9 Quick Questions for Rebecca Wisocky

As an invisible force in ‘Ghosts,’ the actress is having her most ‘seen’ moment

Gayle Jo Carter,

AARP

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Published April 11, 2023

rebecca wisocky in red pants suit with legs crossed and chin resting on right fist; blue background

Matt Doyle/Contour by Getty Images

In the popular CBS series Ghosts, Rebecca Wisocky, 51, plays the deceased character Hetty Woodstone, who, along with a host of other entertaining spirits, haunts Woodstone Estate. The wife of the estate’s original philandering owner, Hetty is slowly evolving from a haughty aristocrat into a more tenderhearted, feminist-thinking soul. Back among the living, Wisocky reveals her favorite scary movie, who she’d love to see guest star on the show and what it’s like wearing that snug corset all day.

Do you have a favorite on-screen ghost?

I recently watched The Ghost and Mrs. Muir again. That’s a classic. And also one of the original Ghostwriter stories, which is kind of a theme in our show. And everybody loves [Patrick] Swayze. Swayze’s [role in the movie Ghost] was pretty on it.

Wasn’t one of your earliest roles in a horror movie?

Well, yes, very, very early. I don’t know if [1996’s The Fountain of Death] even qualifies as a movie at all. But yes, I had my spinal fluid ritualistically drained on the shores of Long Island somewhere.

Are you a fan of scary movies? And do you have a favorite?

I am. I’m a fan of movies. I like movies, a good thriller, something that can move you, something that can shock you, jar you. Don’t we all love that? I do love that movie The Descent — the one where all the girls are spelunking and that sisterhood of terror. Those are some pretty intense scenes of going deep down into a dark, mysterious cave. I loved that movie. I thought that was really masterful and truly scary.

If Hetty could bust out of her tight corset, what would you want her to wear?

She might have a heyday in Flower’s costume [the blissfully chill hippie ghost played by Sheila Carrasco] for a minute. I love the costume. … The costume does so much to inform the character in the way that [Hetty’s] so uptight and is so held. The way she breathes or can’t breathe. The costume has been a great gift.

It’s not uncomfortable?

Oh, it’s horribly uncomfortable.

rebecca wisocky standing in front of wall in a still from Ghosts

Wisocky plays Hetty Woodstone in the hit CBS series “Ghosts.”

Bertrand Calmeau/CBS Broadcasting

Hetty’s power has yet to be revealed. If you could have a real-life superpower, what would you hope for?

Time travel would be very wonderful. [Hetty’s] one of the few characters [wherein] we don’t know how she dies specifically or what her special powers are, or even if she has one. I think it might be very interesting if she’s the one ghost without any kind of power because that would drive her so crazy, and that would be another wonderful journey to take.

**Of the guest stars so far on Ghosts, who stands out to you, and who would be your dream guest?**

Mark Hamill has expressed his admiration for the show, so we’re all waiting to see when and if Mark Hamill comes to us. Also, I’d love for [English actor/writer] Martha Howe-Douglas to come on. Our show is based on the original BBC format, and those creators are also producers on our show, and they’ve been so generous with this concept and idea. I hope that we are doing them proud. I believe that we are. Martha Howe-Douglas plays Lady Button, who is the similar character in the BBC version as Hetty. It would be wonderful if they could construct some way to have her visit. [Former Saturday Night Live cast member] Laraine Newman just came on, and she’s an icon. I was so thrilled to meet her, and she did not disappoint one bit.

Ghosts has been picked up for another season. Do you enjoy shooting in Montreal?

We are going to head back in July to start shooting Season 3. Our show looks like a film. The design is so luscious and specific, and every single one of our craftspeople who works on our show is local and specific, and we’re very lucky to have them. We love the people there. We’ve all loved picking up a little more French. And the food — my husband [theatrical lighting designer Lap Chi Chu] and I love to eat. … Last year he was there quite a bit. We have three big dogs that go up there with us. The whole circus goes up to Montreal for six months out of the year.

With the success of the show, you seem to be having a moment. Do you feel opportunities are getting better for women in their 50s in Hollywood?

I can only speak to my individual experience, and I’ll start by saying that I’ve looked like I was 40 years old since I was 12. I always knew I would work later in life. I was lucky enough to play older than I was for many, many years, and was often the youngest person in the room, although I didn’t look it. Now with Ghosts, I’m the oldest actor in the cast, but I feel grateful just as a journeyman actor to be working at all. Especially now to be doing work that is deeply joyful and fun that I’m extraordinarily proud of.

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Gayle Jo Carter is a former entertainment editor at USA WEEKEND, who during her 30-year reporting and editing career, has worked at USA TODAY, Voice of America and Feature Story News. When not interviewing high-profile people, she’s teaching reformer Pilates classes and doing her best to raise two empathetic, curious, healthy young people to adulthood.