Cristin Milioti, who plays crime family heiress Sofia Falcone in the HBO series “The Penguin,” has said her role in the show is one of her most meaningful performances to date. In a recent interview, the actress discussed two notable scenes that best capture her character.
While most actors dislike watching their own acting, Milioti finds it “very uncomfortable.” However, she pinpointed two sequences that had a strong impact. The first occurs in episode four during a tense family dinner that builds to a dramatic conclusion. “That whole scene from when I entered the dining room to the end of the episode was really thrilling for me,” Milioti explained.
Another powerful moment is in episode seven, where Sofia confronts a young witness at an orphanage. This scene effectively illustrates Sofia’s conflicting nature. “When I read that scene I thought, ‘Wow, it’s so brutal but I was really excited about it,'” Milioti said. She noted the scene reveals Sofia trying to destroy her father’s criminal legacy while repeating his abusive actions herself against the little girl.
As a child, Milioti enjoyed pretending to be Batman villains in her backyard and “dreamed of playing a character like this.” When offered the role, she wanted it deeply due to this childhood fantasy. After reading more scripts, Milioti was surprised by the profound experiences her character would have. “I just love her. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done,” she said. “The Penguin” continues airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO, with the season finale airing next week.
