Dianne Wiest as a sassy reverend mother in Elsbeth? It’s everything we’ve ever wanted and more.
In the upcoming episode, “And Then There Were Nuns,” airing on Nov. 20, the Life in Pieces and Edward Scissorhands actress is tapping into her godly side — and her ungodly side — as she takes on playing a reverend mother whose convent is under siege.
According to a description of the episode, Wiest is putting up a fight to save her convent when a pop star (Lindsey Normington) comes along and tries to buy it out from under her. In a DECIDER exclusive clip from Season 3 Episode 7, the fight has begun as Normington’s character arrives at the abbey to start the sale process, which only serves to annoy and anger her scene partner.
“Okay, not this, but something like this: here’s the church, here’s the steeple, here’s the coffin ’cause your games are lethal,” Normington’s character says into her own phone as she is suddenly startled by Wiest’s nun character, standing directly in front of her. After taking a seat on the bench next to the recording artist, the two discuss the singer’s plans to turn the church into something a little different.
“Something about this place is lowkey like really good energy, it’s literally the perfect place for my new recording studio, kind of a slay, right?” Normington’s singer says as Wiest’s character reluctantly responds, “It is slay.” Check out the full clip in the player above…
Not only is it a perfect role for Wiest, who recently completed a guest-starring arc on Only Murders in the Building Season 5, it marks a full-circle moment for Jon Tolins, Elsbeth‘s showrunner. According to an interview with TV Line, one of Tolins’ earliest projects involved Wiest, some 40 years ago.
“It’s a thrill, a special thrill for me because in the summer of 1984, I was an apprentice at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and one of my jobs was to do props for a production of Uncle Vanya that featured the young Dianne Wiest as Sonya. That production was really important to me, and I always say it was kind of the thing that made me want to be a playwright. So, to be working with her now in this capacity is just a special thrill,” he told the outlet.
Elsbeth airs at 10 p.m. local on CBS and episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.
