An acclaimed actor and writer, Sharon Horgan says, not surprisingly, it was the writing in “Best Interests” that got her to play an impassioned mother who goes to court to prevent doctors from “pulling the plug” on her comatose 13-year-old daughter.
The 4-part series, streaming Monday on AcornTV, is scripted by Jack Thorne who, in addition to his long-running Harry Potter play in London and New York, frequently dramatizes disability issues.
“When I came to this, my expectations were pretty high, because Jack’s done similar work for a long time and he’s an incredible writer. That was a big draw,” Horgan, 54, said in a phone interview.
“Obviously, Michael Sheen” – he’s her conflicted husband Andrew – “as well. But I was in the middle of ‘Bad Sisters’ Season 1 when they came to me and, coming off a big shoot, I just felt I was going to be way too exhausted.”
The Dublin-set “Bad Sisters” is a landmark hit in Horgan’s hit-filled career and spawned a second season.
Thorne acknowledged that Nicci, the determined mother, is super-stressed.
“Jack and the director said to me, ‘This is how we’re going to do it. It’s going to be really tough. But when we get it, we’ll just say ‘Cut.’ And we’re done. We’re not going to put you through a million takes of breaking down.’
“So I felt supported by that. And,” she added, “they say if you can imagine someone else doing that role and you’re okay with it, then you should let it go.
“I didn’t want to see someone else in that role. I really connected with her, the family dynamic and that choice she has to make. I felt moved by it – I barely got through the initial scripts without crying.
“I also thought this look at disability was a really important thing to talk about, post COVID: How we consider a disabled life.”
In “Best” battle lines are drawn in court with Nicci versus the hospital and her husband.
“It’s really hard to not take sides,” Horgan allowed. “Your allegiance moves across the four episodes where you see how both sides are filled with love and her daughter’s best interests.
“Also beautifully done is showing the impact that it has on the people who were looking after her.”
Because Nicci and Andrew end up on opposite sides, did she and Sheen avoid each other filming?
“No! It was the weirdest thing. We both said the same thing, we’ve done a lot of comedy but on this show we spent more time laughing and having stupid fun on down time.
“Because we desperately needed that. It’s such a heart wrenching story to be part of.”
“Best Interests” streams Feb. 17 on AcornTV