WWW.OK.CO.UK 71What are the biggest challenges you face
in portraying Helen?
Playing a mother, because I am not one. But
my sister has three children, so I talk to her a
lot about it.What has the show taught you about
relationships?
Not too much. This show is pretty dark and
the characters make really bad choices! I
hope I don’t learn from Helen, who once
drove over someone and lied about it! I was
married for about 13 years but my marriage
didn’t end because of an affair, and I honestly
don’t think the show gave me any insight into
marriage. I often say to people: ‘Being on ER
for eight years didn’t give me any insight into
how to be a doctor and I feel the same way
about this. The Affair is just a story.’Has the show ever made you question
your life?
It’s certainly made me think about the idea
that everybody’s memory is different, I’m very
aware of that. In a relationship, if an argument
happens, it’s really amazing to me how
people can become completely convinced
that their memory of what just happened five
minutes ago is correct.You’re not on social media. Why is that?
You’re right, I’m not on any social media. I
feel lucky that I’m still working, because I
don’t have followers. But I find social media
torturous, I’d go nuts.How does it feel to be part of the golden
age of television?
It feels great. I love the fact that there are so
many platforms and so much competition in
television. It allows for a great deal of creative
freedom. People can now write about topics
that are unexplored, and there is a lot of
money in the industry.What’s next for you?
I’m not sure, but I’d love to try comedy again.
I think people forget that I was on a sitcom for
four years [on a show called NewsRadio].
I was on ER for eight years, but I would love
to be funny again.‘THE AFFAIR’ RETURNS TO SKY ATLANTIC ON TUESDAY
AUGUST 27 AT 9PM.fINTERVIEW BY ALAN TANNER
PHOTOGRAPHS BY NBC UNIVERSAL, ANDREW ECCLES/SHOWTIME;
PAUL SARKIS/SHOWTIME; GETTY IMAGESOK!Left: ‘I find social
media torturous,’ says
Maura. Right: On
screen in NewsRadio