Christina Hendricks Recalls 'Very Intense' Role onER: 'It Was a Really Special Experience' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

‘The Buccaneers’ star Christina Hendricks in Beverly Hills, California on February 19, 2019.Photo:Rich Fury/Getty

Rich Fury/Getty

“I had done a show calledThe Courtwith him, and I did an episode ofPresidio Medwith him,” Hendricks exclusively tells PEOPLE. “I remember exactly where I was when I got the call that I was going to be doing four episodes [of ER], and I started crying in the car, because I was so happy. I was so happy, and I was like, ‘This is the big time.’”

Christina Hendricks as Joyce Westlake in ‘ER’ season 8.NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal

While Hendricks found her character “really emotionally intense,” one of the job’s upsides was the opportunity to work closely alongside Tierney, with whom Hendricks shared many scenes.

“I think she is extraordinary and exceptional, and I just watched her every move,” the actress says. “And she was so kind to me. I remember asking her acting questions, and she would graciously answer them rather than eye-rolling, like, ‘Leave me alone, little girl.’”

“I do remember asking [Maura], ‘How do you get yourself up to this place to cry and go through this emotion?’” she continues. “‘And she goes, ‘I really believe that I’m in it. I have to sit there and believe that I’m really in it.’ And I went, ‘Okay. Okay, that’s what I’ll do.’”

Maura Tierney and Christina Hendricks in season 8 of ‘ER.'.NBCUniversal

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Christina Hendricks in ‘The Buccaneers.'.Courtesy of Apple+

Courtesy of Apple+

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source: people.com