These 9 Bertha Russell scenes from The Gilded Age will remain priceless for Carrie Coon fans

Bertha Russell is no ordinary character in The Gilded Age. This woman is simply everything that keeps viewers hooked. With a luminous presence, Carrie Coon fills Bertha with passion, ambition, elegance, and just a touch of menace in almost every scene she is in. Standing in the world of elite old money and immovable social rules, Bertha is the new class-a bold, unstoppable, and unapologetic one.

Whether hosting grand balls, going toe-to-toe with Mrs. Astor, or trying to marry off her daughter, she does everything with attitude. Carrie Coon brings a whole lot of dimension and sharpness to the role, making Bertha Russell fierce and fascinating at the same time.

With The Gilded Age steadily rising to fame, Bertha Russell remains its pulse, and these 9 scenes depict the very reason she is forever etched in one's memory. For Carrie Coon fans, each moment here is worth a million.

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These 9 Bertha Russell scenes from The Gilded Age will remain priceless for Carrie Coon fans

1. When Bertha outsmarted Mrs. Astor at the Opera

Bertha Russell proved that ignoring her was a fatal mistake when she went against the incumbent Mrs. Astor in the New York opera scene. In the second season, Bertha valiantly threw her lot behind the nascent Metropolitan Opera, making it, by sheer magic, the most talked-about arena in town. Her bold maneuver forced the old-money aristocracy to patronise her opera house rather than the older Academy of Music.

It was not just about music. It was about Bertha expecting some modicum of respect. Carrie Coon nailed it with power and elegance in a scene that prompted cheers all through, a standing ovation for Bertha herself. Even Mrs. Astor finally had to bow her head.

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2. Bertha silences Mrs. Winterton without saying much

Mrs. Winterton had best be warned that La Bertha would never lose her cool! Calm, with a rather fierce demeanour, Bertha Russell ensures to indicate that the prestigious lead box is hers and not for some social climber's grubby hands. And that clearly demonstrates how good she'd gotten at that social game by now - not a yell, just control and class. Carrie Coon's face did all the talking.

The fans loved the ice-cold Bertha shutting down the situation. It's one of those scenes when you realize Bertha doesn't need to create revenge; she is the lesson.

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3. Chasing a White House invite with style and strategy

Getting invited to the White House was not a dream for Bertha but a deliberately set goal. Bertha Russell used every social tool at her disposal to inch herself closer to Washington's elite. She threw fancy dinners, dazzled certain people, and even mulled over the prospect of assisting a senator's wife.

But what made this scene really exceptional was the sincerity of Bertha Russell, who was ambitious but still needed approval in an environment so difficult for her to infiltrate. It was an impeccable dose of emotion from Carrie Coon that elevated this moment past mere politics.

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4. The Grand Ball that shook New York society

When Bertha threw her first society ball, it wasn't just a bash. It was her formal debut. Taking a cue from real-life socialite Alva Vanderbilt, Bertha invited people who counted and flaunted her beautiful mansion and style. Although some upper crust sneered at her, she didn't flinch.

The way Carrie Coon descended those stairs - graceful, bold, and radiant - was like a declaration. This is when we witness Bertha emerging as the woman to watch in New York society.

5. Turning Gladys’s debut into a statement of power

Bertha spared no expense for her daughter Gladys's coming out, hosting a royal-type ball in Newport. But behind the fluff lay a profound want. Bertha wanted to show everybody that she had really made it. From renting a posh venue to dealing with A-list guests, she made the affair a society phenomenon. Even though Gladys sometimes felt used as a prop, the tableau also revealed how much Bertha craved to win.

Carrie Coon pulled off a proud mother and a woman who needed approval. Fans could see Bertha wasn't simply establishing a life. She was creating a legacy, no matter what that might cost her daughter's emotions.

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6. When Bertha finally said “no” to George Russell

In this uncommon emotional moment, Bertha confronted her husband George, demonstrating she was no subservient wife. She didn't wish for her aspirations to be overlooked, particularly regarding their daughter and society's position for her. George had business clout, but Bertha showed him that social influence ranked equally. Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector provided viewers with a second of defused tension and respect.

This was an important moment: Bertha's marriage is a union, not a trap. Viewers were shown a softer side of Bertha Russell, yet she was no less formidable.

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7. A calm warning that sent chills down spines

When Bertha threatens those standing in her way of social ascension, "You will be sorry," it's not boisterous or furious, but hits like thunder. The quietness of her tone made it even more sinister. She wasn't threatening, she was scheming. Carrie Coon's acting was so spot on that fans are still reciting lines to this day.

It was a turning point. Everyone stopped undervaluing her after that. Love her or hate her, this is one of the best displays of Bertha's quiet strength. It's the reason she commands every room she enters.

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8. Playing mind games with the young British Duke

When Bertha Russell encountered the young Duke of Buckingham, she didn't become flustered; she strategised. She flirted, impressed, and advanced her agenda of marrying Gladys into the aristocracy. Bertha Russell wasn't merely a mom in this scene. She was a negotiator, a strategist, and perhaps a little flirt. Carrie Coon brought it with aplomb and humor, never allowing Bertha to appear desperate.

Fans loved her in a different type of fight this time with royalty. It was a reminder that Bertha's ambition did not end with New York. She was now targeting worldwide respect.

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9. A lavish wedding that didn’t feel like a win

In one of the latest and most surprising turns, Bertha ensures her daughter weds the Duke despite Gladys's obviously troubled expression. The wedding is grand, royal, and press-filled, but cold beneath. Bertha Russell gets the game she began, but at what expense? Carrie Coon delivers a masterclass in how to convey triumph and tragedy within the same look.

This is a scene of a mother who prioritizes status over her child's emotions, and that nuance made the fans both love and wonder at her. It's one of those scenes that stick with you, even though it hurts to watch.

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Bertha Russell is more than a rich woman with a closet full of fine gowns. She is power itself, ambition unnerved, and strategy forged in a world that always seems to want to shut her out. Carrie Coon rejuvenates that energy with an edgy fierceness in every scene that makes Bertha Russell the most electrifying element of The Gilded Age.

These nine scenes serve as a testament to her cult following. Bertha so forcefully reminds us that she was never here to blend in.