Podtalk: Actor Elizabeth Laidlaw on ‘The Red Line’ and Beyond

CHICAGO – The recent limited series “The Red Line” on CBS-TV was notable for a couple elements – it was set in Chicago and it featured Chicago actors in major roles. Creators Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss (from here), cast their Chi-town colleague Elizabeth Laidlaw, who portrayed police officer “Vic” Renna. 



Elizabeth Laidlaw of ‘The Red Line’
Photo credit: Elizabeth Laidlaw

Laidlaw is also based in Chicago. Born in North Carolina and raised in the Windy City, she graduated Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA in Performance and Directing. Counter to many of her fellow actors, she anchored herself back in Chicago and established herself as a top performer on stages like Steppenwolf, The Goodman and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.


She branched out in 2003, when she founded Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre, a classical company of Chicago-based talent that travel to Northern Michigan to perform the Bard outdoors and free during summer. She also does voiceover, short films and feature films, including a notable supporting role in Stephen Cone’s critically acclaimed “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party.” On television, she made appearances on “Boss,” “Chicago Code” and “Chicago PD,” before hopping aboard “The Red Line.”

As Officer Vic Renna in “The Red Line”
Photo credit: CBS-TV

In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, it’s all about actor Elizabeth Laidlaw’s participation in “The Red Line.”



In Part Two, Ms. Laidlaw talks “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party” and brushes up on her Shakespeare.



In Part Three, Elizabeth reflects on best acting practices and the future.



[24]	By PATRICK McDONALD [25] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [24]