“Designated Survivor” president Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) doesn’t just have to save the country — but now has to face off with hard-nosed Congresswoman Kimble Hookstratten (Virginia Madsen).
Introduced in last week’s episode, Kimble is Kirkman’s mirror-image in Congress, a “Designated Survivor” thrust into an unexpected role after a huge bomb blast razed the Capitol building during the president’s State of the Union address — destroying the government’s leadership infrastructure.
Kimble, a GOP congresswoman and House whip, has been completely supportive of Democrat Kirkman. But her take-charge demeanor in Episode 2 left viewers wondering if her motives are strictly selfless heading into Wednesday night’s episode.
“I don’t see her as being the enemy, as being evil, but she’s an adversary,” says Madsen, 55. “In my opinion she’s far more presidential [than Kirkman]. She’s been in politics all her adult life and knows how Washington works [and] how to deal with crises.
“So I think she feels like she should be more of an asset to the president,” she says. “She wants to more closely advise him and be part of the administration. She’s undermined him just a wee bit … but she feels that what she does makes him better at his job.”
That may be, but fans of another White House show, “House of Cards,” might notice the subtle similarities between Madsen’s Kimble Hookstratten and Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood, who began “House of Cards” as a congressman and House majority whip — with much bigger (and devious) political aspirations.
“Am I going to ‘Underwood’ [Kirkman]? I think that’s what’s interesting for the audience,” says Madsen (who’s seen every “House of Cards” episode). “It’s that Washington intrigue: Is Kimble there for the greater good or to undermine Kirkman’s power? That has to be revealed slowly, which I think would happen in real life, as well.
“But ultimately she’s a very patriotic American and she really does, to her core, believe that she can make the world a better place,” Madsen says. “She wants things to go well, even if she’s not sitting in the president’s chair. It’s her civic duty as a patriot to support the president at this particular juncture … As to what that develops into once the Cabinet is seated and once there’s a government back in place … that remains to be seen. She’s very strong, intelligent and comfortable with her own power.”
Madsen says she’s well aware of how Kimble’s storyline will proceed as the “Designated Survivor” season unwinds.
“It was sort of nice to hear the direction in which she’s going,” she says without giving up any plot nuggets. “She’s all business, and I think she’s fully committed to her job and being of service. With her, there’s no room for error. She absolutely goes headlong into whatever endeavor she takes on.
“And I don’t naturally feel like a powerful woman … so it’s fun and interesting for me to play that particular part of Kimble, to walk around in her uncomfortable heels and suits,” she says. “It’s hard to get used to her physicality.
“She probably spent a good part of her youth being underestimated, and I did, too,” Madsen says. “We have that in common. I was underestimated as an actress and as a person, which is par for the course when you’re a young starlet. There are plenty of people who don’t want you to have a voice and frankly don’t think you’re that smart and would like you to keep your mouth shut, and I wasn’t good at that. Now that I’m older, I’m very comfortable with all that experience behind me.”
“Designated Survivor” 10 p.m. Wednesday on ABC
‘Side’ jobs
(From left) Sandra Oh, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Paul Giamatti starred in the 2004 movie “Sideways.” All four are now starring in prime-time TV shows (or soon will be).
