Bertha Russell is the matriarch of the Russell family, a "new money" family made rich by her husband George, a railroad tycoon. Bertha is determined to use her money and position to break into polite society that resists change at every turn.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Bertha comes from humble beginnings, and her mother died in poverty. Her recent ancestors are said to have been potato farmers from Kerry,[1] and she has been called a "potato digger's daughter" by Anne Morris.[2] She has at least one mentioned sister, who remains unnamed in season 2.
She married George Russell, who became an incredibly wealthy railroad tycoon. She had two children, Larry and Gladys, and always wanted to break into respectable society. After living on 30th Street in Manhattan, she chose to move the family to 61st Street so that they could be accepted by the city's old money.[3]
Season 1[]
Desperate to be accepted into New York's society of wealthy families with long and old lineages, Bertha is a socialite who build her new status along with her husband.
Personality[]
Bertha is a savvy, cunning and ambitious woman, eager to be fully accepted by New York's old money. She can be cold and mean when feels is neccesary, though she can show a soft and kind side, specially with her husband whom she dearly loves, and is often seen assisting him with his schemes in his business, they help each other and are a solid team that never stop until they get what they want.
Relationships[]
George Russell[]
Larry Russell[]
Gladys Russell[]
Marian Brook[]
Quotes[]
"Life is like a bank account. You cannot write a check without first making a deposit."
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Bertha Russell's character is inspired by Alva Vanderbilt.
- Bertha's wardrobe is intentionally designed as a little forward of her time, taking inspiration from a wider scale of years between 1880-1910, and sometimes quite stylized. She wears a lot of steel tones in homage to the booming industrialism.
References[]
- ↑ The Gilded Age, season 1 episode 3: "Face The Music"
- ↑ The Gilded Age, season 1 episode 5: "Charity Has Two Functions"
- ↑ The Gilded Age, season 1 episode 1: "Never The New"