by Murtada
I let out a whoop when I first glimpsed Harriet Sansom Harris in Phantom Thread. I didn’t know she was part of the cast, but there she was drunkenly climbing stairs to meet Daniel Day Lewis’ couturier Reynolds Woodcock, as his wealthy client Barbara Rose.
It’s a comic gem in miniature...
The main characters talk about Rose before she’s introduced, and her drunk introduction makes a vivid impression. Barbara Rose becomes the catalyst that drives the relationship forward between Woodcock and Alma (Vicky Krieps), in a delicious subplot that we won't spoil. Harris is watchable every second on screen, economically delivering a full characterization with very minimal screen time. She's always funny even when Barbara is sad and pathetic.
My admiration of Harris originally stems from her turn as the unscrupulous agent Bebe Glazier on Frasier.
She was a guest star for many years and, believe it or not, the funniest actor on that show. She also won a Tony Award in 2002 for her villainous Mrs Meers in "Thoroughly Modern Millie". This new featured role in a movie from one of the world's most acclaimed filmmakers should lead to many more parts if casting directors are wise. Wouldn’t it be great, if, for her next part, Harris gets a juicy supporting character like Lesley Manville’s in Phantom? Or maybe even a lead. One can hope.