If you suspected there was a twist surrounding Mary McDonnell’s three-episode Grey’s Anatomy arc, congratulations, you were right. Turns out her character, a celebrated cardiac surgeon brought in to boost Seattle Grace’s national ranking beginning Nov. 13, is living with Asperger’s syndrome. “Shonda [Rhimes] thought it would be interesting to have an incredibly skilled surgeon who, socially, is initially misunderstood,” explains executive producer Betsy Beers of the autism-related disorder, which is characterized by eccentric behavior and a general social awkwardness. (Think Emily Deschanel’s Brennan on Bones.) Eccentric behavior and social awkwardness? Sounds like she’ll fit right in! Or will she? Only time — and my following exclusive Q&A with the fraktabulous McDonnell — will tell.
AUSIELLO: How does everyone react to your character, Dr. Virginia Dixon?
MARY McDONNELL: In her first surgery she works primarily with Bailey
and Karev, who are both sort of caught off guard by her difficulty in
communication. They don’t really know until the end of the episode that
she has Asperger’s. It’s challenging for them. On the one hand, you’re
introducing a dramatic and comedic dynamic that people have to react
to. On the other hand, you’re bringing on a very dignified real human
being with a disability that can be very problematic for everyone.
What’s it like playing her?
It’s been a wonderful experience. Grey’s has to do with social nuance
and behavior between people, and this is a character who can’t really
relate to any of that. She comes in and brings a little bit of a
different behavior to Seattle Grace.
How different are we talking? She’s still going to hook up with one of her colleagues, right?
[Laughs] So far, I have to tell you, I don’t see any romance. That just
makes me giggle. But she’s just coming in for three episodes so far, so
we’ll see. That’s the furthest thing from her mind.
Might your stay be extended beyond the three episodes?
There’s always a possibility. I think with this character, there’s a
great collaboration to kind of experiment with her and with her
situation and see the kind of effect it may have on the world of
Grey’s, because she’s very atypical.
Did Shonda create the role with you in mind?
I don’t know if it was created with me in mind, but I was told that
Shonda had me on her mind as soon as she started thinking about it.
She’s put a great deal of trust in me, and it’s part of why I wanted to
do it. Because when someone hands you something this compelling and
complicated and gives you good writing and also says, “I’m trusting you
to find the nuance here,” then you kind of go home and think, I’m lucky
to be alive.
To read McDonnell’s thoughts on the end of Battlestar Galactica, check out this
week’s Ask Ausiello. To weigh in on her Grey’s stint, scroll down
to the comments section and start writing.
Comments (1-30) of 102 Add your comment
Sounds like Dr. Hahn.
Hmmm… Interesting. I’m going to have to actually watch Grey’s now.
But I’ll do it for her.
I love Mary McDonnell, really I do. I’m sure she’ll be fantastic.
But here is my message for Shonda: STOP! Just stop introducing new characters! There isn’t enough time in a day, let alone an hour, to service them all! Small guest arcs I can handle. But it seems like almost every time Ausiello tells us someone is coming to Grey’s there’s the potential for recurring/series regular status! STOP, Shonda! Please!
This is the only thing that would ever get me excited about Grey’s short of it being cancelled. Can’t wait for November 13th!
Thank the Lord we finally get to see Mary in something! I was going through withdrawls. Now, if only she would guest on a show like 30 Rock.
what the heck happened to her face?! She’s always been so classy, pretty and interesting! Did she get a new nose and botox? PLEASE, PEOPLE, STOP RUINING YOUR FACES!!
Dr. Hahn is not socially awkward she is just rude. In an awesome way though. This sounds a lot more like they ganked the character from Boston Legal.
I have Asperger’s Syndrome (a mild form) and it’ll be interesting to see how AS is presented here.
Huh. Rude, communication-challenged, misunderstood and unlikeable because of it. Yeah, that’s really what’s missing on this show about rude, communication-challenged, misunderstood and unlikeable because of it doctors.
I don’t see how you can be going wrong by adding this kind of quality player to a team. Agreed that the show’s roster is crowded, but if it moves the show towards MM that’s got to be a good development.
My step brother has Aspergers. I was excited before about seeing Mary on Greys (though I’ve never seen it before) But now I’m really excited to see how she portrays the character. Also I don’t think she has had work done to her face *mgm*, promo shots always make people look *better*. Also she lost weight for her role on BSG I think this just made her face look thinner. I’ve seen recent shots of her at functions and she looks the same she has always done to me! She just ages damn well!
I think this sounds like a really interesting storyline. Mary McDonnell is great and will be awesome in this role. Definitely going to watch Grey’s again for this.
Ahhhh stay please stay as long as possible. The addition of a real adult character can only help GA. I hope its not a disappointment. I was excited for Kevin Mckidd but I don’t much like his character, hopefully that will change.
Mary McDonnell > everyone else. Though why does she always have to have some sort of medical condition? Anyways, I will resume watching GA (for the first time in years) to watch her.
This is wonderful! I feared Mary would end up with just another silly Grey’s hookup of the week story. I don’t care about the cast size. I’d much prefer to see Mary in this story then Meredith whining again.
New rule for GA…for every new character added, one old one must be removed.
Ohhhh my Sweet Mary !!!!!!!!!!!! She is most awesome on the world !!!!!!!!!!!!! and she looks just awesome incredible gorgeous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If they get rid of Izzy I’ll allow up to three more characters with no complaint.
If they get rid of Hahn they can add 3 too!
I love you Mary!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mary for president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brennan on Bones does NOT have Aspergers syndrome, at all. She just views the world differently. Jerry Espenson from Boston Legal has aspergers — in fact it has been a story arc. I’m a teacher and have worked with several children with both autism and aspergers and Temperance Brennan does not have aspergers.
You may work with Aspies but that does not mean you know everything – I say her character could easily be viewed as having mild symptoms of autism.
Zach would be a better example than Brennan. We don’t know how she acted as a child, which is always asked when people are diagnosed with disorders that show symptoms in childhood. All of her “symptoms” could stem from being abandoned at 15 and her traumatic time in foster care. Her rationality is also viewed as a symptom, but who knows if she’s always been that rational.
I’ve always thought that her social awkwardness was too exaggerated at times for purely comedic affect. Especially when how much body language she can read changes to fit the story line. I’d think she had mild aspergers if she was truly rational about emotions, which is what she may have trained herself to be. Zack, on the other hand, doesn’t deny love, just implies that he doesn’t understand it when he talks about going home to Michigan because they “love” him. His tone is either confused or deadpan, like he just doesn’t get it.
A better example of Asberger’s would be Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory”.
I’m thrilled that Mary is going to be on Grey’s. Its about the only thing that will get me to watch the boring mess that Grey’s has become. Finally, they are doing something right by bringing Mary on.
Brennan from ‘Bones’ DOES have Asperger’s – I have Asperger’s diagnosis and recognise it in people straight away – it takes one to know one. I recognised it in Gary McKinnon and now he’s been diagnosed with Asperger’s in August 2008, so I was right. We’re not all ‘Rain Mne’ you know. Still it’s rare to see girls portrayed with Asperger’s. I’m a female and I’ve never come across a female TV character with Asperger’s before. It’s about time!
at least she isn’t bisexual
Greys is too crowded if they wanna keep her they should fire off some of the others.
I am Shonda’s dog, and I am living with Asperger’s. Luckily, all my other dog friends understand. But I recognized it in that Bones girl right off. Don’t judge if you don’t understand.
I’ve never watched Grey’s before, but I’ll be tuning in starting November 13th to see Mary’s character. I was diagnosed earlier this year and it will be interesting to see how AS is portrayed. Hopefully they’ll get it right.
Can’t wait to see this! I am sure Mary will do absolutely phenomenal! Oh, and I can say: I met Mary at a con and she REALLY looks this great in person!
It sound like such an interesting and inovative character, a doctor of all people who has thsi disability and coming from such a good actress, I trust it will be wonderful to watch! And will people stop complaining that there’s too many people in Grey’s? This is not a character that will stay forever, it is like the patients we get every week and sometimes for 2 or 3 episodes, it’s a hospital drama, they can’t not have any guests!