An Interview with Mary McCormack from ‘Heels’

Mary McCormack as Willie Day in Season 2 of ‘Heels’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Note: This interview was conducted on June 21, 2023, before the start of the SAG-AFTRA Strike, and during the WGA strike. Also, without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It is definitely safe to say, that Mary McCormack is nothing short of a modern screen legend. For she has appeared in countless films and shows and left a lasting impression with the characters she plays. Currently, Mary stars as Willie Day on the critically acclaimed and hit STARZ series, Heels, and we were fortunate enough to be able to sit down with Mary to discuss her character and season two of this incredible show.
John Betancourt: What does it mean to you, to be back for a second season?

Mary McCormack: I love acting. And I love this group of people. It's not always like this, you know, I've been on shows that have a great group of people. And I've been on shows where it's a little less… successful. And this is a great group of people, and Mike O'Malley is one of my oldest friends in the world. So, I just love it. I love the part. I love everything. I love everything about her, I love that they wrote her sort of whole, you know, I think sometimes for women, they, they can write them as… they have to be the moral center, or they have to know right from wrong, they have to sort of be like, all those things. And I like that she's, in some ways, totally together and in many ways, a complete mess up, you know, so I love that. I love… I love the part and I love season two for her because she gets to sort of start the women's division and, you know, fulfill all these dreams that I think have been causing her so much sadness for so long.

John Betancourt: What are you most excited for people to experience when it comes to Willie’s journey this season?

Mary McCormack: Yeah, I mean, I think that the way, that you know, when Crystal ends up the champ at the end of the first season, it's sort of the, I think it's a wonderful way for Heels, the show, to open up into the world of women's wrestling, which, of course we should be, it's like incredibly alive and dynamic and exciting. And also, just realistic. You know, we have to be doing that. But I think they came up with a really cool way of getting us into it, which is sort of, you know, here she is with the belt. And now what? Like, how do we sustain that in a realistic way? You know, she can't… she can't be beating every single male wrestler every week and she can't be beaten up by them every week. And then with Willie becoming her mentor, she gets to book matches, and she's writing and she's, you know, alive for the first time, I think in a long time, you know, really excited to sort of step in and do this. So, I think that's really fun to watch.

John Betancourt: What do you hope audiences take away from Willie’s journey this season? On a deeper level if you will.

Mary McCormack: Well, I don't know. I mean, I think that's pretty fun. I mean, I think that, you know, for me, those scenes are, are both really sweet, because of you see this sort of mentor relationship. And a little bit sad too, because sort of seeing… just generationally seeing Willie’s journey, you know, and the fact that she had to be a Valet and couldn't be a wrestler, couldn't be in the ring, which is where she was wanting to be, you know. So, I don't know, as a woman, I sort of see that and it's moving…. to me.

John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, overall… what are you most excited for fans to experience in season two, in general?

Mary McCormack: You know, listen, the show continues to be really exciting in the ring. Like, I think the sequences in the ring this season are like, I was watching some of them last night, and I was like, “Ah! I can't believe insurance is letting this happen!” (Laughs) It's… nuts. I mean, these guys take it pretty seriously. These actors went to town, they really, really love wrestling and they get to the gym, and they work so hard not to let down the fans. And I mean, I think, you know, Kelli Berglund is like, otherworldly, like with what she's done. And you know, CM Punk and, you know, AJ Mendez is in it this season. And that's fun. And they're amazing, which just comes as no surprise, right? They're natural performers and they whine less than real actors. (Laughs)

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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