Julianna Margulies has spent seven years in the skin of Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife. That's 156 episodes bringing one character to life and it's not unfathomable that somebody would leave such an experience changed. For Margulies, she hopes a little bit of Alicia will come with her.
"I think she's a smart woman. I'd love to take—she has an incredible talent for not answering off the cuff, for really thinking things through and seeing both sides of the coin without spewing off something that would be offensive or get her in trouble. So I would love to bring a little bit of her with me in that way, but I also—it'll be good to get back to being me," she told E! News with a laugh.
We were on set for The Good Wife's penultimate episode and the cast was already looking towards the future, albeit in a bittersweet manner. What's next for the three-time Emmy winner? She's not sure, but one thing she said she can guarantee is her next role will not require "technical speak."
"I'd just like to speak in a regular conversation without having to worry about tricky dialogue," she said.
As for how she wants fans to remember the show, well, it comes down to how they were affected by it.
"As inspiring, I guess. From the cases to having voices out there," she said, citing hot-button episode topics like gun control and same-sex marriage. "The Kings managed to touch on so many human assets of our lives rather than just the political, technical white collar crime, which are all important too, but I feel like they've really—with humor, with drama, with an incredible cast that enabled these subjects to come alive and to speak to people. So I would hope that we walk away and people feel somewhat inspired."
Alicia Florrick is the heart of The Good Wife and with that comes a lot of attention to her love life. She's been heavily tied to three characters in particular: Peter Florrick (Chris Noth), Will Gardner (Josh Charles) and Jason Carouse (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). But don't ask her to pick a favorite. "I am going to plead the fifth on that. I have been unbelievable fortune to have three very handsome, spectacular love interests and that secret will go to my grave," she said.
When it comes to the final episode, airing Sunday, May 8, you better buckle up. "The only thing I can tease is that it will be suspenseful, it will…I think it's going to be very controversial and I do know one thing, which I won't say, but there will be a surprise guest," she teased.
Click play on the video up top for more from Margulies on The Good Wife.
The Good Wife airs Sundays, 9 p.m. on CBS.