Carla Gugino’s acting career is a testament to her remarkable versatility, effortlessly transitioning between characters that span the gamut of human emotions, from the unhinged to the composed, the virtuous to the villainous, and the somber to the comedic. Her latest venture, The Fall of the House of Usher, saw her portray the mysterytic and malevolent entity known as Verna, wreaking havoc on the over-privileged and greedy Usher family. In a recent interview, Gugino shed light on an alternate version of Verna that didn’t make the final cut, but still exists as a tantalizing Easter egg.
This alternate version of Verna manifested as a homeless woman in a fleeting moment in the series. Gugino described the character as a blonde Verna, who had a penchant for singing Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve. The hair and makeup artist, according to Gugino, did an extraordinary job, and the character was so disturbing that director Mike Flanagan couldn’t bring himself to gaze upon her. Unfortunately, this version of Verna didn’t make the cut due to creative decisions, as Gugino explained, “it just didn’t make any sense for Mary’s character to have seen Verna then, and not connected it back.”
A Still From The Fall of the House of Usher (Photo: The Fall of the House of Usher)
Despite the alternate version’s absence, Gugino expressed her regret that there weren’t more scenes featuring the blonde Verna, whom she found fascinating. She enjoyed playing this iteration of Verna because it was “the most overtly glamorous” and “fun.” Anything that allowed her to channel her inner blonde bombshell, she would eagerly embrace. Gugino also highlighted her enthusiasm for playing the animal shelter worker character, who exuded a no-nonsense attitude and underwent a charming transformation into a feral persona.
Throughout her career, Gugino’s versatility has been on full display, from the horror genre of The Fall of the House of Usher to the family-friendly films of Troop Beverly Hills and Spy Kids. Her ability to adapt to different roles has solidified her reputation as a genre-hopping actress, and her work on The Fall of the House of Usher serves as a testament to her remarkable range.
