It’s late fall 2022 and the cast of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is filming episode 509. That is, the final episode of the Emmy-winning series that stars Rachel Brosnahan as a Jewish housewife who reinvents her life after she discovers her calling doing stand-up. On this brisk late October day, aside from an increase in personal-photo taking between scenes and ear-marking props for parting gifts, it’s business as usual on the soundstage at Steiner Studios—Maisel’s home base—in Brooklyn.

Although Brosnahan is filming this last episode as Midge Maisel, she’s also doing scenes for episode 505. It could make a less experienced actor—or any actor, really—spin out from pressure and anxiety, but this is the Maisel life: fast-paced, unpredictable, and thrilling. Brosnahan wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We have a lot of work to do in two weeks, like a lot,” she says of this final episode, including those reshoots for other episodes. “The final script is 102 pages long, as of the last draft. So we have a lot to do, which I think is helping us all keep the tears at bay.”

As I sit in Brosnahan’s dressing room, she’s just finished a scene with her counterpart Alex Borstein, who plays talent manager Susie Myerson. It takes place in Myerson’s office, with Midge falling asleep on a nearby chair. In some ways it’s the perfect analogy for the last six years of Brosnahan’s life, starting with the moment she walked in to audition for a new Amy Sherman-Palladino comedy series. There’s been no time to sleep, no taking her foot off the pedal. While it hasn’t been the healthiest or easiest lifestyle to sustain, Brosnahan is thankful.

“We know that we’re breathing rarefied air, and we’re so lucky,” she says in between showing me some of the personalized wrap gifts she’s commissioned for the cast and crew. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I’ve lived in New York for 15 years, and the life of an actor is one that takes you here or there and everywhere if you’re lucky. But it’s also been so lucky to be able to live and work at home for the last six years. We know that this is lightning in a bottle.”

And so, ahead of the final season—the first three episodes of which drop on Friday, April 14—Brosnahan opens up for her first exit interview to discuss the lessons she’s learned from stepping into Midge’s shoes (and clothes), the early day on set that made an impact, and what it was like filming that last scene for the final episode.
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As the fifth and last season of Emmy-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel launches on Prime Video Friday, creator and EP Amy Sherman-Palladino reveals she hates “every moment of it [being over]. It’s miserable. The thought of not being with these people every day. I hope the season is gratifying, at least for others. I’ll be drunk the whole time.”

Her late father was a comedian in the Big Apple and the series is a love letter to him and to New York City. “I apologize to my father for turning him into Rachel Brosnahan. I don’t think he would have been good with the hats, but I think that he would understand the pivot,” she said, joining EP Daniel Palladino and stars Brosnahan and Alex Borstein — who play Miriam “Midge” Maisel and her manager Susie Myerson — in a Q&A.

The story of an Upper West Side Jewish housewife turned standup comedian debuted in 2017 to critical acclaim, tackling religion, class and female stereotypes and showcasing an expert ensemble cast and vibrant, midcentury NYC, where it’s filmed, from Greenwich Village to Coney Island.

Last season, Midge tried to rebuild her career and reputation after burning bridges, yet stubbornly turned down gigs right and left. She was last seen exiting Carnegie Hall in a massive snowstorm after a pep talk from headliner Lenny Bruce (Luke Kirby), reinvigorated and ready to fight for stardom. Season 5 “is the culmination of everybody’s emotional journey. We kind of brought them to the end of their arc, and really paid attention to each and every person,” said Palladino.

The first three of nine episodes drop on Prime Video on April 14 followed by new episodes weekly.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 premiere date
Prime Video

As the fifth and last season of Emmy-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel launches on Prime Video Friday, creator and EP Amy Sherman-Palladino reveals she hates “every moment of it [being over]. It’s miserable. The thought of not being with these people every day. I hope the season is gratifying, at least for others. I’ll be drunk the whole time.”

Her late father was a comedian in the Big Apple and the series is a love letter to him and to New York City. “I apologize to my father for turning him into Rachel Brosnahan. I don’t think he would have been good with the hats, but I think that he would understand the pivot,” she said, joining EP Daniel Palladino and stars Brosnahan and Alex Borstein — who play Miriam “Midge” Maisel and her manager Susie Myerson — in a Q&A.
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The story of an Upper West Side Jewish housewife turned standup comedian debuted in 2017 to critical acclaim, tackling religion, class and female stereotypes and showcasing an expert ensemble cast and vibrant, midcentury NYC, where it’s filmed, from Greenwich Village to Coney Island.

Last season, Midge tried to rebuild her career and reputation after burning bridges, yet stubbornly turned down gigs right and left. She was last seen exiting Carnegie Hall in a massive snowstorm after a pep talk from headliner Lenny Bruce (Luke Kirby), reinvigorated and ready to fight for stardom. Season 5 “is the culmination of everybody’s emotional journey. We kind of brought them to the end of their arc, and really paid attention to each and every person,” said Palladino.

The first three of nine episodes drop on Prime Video on April 14 followed by new episodes weekly.

DEADLINE: Rachel, Alex – these were defining roles. How do you feel as this chapter winds down?

RACHEL BROSNAHAN: I haven’t fully processed this. I think because we get the opportunity to be back together, get the gang back together, talk about this season. So even though we wrapped it in November, it doesn’t feel like it’s done yet. And no one’s seen it yet. So, there’s still so many more conversations to be had about these characters. And we’re having a lot of fun remembering all the parts about the season we forgot. And the previous seasons that we forgot. And to kind of sit in the gratitude we all have for being able to be a part of this thing that changed all of our lives. So, it’s a hard question to answer, because it feels like we’re still going to be saying goodbye for a long time. It may only [hit us] in January or so when we’d be normally returning to work.”
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