Who is Mrs. Blane in The Gilded Age? Character explored in depth

In the opulent, backstabbing world of The Gilded Age, it takes more than pearls and pedigree to make waves — it takes boldness, timing, and, apparently, a well-placed tennis club invitation. Enter Mrs. Blaine (yes, that's how many fans mishear it, though it’s actually Blane) — a radiant widow who doesn’t just float into The Gilded Age Season 2; she practically swan-dives into the plot with a martini in one hand and young Larry Russell on her arm.

Set against the clinking-glass backdrops of Newport’s summer estates, Mrs. Blane is a breath of fresh, unfiltered air. She’s independent, striking, and refreshingly unbothered by what the drawing-room whisperers have to say. With the kind of old money most characters only dream of marrying into, she stands out not just for her wealth, but also for how freely she wields it — and how unapologetically she lives her life after widowhood.

From her first moment onscreen, it’s clear: Susan Blane is not your typical Gilded Age society matron. She’s not clawing for status. She already has it — and now, she’s rewriting the rules of how to use it. For viewers, she’s equal parts romantic complication and narrative spark plug. For Larry Russell? Well, she might just be a very expensive lesson in temptation.

Who plays Mrs. Blaine in The Gilded Age? Meet Laura Benanti

Mrs. Blane is portrayed by the always-effervescent Laura Benanti, a Tony-winning Broadway darling with the kind of on-screen charm that’s equal parts elegance and edge. Known to many for her scene-stealing stints on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (yes, she’s the Melania Trump impersonator with biting wit and perfect timing), Benanti steps into The Gilded Age with all the poise you'd expect from a woman used to commanding both the stage and the screen.

In The Gilded Age, Benanti plays Susan Blane with a rare blend of vulnerability and self-assurance. She doesn’t lean into tired tropes of the “dangerous older woman” or “scheming widow”. Instead, she builds a character who is complex, lonely, and finally free — and determined to enjoy that freedom, even if it raises a few eyebrows. Her presence adds a much-needed jolt of romance and rebellion to a show that thrives on restraint but sparkles in its scandal.

A scandalous spark in Larry Russell’s storyline

When Susan Blane meets Larry Russell (Harry Richardson), it's under the guise of a home renovation. But very quickly, the paint samples are swapped for champagne toasts, and Larry finds himself entangled in something far messier than blueprints. Blane hires him to redesign her Newport home, but it’s clear she’s also interested in redesigning her future — and she wants him in it, at least for a season.

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What makes their connection so electric is how it breaks with the usual power dynamics. Blane isn’t a damsel or a debutante. She’s a woman who has lived through marriage, tolerated a dull husband, and is now calling her own shots. And for Larry — who’s used to being the charming upstart — she becomes both a romantic thrill and a societal landmine. Their affair is less about true love and more about what happens when two people, unbound by expectations (at least for now), decide to stop pretending.

So, who is Mrs. Blaine in The Gilded Age? She’s a wealthy widow, a social disruptor, and one of the few women on the show with nothing left to lose — which makes her the most dangerous (and entertaining) kind of character to watch.

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