Calista Flockhart proves she’s still queen of the small screen in new series Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans

She won us over in the ‘90s playing a quirky lawyer on a hit TV series, but now the actress is taking on a real-life figure.

It’s Calista Flockhart as we’ve never seen her before.

The actress captivated audiences as the quirky lawyer in the ‘90s series Ally McBeal before playing the politically-conservative Kitty Walker in the hit drama Brothers & Sisters.

But Flockhart, 59, takes on a darker role in Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans, the new FX miniseries which airs locally on BINGE from February 1.

The series tells the real-life story of American author Truman Capote and his social standing among New York’s elite in the ‘60s and ‘70s. In particular, Capote mingled with Manhattan’s finest socialites – whom he referred to as his “swans” – and they adored him. That is until he exposed their deepest, darkest secrets in the pages of Esquire magazine.

Calista Flockhart transforms into Lee Radziwill on Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

One of Capote’s swans was the younger sister of former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Lee Radziwill, who Flockhart portrays on the show. The actress undergoes quite the transformation – bouffant and all – to play the fashion icon, who worked as an interior designer, brand ambassador and public relations executive all while in the shadow of her famous sister.

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The real-life Lee Radziwill in 1966. Picture: Santi Visalli/Getty images

Lee was the younger sister of former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Picture: Albert McCabe/Express/Getty Images

In his 1965 expose, Capote referred to Lee and her sister as “a pair of Western geisha girls”. As for his swans, he said “some swans actually drown under the beauty and weight of their fantastical, superficial plumage. They just can’t keep going.”

Although this drama unfolded decades ago, it’s now being revisited by Ryan Murphy, the master creator behind the Feud anthology series. And it’s a story that has clearly stood the test of time.

“This is a show about love and betrayal and these things never go out of style,” Flockhart tells news.com.au. “This is the basis for pretty much everything in life. Friendship, love, betrayal. It makes for really juicy stories.”

Flockhart attends the Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans New York premiere on January 23. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The actress says it was “tricky” playing a real-life figure. Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP

“And this story happens to be true for the most part. Of course, we take liberties, the writers took liberties to make a show dramatic or funny – it might not always be entirely accurate.”

Despite her impeccable portrayal of Lee, Flockhart says it was “tricky” playing a real-life figure who is no longer alive.

“We can only imagine what these characters were really feeling and thinking because we can only really read about them. And it is a little bit of a tricky line to, because some of their relatives are still living,” she explains. “And so you want to portray these women in a really honest, truthful way, but we don’t really know. So there’s a lot of liberties taken.”

Tom Hollander plays Truman Capote in the series. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

Aussie actress Naomi Watts was Capote’s favourite “swan” Babe Paley. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

Demi Moore rocked the perfect ‘60s wig as socialite Ann Woodward. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

“When you read about these characters in a book, you can talk to five different people and one person will say, ‘Oh, she was a really horrible, nasty woman.’ And the next person would say, ‘She was gentle and fragile and you wanted to hug her and protect her.’ This is all what they said about Lee.

“Then the next person would say, ‘She hung with the boys and could drink beer on the beach, and she was kind of rough around the edges.’ And some people says she drank too much. Some people say she was really pious. So it’s all kind of up for grabs.”

Diane Lane played the group’s ringleader Slim Keith. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

Chloe Sevigny nailed her portrayal of stage actress C.Z. Guest. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

Molly Ringwald starred as Johnny Carson’s ex-wife Joanne Carson. Picture: Pari Dukovic/FX

The series also reunites Flockhart with Feud showrunner and writer Jon Robin Baitz, who she worked with on Brothers & Sisters and affectionately calls Robbie – the actress referring to their latest collaboration as a “professional renaissance”.

“One can hope it’s a professional renaissance for me because I like renaissance,” she says in a later press conference attended by news.com.au.

Flockhart worked with Feud writer Jon Robin Baitz on Brothers & Sisters.

The Ally McBeal cast. Picture: AJ Pics/Alamy

“I have been a fan of Robbie’s way, way, way back when we were doing New York theatre together. I’ve done readings of so many of his plays. And I remember in Brothers & Sisters, we had a very collaborative relationship when we were discovering who Kitty was as a character. So yes, I was excited to do this again with Robbie because I admire and love his talent, his intelligence, and also his sensitivity and humanity.”

Flockhart was also excited to work with the ensemble cast of “swans” featuring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Molly Ringwald and Demi Moore, as well as the talented Tom Hollander as Truman Capote.

“It was a joy for me to be with these iconic women,” Flockhart says. “They’re all so talented, and the set was really supportive, and it was really fun to go through it with everybody and to play with everybody, and Tom as well.”

Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans premieres on Thursday, February 1 on BINGE.

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