we can enjoy seeing him and the actor from The Wire together once more.

Carrie Preston spoke highly of her fellow actor’s friend. She shared that collaborating with the actress from ‘Ugly Betty’ was motivating, and she admired her dedication and unique portrayal of the character. In her own words:

She’s incredibly attractive, approachable, and has an impressive leadership quality all wrapped up in one. I find this combination truly captivating, something I both appreciate and aspire to emulate. She effortlessly embodied the role from the start.

In this episode, Vanessa Williams isn’t the only long-standing friend of the cast. Her on-screen bestie will be portrayed by Jenn Lyon, who is also one of Preston’s close friends. Thus, this episode boasts several strong pairings both on and off screen. As the actress from Claws shared with me, they “were all in capable hands.

In summary, Pierce’s captivating tale underscored the interconnectedness of our world within this week’s installment of Elsbeth. On the other hand, Preston emphasized the powerful and natural influence of Vanessa Williams. As a whole, their insights have only intensified my excitement for an episode I was already eagerly anticipating due to my fondness for heist narratives.

In simple terms, This episode of ‘Elsbeth’ is not to be missed! It features an exciting crime and brings back some cherished friends, which we always enjoy! To catch Wendell Pierce and Vanessa Williams together on screen, tune in to CBS this Thursday, November 7 at 10 p.m. ET or stream it the following day with a Paramount+ subscription.

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2024-11-07 04:37