Summary
- Brenda Strong's height helped the Seinfeld writers realize she was perfect for the role of Sue Ellen Mischke, as her eyeline matched the character's infamous bra height.
- Strong still receives compliments from fans for her role as Sue Ellen Mischke, and the character remains alive and well in people's minds.
- Strong shared a funny and awkward moment she had with Larry David during a fitting, where David struggled to avoid looking at her breasts for a gag involving sweaters.
Seinfeld ran for nine seasons and became one of the most iconic shows of the 90s. It also became one of the biggest shows in television history. The series starred Jerry Seinfeld and was co-created by Seinfeld with Larry David.
One of the memorable parts of the series was its many guest stars. One of those guest stars was actress Brenda Strong. Strong played Elaine's nemesis Sue Ellen Mischke.
Her appearance was well-received by Seinfeld fans and Strong still gets compliments on her part today. However, there was a funny and awkward moment Strong had with David while working behind-the-scenes.
Brenda Strong's Height Helped The Writers Realize She Would Be Great For The Part
When Brenda Strong guest-starred in Seinfeld, she played Elaine's nemesis Sue Ellen Mischke. Strong spoke with Today in 2019 about the character and her experience working on the show.
“Sue Ellen Mischke is a very empowered woman who really thinks that the world is her oyster, and based on how she was written, is a little clueless about her impact on the rest of the world,” Strong said.
Strong's character was nicknamed “the braless wonder.” Strong discussed the casting process and the moment Seinfeld writers knew she was right for the part.
“My managers and I were looking for that one role that would kind of set me apart from all of Jerry's girlfriends,” she said. “I was a little nervous, because when the descriptor is ‘the braless wonder,’ it kind of sets you up for a certain expectation. So when I walked in the casting office and I did the scene, I said, ‘So tell me about Sue Ellen. Is this going to be tasteful?’ And Larry David said, ‘Oh yes, she is an heiress, she's wealthy, she's put together, she's absolutely, like, an amazing woman.’ I said, ‘By the way, how tall is Julia Louis-Dreyfus? Does she come to about here?’ And I saw all the writers' eyes light up, because they realized that her eyeline was going to be bra height. And that was the beginning.”
Strong even said her small role on Seinfeld still sees her receiving compliments from fans of the show.
Jerry Seinfeld Revealed His Best Guest On Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee (And They Have A Lot In Common)
Seinfeld admitted he and another A-list comedian shared many things in common.
“As an actress, I've been doing many, many roles, and there are certain ones that really stand out in the minds of fans,” she said. “The one that I get more than anything is Sue Ellen Mischke. Literally this week I was having lunch with a friend. And I walked back to my table. And the guy at the table behind us said, ‘Sue Ellen, you played Sue Ellen Mischke, right?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘God, I loved that show.’”
She added, “I've actually been walking down the street in New York City and had people on firetrucks yell out to me at full voice, ‘Sue Ellen.’ So it's alive and well in people's minds.”
Brenda Recalled An Awkward Experience Larry David Had With Her During A Fitting
When asked her favorite memory on set, Strong talked about a funny encounter she had with David during a fitting.
“We decided that Sue Ellen Mischke was going to be wearing a sweater to meet Elaine," Strong began. "And Larry David wanted to really get it right, and so he came to the costume fitting. And I kept putting on sweater after sweater after sweater, and coming out. And he very shyly and boyishly would try not to look at my breasts, but he would have to, because that's what the whole gag was about. So he'd kind of look and go, ‘No, not that one,’ and then another one, and another one. And finally he realized he had to get back to set."
She continued, "And there was one more, and it was actually my favorite one. And I said, ‘Wait, Larry, I'll walk with you.’ So I put it on. And he rode his bicycle from the New York set over to the costume department, so he started riding his bicycle back to the New York street. And I started walking backwards, and as I'm walking backwards, I'm trying to jostle a little bit so that he could kind of get the motion."
"I just remember the handlebars on his bicycle (wobbling), and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, Larry David is gonna crash into some bushes because of this.’ And finally he just yelled, ‘It's fine, it's fine.’ And that was the sweater we ended up using.”
Brenda Thinks Sue Ellen Mischke Would Be 'Running The Met Gala' By Now
When asked where Sue Ellen Mischke would be right now, it was clear Strong saw big things in her future.
“I think Sue Ellen Mischke would be running the Met Gala right now," she declared. "I think she is definitely a climber. She knew her place in society. And I think she would want to be around all the fabulous people as they came in their incredible gowns.”
Strong also said the show's history of tackling uncomfortable situations in a comedic way was key to the show's lasting success.
“They got to explore all of the deepest insecurities that we all have that nobody actually talks about. But they would talk about them," Strong said. "And they not only explored personal insecurities, but relationship insecurities — dysfunctional family, how you deal with ambition and competition and all of the things that just make up the human condition. And they just put it on the table for all of us to see ourselves, and laugh. It’s a show 'about nothing,' but the truth is, it was a show about everything.”
