‘Minx’ and ‘The Afterparty’: Elizabeth Perkins Is the Wealthy Widow of the Year—Twice
“The perils of being a wealthy widow,” actress Elizabeth Perkins purrs as Constance Papadopoulos in the Season 2 premiere of Minx, reacting to an investment pitch. This sentiment could easily have come from Perkins's other current wealthy widow role, Isabel Minnows, in Apple TV+’s murder mystery comedy, The Afterparty.
Not that the two roles are carbon copies of each other, and the scene-stealing turns in each series are far from seeing double. In both instances, Perkins taps into each character’s confidence and insecurities, adding to the growing list of memorable TV roles over the last years.
Whether playing a judgemental neighbor on Weeds or a poker-faced streaming executive talking in buzzwords on Barry, the three-time Emmy nominee is one of the industry’s most reliable character actors. She captures a sincerity in women like Constance and Isabel, so that they are richly drawn beyond their wealth. Without this committed approach, these characters could easily read as caricatures. And regardless of the genre—as The Afterparty effortlessly highlights—Perkins is equally adept at delivering caustic lines, raw vulnerability, and pearls of wisdom.