Bill Paxton, harried husband and father Bill Henrickson

“He’s got his hands full. It’s kind of the old proverb, beware of what you wish for, you just might get it. I’m a guy, 40-something, who’s struggling with his business and with his family life. He just happens to be married to - it’s kind of an unorthodox family with three wives. I think it would be much too hectic a life to live. I mean, I think Bill Henrickson is the ultimate multitasker. . . . And it’s been a great challenge to kind of make this seem weirdly normal. But as you watch this show, you realize these people are just like all of us, going through the same hopes and dreams. I’m not playing this guy with any judgment or any sarcasm. He’s earnest with his family and to his beliefs. It’s such an interesting prism to kind of examine the human condition through.”

Jeanne Tripplehorn, bossy first wife Barb

“For the first time in my life, I had what I call a crisis of character. All of the sudden, I didn’t understand my character.. . . I just simply could not relate to this character, and it was really difficult. I hated my character, which I had never had before. I didn’t understand her. It was horrible. And we all talked about this. I said, ‘I’m having trouble speaking Barb’s words because I hate Barb.’ But what I came around to was her love of family, and I could grab on to that personally. And now, here I am.”

Chloe Sevigny, bratty second wife Nicki

“In the beginning, when we started shooting, I was so in love with Nicki - with her defiance, with her attitude, with how self-assured she was. And then, by the end of the season, I hated Nicki. I was having breakdowns - ‘Can’t I just have a nice moment?’ ‘Can’t I be a nice girl for once, instead of being the troublemaker?’ But Nicki comes from the compound, and this polygamist lifestyle is all she’s known her whole life. So it was very natural for her to join into Bill’s family.”

Ginnifer Goodwin, naive third wife Margene