Julianna Margulies returns to television

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Julianna Margulies returned to network television Tuesday night in the new CBS drama, "The Good Wife."

The series is about a woman who goes back to work as a lawyer after her husband, played by Chris Noth, is imprisoned following a high-profile political scandal.

"It's a wonderful premise," the 43-year-old New York native, who is best known for her roles on TV's "ER," "The Sopranos" and "Canterbury's Law," told UPI in New York recently.

"It's basically based on all those women you've seen standing behind those fallen politicians," the actress said, referring to scandals involving former President Bill Clinton, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey and Sen. John Edwards.

"I play the title character and Chris Noth plays my fallen husband. When we were talking about that casting, I said it has to be someone who is much more Clintonesque, than Spitzeresque because you want to understand really why she would stand on that podium," Margulies recalled. "Because it's what I think whenever I'm watching one of those press conferences. I'm like: 'Why did you make her do that? Why is she standing behind him?' I've always wondered about those women. They're wonderful and smart. Silda Spitzer, right now? She's running a hedge fund. She's doing just fine."

So, what kind of research did Margulies do to prepare to play the character?

"That's the beautiful thing about the Internet," the star replied. "You can find everything. I watched every single press conference from everybody. … It's amazing to watch these women and to know that they all pursued very different lives before they gave up their careers for their husbands. It's a real interesting story. It gave me so much insight. There was no one I could interview, unfortunately, but rightfully so."

Margulies will soon be seen opposite Andy Garcia in the big-screen family comedy, "City Island," which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this spring.