Campaigning For Coin: Katey Sagal

Next up in the Hunger Games fan site series Campaigning For Coin is Katey Sagal. Every Tuesday and Thursday the fan sites will be sharing opinions on different actresses we think may (or may not) be right for the role of President Alma Coin in Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2. As always, be warned: Spoilers ahead!

 

Katey Sagal is best known for her portrayal of wacky Peg Bundy on the long running sitcom Married With Children. In 2011 she won a Golden Globe for her role as Gemma Teller Morrow in the acclaimed FX series Sons Of Anarchy. 

HG Fireside Chat

Savanna: Unfortunately, I haven't seen Katey Sagal in anything other than Married With Children and Lost, so I don't have a very wide range of projects to pull from as I assess her "Coin potential." That being said, just knowing that she once portrayed the hilariously outrageous Peg Bundy and then went on to give such a nuanced performance as Helen Norwood makes me feel like she can probably handle anything! Although Helen's role on Lost wasn't large, Sagal made the character memorable. While I would never have thought of her as a possible Coin on my own, the more I think about it, the more I love it. It would definitely be an unexpected casting choice, which makes the idea even more appealing to me. Acting skills aside, I feel that Sagal has a wonderful look for the part as well. She has such a strong, almost regal-looking face which I can easily envision going from cool and authoritative to absolutely menacing in a heartbeat.

HG Girl On Fire

Lindsay: For many, Katey Sagal will only ever be Peg Bundy from Married With Children. However, she is quite a talented singer and comedic AND dramatic actress, and is often looked over for a role like this. She is not someone I'd have thought of for Coin, so I really had to consider her once she was mentioned. She's the right age and has a fantastic look for Coin. My biggest issue with her, though it seems kind of small, is her very slow speaking style. Not that she can't speak quickly. But the way her speech comes across to me is very casual and laid back. I tend to think of Coin as being quick and curt. Again, that's not something that's a dealbreaker for me, but strangely is the main reason I think it'd be an odd bit of casting.

Hunger Games Examiner

Sara: Though she is perhaps still best known for her role on Married with Children, Sagal isn't just famous for her comedic chops. Sure, she's handled humor on Married with Children and on Futurama-- but she's also tackled much more serious dramatic roles in TV shows such as Lost and Sons of Anarchy. I haven't really seen any of Sagal's work myself, but if she can have a successful career balancing both comedy and drama, there's no doubt she could potentially tackle the role of Coin. Perhaps the biggest challenge she'd face is the leap from largely television roles to a major motion picture franchise.

Mockingjay.net

Crystal: Sadly, I haven't seen Katey Sagal in much lately except for a few episodes of LOST, which was years ago. I've always wanted to watch Sons of Anarchy since I hear so much about her performance, but have never seen the show. I will say that I think she has a hardened look that could work well for Coin. I used to watch Married with Children and Futurama, so while it can be hard to look at her and not see ditzy Peg Bundy or one-eyed Leela, I think I could still detach her from those roles if she did a good enough job. And if she's in Sons of Anarchy, I'd say she's had lots of practice in being tough!

My Hunger Games

Kristen: Katey Sagal plays a Grade-A manipulator while simultaneously maintaining a caring, fiercely protective character archetype on the TV show Sons of Anarchy. That really surprised me, considering all I've ever seen her do prior to SOA was comedy. Don't be fooled by her stint on the sitcom Married...With Children; this woman is remarkably capable of playing a tough girl. However, if Sagal were to be cast as Coin, I worry that her acting history may lead audiences to see Alma Coin as a much less societally-threatening character than she was created to be. Sagal undoubtedly has acting chops, I just don’t want to be sitting in the movie theater watching Alma Coin on screen, but hearing Peggy Bundy in my head.

PanemPropaganda

Molly: Most of you probably aren't old enough to remember Katey Sagal as the bouffant-sporting shopaholic housewife Peg Bundy in the sitcom Married With Children. And that’s GOOD because Katey Sagal is so much more than Peg Bundy, She's a remarkable woman. She's an actress and singer with a gorgeous, soulful voice who's been working in the industry forever, mostly on TV with some stage work sprinkled in. She's done a lot of comedy in the past, but her Golden Globe-winning turn as Gemma in Sons of Anarchy proves she knows how to play tough. She's the right age. She may not have been my immediate pick for Coin, but I like Katey Sagal and she’s got the talent to play the role. The biggest problem I see with casting Katey Sagal as Coin is that it doesn’t have that ""wow"" factor that they should be seeking for this role. Remember when we found out Donald Sutherland was cast as President Snow - “wow!” We're going to need a President Coin of equal caliber, and I’m not sure Katey fits the bill.

The Hob

Amanda: To be honest, this was a tough one for our entire staff. When discussing Katey Sagal as Coin, nearly each one of us said, "Peggy Bundy?" Granted, I know she's done other things - I loved her on 8 Simple Rules, was excited about her stint on Lost, recognized her voice in Disney's Smart House, and am aware the she received rave reviews (and award nominations) for her role on Sons of Anarchy, though I've never seen the show. And though I adore her as an actress, the idea of her as Coin is completely out of left field and I'm just not sure I can get on board. Has she shown the range necessary for Coin through her TV roles? Can she overcome the character she is famous for from Married with Children, even with the right hair and makeup? Can fans look past her very recognizable voice and see her as the plain, nondescript Coin? Too many questions that I don't have the answers too, so for me, Katey isn't quite a fit for the role.

Victor's Village

Rebekah: I know for some people Katey Sagal being fan-cast as Alma Coin is kind of out of left field, but if you really think about it, it's not. Katey Sagal to the laymen is best known for her work on the long running '90s sit-com, Married With Children, but I screamingly implore people to get past the image you have of her as Peggy Bundy, with her teased red hair (which was a wig), to her gum chewing, lip smacking, feminine crossed legs that never stopped moving, to her loud low-cut tops, and her leggings-- Katey Sagal is so much more than Peggy Bundy. Katey Sagal has been in the entertainment business for over 40 years, starting out as a back up singer for famous musicians like Bob Dylan, and Bette Midler. She has an on going solo music career herself, and she's even been interviewed and promoted on such highly respected shows like Fresh Air on NPR. Music is one of her main passions, but she is an actress who hasn't stopped working seemingly for the last 30 years. She has 14 recurring roles to her name, three of which are roles she's still in the midst of doing, or is contracted to reprise eventually. Those roles are Gemma Teller Morrow on the critically acclaimed FX series Sons of Anarchy, where she plays the matriarch to a chapter of a fictionalized motor cycle club that's meant to resemble The Hells Angels. Gemma is a force to be reckoned with, and the role has let Katey do things that many actresses would simply be afraid to take on in realistic, and painfully honest ways. Gemma's no angel, for lack of a better word, but she's someone who you can relate to, love, and hate all at the same time, so in that sense I just described Alma Coin. Other roles she's still contracted to portray, Nancy Abrams on Glee, aka Artie's mom, and then of course there's Turanga Leela on the long running, and much-loved animated series Futurerama. Katey's also recognizable from her work on the ABC sit-com 8 Simple Rules, which co-starred the late John Ritter, and the now beloved Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory. And then there's her work on the ABC drama/thriller, Lost--where she played John Locke's love interest. The only thing that puts Katey Sagal out of the realistic category where it comes to being cast as Coin is this, she's freakin' busy all the time, and it would simply be amazing if she were cast, because it means she's has the best scheduling skills on the face of the Earth.

Welcome To District 12

Courtney/Tiffany: Aside from Married with Children and Futurama, we have seen Katey's performance on Sons of Anarchy, a role most closely associated with Alma Coin. Gemma's character is strong but manipulative. She plays this role particularly well, but we're not too sure she is a perfect fit for Coin. She could do well, yes, but we just don't see her excelling in this role as much as some other candidates we have discussed. Also, we're having a hard time seeing her wanting to be a part of The Hunger Games since we're remembering a very opinionated tweet from her husband Kurt Sutter calling it "Twilight with evil sports".

Check out the most recent Campaigning For Coin: Julianne Moore

Campaigning For Coin: Julianne Moore

We are honored to be a part of the Hunger Games fan site series "Campaigning For Coin." Every Tuesday and Thursday the fan sites will be sharing our opinions on different actresses we think may (or may not) be right for the role of President Alma Coin in Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2. Be warned: Spoilers ahead!

Photo by Kenneth Willardt

Julianne Moore: She’s an award winning actress best known for her varied work in films such as The Kids Are All Right, The Big Lebowski, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights. She recently won an Emmy Award for her turn as Sarah Palin in Game Change. 

Down With The Capitol:

Aldrin: Now, I've seen Julianne Moore's acting and it's clear she knows what she's doing. I can go on and on about how I loved her in Nine Months or The Kids Are All Right (also starring Josh Hutcherson), but let's look at something very obvious that proves she's good for Coin: she played Sarah Palin in Game Change. Trying not to sound too political here, but Sarah Palin was someone who was given lots of power, some might say more than she should have had. Some supported her, some hated her. Sound familiar? Granted, Palin and Coin are two entirely different people in so many ways, but the general principle applies. Julianne Moore has experience playing a woman in power, who had to put on a tough exterior despite the fact that many disagreed with her actions. Combine that with her impeccable acting skills in so many other roels, and I think you've got someone who could play Coin perfectly.

HG Fireside Chat:

Adam: Julianne Moore may not be quite as vicious and belligerent as some of the other candidates, but she certainly can act. In my view, she would excel at portraying the softer side of Coin, which could be extremely effective in fooling the populace -- then, when she proves to be much worse, it will be as shocking as it was for Panem's citizens. Moore is famous recently for The Kids Are All Right and Game Change, but I see a parallel with her role as a blood-to-the-bone revolutionary in Children of Men. There, she was good, but she had some of the same character traits as Coin, and she proved plenty competent in handling them. Moore would not be my top top choice, but I would still be fine with her selection.

HG Girl On Fire:

Lindsay: I am a fan of Julianne Moore and I think she is a stellar actress. She has impressive range, and when I think of her, I think of both her big laughs, and her sad/angry expressions, all at once. Her previous characters that stick in my brain are from The Kids Are All Right, and her stint on 30 Rock (with that wicked awful Boston accent!). But for some reason she doesn't jump out at me for Coin. While I think she could play the role with her hands tied behind her back (well, not really, obviously), I just almost feel like I have NO opinion about her. Which makes me think I don't like her for the role. Would I be disappointed if she were cast? No way! She's a superstar and  has the Emmy Award and numerous Oscar nominations to prove it. But she's not my first choice.

My Hunger Games:

Jacqui: I am a big fan of Julianne Moore.  She is quite a few of my favorite movies, including the Big Lebowski, The Hours, Far From Heaven and The Kids are All Right.  Her perfomances are nuanced and compelling.  She is one of those actresses that can balance drama and comedy with great effect; she can come across as completely empathetic, but also mysterious and remote. Her career is a mix of diverse and interesting roles and she's definitely one of those onscreen people that you can't take your eyes off. I think she would definitely bring something special to the role of Alma Coin.

PanemPropaganda:

Molly: I admit Julianne Moore never crossed my mind as an option for Coin, but now that I’ve had it swirling around in my head for a while I’m starting to love the idea. She’s an amazingly versatile character actress, she’s the perfect age, and can’t you imagine her rocking a razor sharp grey wig? I can certainly see her as the icy Coin with her fair skin and (cue the contact lenses) grey, pale eyes the color of slush “you wish would melt away.”

Coin needs to be cool, calculating and, in the end, as evil as President Snow (some would say MORE evil!) Julianne Moore has a hugely varied resume and can seemingly do anything. She’s played the villain a few times but mostly in domestic, realistic situations. This could be a nice addition to her credits.

It could also be one great big reunion - She’s worked with Josh Hutcherson in The Kids Are All Right, Woody Harrelson in Game Change, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights, and Magnolia. And her upcoming film Seventh Son ALMOST had her working with both Jennifer Lawrence (she bowed out) and Sam Claflin (he auditioned for the lead). I’m giving a three finger salute to Julianne Moore for President Coin.

The Hob:

Lee: Julianne Moore is one of the more interesting choices to play President Coin. Her work is so diverse, it's a challenge to view any single performance and point to determine her ability to play Coin. The characters she has portrayed have a level of intensity and her performances always exude tremendous energy. Many of the roles have been determined women, focused and willing to take risks to succeed. These are all qualities that President Coin has. Always a chameleon in her roles, Ms. Moore would be visually striking with snow-white hair, sparkling eyes, and a sense of invincibility in her portrayal.

Victor’s Village:

Rebekah: If you follow my writing on Victor's Village at all, you should know by now that Julianne Moore is one of a handful of actresses I've already written up about as a potential Alma Coin. Face it, Julianne is no slouch where it comes to acting talent, she has one of the more diverse, and critically embraced careers of an A-list who's still regularly working actress out there. From her work in films like Benny & Joon, Short Cuts, Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, A Map of the World, The End of the Affair, Magnolia, Far from Heaven, The Hours, The Children of Men, A Single Man, The Kids Are All Right, Game Change, and the recently released What Maisie Knew, she's proven herself as someone who 100 times over is capable of portraying every single kind of woman you can even remotely imagine. This woman is not afraid to take on even the most weird, the most despicable, the most shallow, and the most intense, and the most sad types of people. She's an actors actor, and the thought of her taking on a role like Alma Coin gives me giddy shivers down my spine, because I know she would sink her teeth into Alma's character like a juicy steak, and chew it slowly, precisely, and oddly beautifully. I've seen comments that some of the choices in this on going fan-casting series are too predictable, well-- Julianne Moore has never taken on a predictable project in her entire career. She does big budget films like The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Evolution with David Duchovny, and tiny art house films like Chicago Cab, and Savage Grace with Eddie Redmayne, and then mixes it up by taking a recurring role on 30 Rock opposite Alec Baldwin. No one, and I mean no one can say that Julianne Moore being cast as Alma Coin is predictable. This is why she's one of my top choices for Alma Coin, and also because I really really want to see her go head to head with Jennifer Lawrence.

Welcome To District 12:

Courtney/Tiffany: We are in agreement that Julianne Moore is one of our favorite actresses. She's a solid actress and has had a very diverse career. I mean, she has Maude Lebowski, Clarice Starling and Sarah Palin on her resume, to name a few. Sarah Palin is a perfect example of a role that Julianne already has under her belt and could be very helpful to her playing Coin. However, we do think that  her look isn't as cold and calculating as we imagine President Coin to be. But then again, that can work in her favor because who is to suspect ulterior motives from someone like Julianne Moore? A plus for her is that she has worked with Josh Hutcherson before, playing his mother in The Kids Are All Right. Last but not least she seems to be a fan favorite among THG fans, so that's a super bonus too!