Robin Wright Almost Turned Down ‘House Of Cards’

Robin Wright almost turned down the chance to play Claire Underwood on the hit Netflix series House of Cards.

For those who don’t subscribe to the aforementioned company’s streaming service, you’re really missing out on one of the greatest television shows in recent memory. It’s smart, clever, and darkly hilarious, though you will have to use your brain a bit if you want to keep up with all the political jargon. In this writer’s humble opinion, Wright is one of the brightest aspects of the whole experience.

During her recent interview with Town & Country magazine, Robin Wright said she was a little concerned that Claire would simply stand in Frank Underwood’s shadow over the course of the series. If the character was nothing more than a pretty face, then she had no interest in signing on for the program.

“[Producer] David [Fincher] assured me that this would be a collaboration, that I could help create the character as we went along, that we would make discoveries together,” Wright explained to the publication.

The 48-year-old actress said that she always wants to navigate the wilds of Hollywood with “integrity.” Had the producers not given Robin enough to do on House of Cards, then she would have taken her considerable talent somewhere else. Fortunately for viewers, this simply wasn’t the case.

“I opted not to work if there wasn’t enough to do in a role, which doesn’t have to do with the role’s size. If there’s nothing for me to do as an actress, that’s frustrating. I’d rather go work at a menial labor job, where I can actually get my hands dirty,” she added.

The gamble certainly paid off. Claire Underwood is easily one of the most fascinating characters on the show, which is no doubt thanks Robin Wright’s dedication to the role. Not only is she a powerful woman who can match her male counterparts blow for blow, Claire has also gained plenty of attention for her remarkable fashion sense.

The folks at Never Undressed summed Claire up best:

“It’s her angles (that bone structure!). It’s the way she carries herself. It’s the clipped way she delivers her lines. And it’s her enviable wardrobe, which is just like the woman herself: structured and severe. Purposeful and understated. Tasteful and sexy.”

Robin Wright and co-star Kevin Spacey are presently slated to return for another season of the Netflix series House of Cards next year. Unfortunately, the next batch of episodes doesn’t have a proper release date just yet.