'Bates Motel's' Vera Farmiga on Physically Demanding Combat Scenes and 6 Other Emmy Contender Quickies

A&E

Vera Farmiga‘s dynamic performance as unstable single mom Norma Bates in A&E original series “Bates Motel” demands attention as an Emmy contender for best actress in a drama — perhaps even more so now than when she was first nominated for the role in 2013.

Over three seasons, Farmiga has portrayed Norma’s emotional unraveling as her serial-killer son Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) slowly evolves into the character so familiar to fans of Alfred Hitchcock‘s 1960 horror classic “Psycho.” Norma scrapes and claws — often literally — to save her son from murder charges, drug dealers and his own spiraling mental health, but receives little sympathy or support for her efforts.

Also Read: 'Bates Motel's' Freddie Highmore Admits His Mom-Cuddling Character Is 'a Bit of a Perv' (Video)

TheWrap talked with Farmiga about the hardest moment of Season 3 and how she would like to see the Emmys reconfigured.

What was the toughest thing you had to do this season?
The toughest thing for me to execute was the shrill hand-to-hand combat with Nestor Carbonell‘s character, Sheriff Romero, in Episode 9. He pins Norma against her wall of dishonesty, demands she tell the truth and Norma goes ape-kaka on him. I’ve never made such barbaric, merciless contact with a man’s face flesh before. An acrimoniously aggressive scene that turns emotionally on a dime into profound sorrow, then regret and then enters sexy-sexy territory of desire, graduating to utmost disgust and resignation. A freaking hard scene to sustain for 30-plus camera takes.

What was the most fun thing you had to do this season?
The biggest hoot, is and always will be presenting Norma’s freak-outs. At least once a season, excrement hits the oscillating air device for Norma and she goes postal.

Also Read: Comic-Con: How 'Bates Motel' Makes Norman and His Mom More Likable (Guest Blog)

Let’s assume someone has never heard of “Bates Motel.” What would you say to convince that person to watch it?
There is nothing else like “Bates Motel” on television. Our characters’ neurosis and psychopathy and dysfunction will make you feel so much better about your own.

Are you a binge-watcher or are you a once-a-weeker? What was the last thing you binge-watched?
I’m a once-a-week-binge-watcher. This week I caught up on all the FIFA Women’s World Cup games. Last week, I ran through all “Wonderpets” episodes with my four- and six-year-old. Week before that, my hubby and I caught up on all “Vice” episodes.

If you could add a new category to the Emmys, whether serious or silly, what would it be?
Best Voice-Over Introduction by a Showrunner? Carlton Cuse would nab that one. Best Recycled Extra Performer? I have a keen eye for spotting background actors portraying different roles within a single episode of a TV show. The camera operators and focus pullers are always my fave people on a set. Their crafts deserve recognition.

If the Emmys really want to improve upon all other awards ceremonies, they could retool all the Best Actor and Actress categories. Make all the actors in contention really prove themselves by having to each execute the hardest scene from their competitors’ shows and have voters vote based on that information. That would be a veritable contest for ultimate acting supremacy.

Also Read: TVWrap Monday: 'Gotham' Finale Power Vacuum, 'Bates Motel' Resurrection and 'Castle' Kills Lorne Michaels, Maybe

What about this show sets it apart from the thriller shows like it on television right now, such as “Penny Dreadful,” “American Horror Story,” “Supernatural” or “Hannibal”?
What sets our thriller apart from others on TV right now is that we are firmly rooted in reality. There is nothing mystical, fantastical, supernatural, spectral or otherworldly in our show. We explore the darkness of the human condition. At the heart, ours is a beautiful story about a single mom’s unconditional love of her dysfunctional child. You are swept away on profoundly moving rapids of heartache and yearning and effort that it takes for a parent to heal their child.

“Bates Motel” was recently renewed for Seasons 4 and 5. Production will start later this year.

See more of TheWrap Magazine’s Emmy Movies and Limited Series issue.

21 Worst Onscreen Moms, From Norma Bates to Peg Bundy (Photos)

TheWrap looks at dysfunctional moms in honor of Mother's Day, from Norma Bates in "Psycho" to Peg Bundy in "Married With Children" and "Serial Mom."
"Psycho" (1960) Possibly the worst mother in Hollywood history (and now on A&E with "Bates Motel"), Norma Bates was so abusive she it resulted in her murder -- and those of subsequent innocent victims -- at the hands of her son, Norman.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) Mrs. Iselin (Angela Lansbury) is less a mother and more a secret agent intent on making her son the first puppet President in a Communist conspiracy.
M.C. Productions
"Carrie" (1976) After emotionally and physically abusing her daughter for years, Mrs. White (Piper Laurie) tried to kill Carrie when she believed a demon was the reason her daughter had psychic powers.
United Artists
"Mommie Dearest" (1981) Faye Dunaway portrays Joan Crawford as controlling and overbearing mother to adopted daughter, Christina, in the 1981 biographical cult drama.
Paramount Pictures
"Married... with Children" (1987-97) Peggy Bundy isn't mean, she's just lazy and inattentive, refusing to cook or clean and instead spending her time sat on the couch watching "Oprah."
Embassy Television
"Throw Momma From the Train" (1987) Mrs. Lift (Anne Ramsey) was such a terrible, overbearing mother that her son was inspired on how to kill her after watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Orion Pictures
"Seinfeld" (1989-98) After watching Mrs. Costanza (Estelle Harris) for only five minutes, you completely understand how George could grow into the needy, neurotic person we knew and loved for nine seasons.
West-Shapiro
"Serial Mom" (1994) The dark comedy starred Kathleen Turner as a suburban housewife who secretly murders people over trivial of perceived slights or social faux pas.
Polar Entertainment Corporation
"The Sopranos" (1999-2007) A paranoid nightmare, Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand) tried to have her mob boss son, Tony Soprano, killed when she thought he was too weak to lead.
HBO
"Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (2002) Ellen Burstyn plays the abusive Southern mother to Sandra Bullock in this comedy-drama that spans 70 years of the "Ya-Ya Sisterhood."
All Girls Productions
"White Oleander" (2002) Based on the novel by Janet Fitch, Michelle Pfeiffer plays a self-centered, cold-hearted and eccentric mother who kills and her cheating boyfriend -- landing her in prison and daughter, Astrid (Alison Lohman) in a foster home.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"8 Mile" (2002) Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) lives with his alcoholic mother (Kim Basinger) in a Detroit trailer park while struggling to make it as a white rapper.
Imagine Entertainment
"Arrested Development" (2003-) Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) was never hesitant to sacrifice her children's happiness for a gin and tonic.
Imagine Entertainment
"Mean Girls" (2004) The ultimate example of lax parenting, Mrs. King (Amy Poehler) is way more concerned with looking cool than being an actual mom to her daughter.
Paramount Pictures
"Mad Men" (2007-15) Though she could occasionally show maternal instinct, Betty Draper (January Jones) was at times just as childish as her kids, and often even more selfish and needy.
Lionsgate Television
"Sons of Anarchy" (2008-14) Gemma Teller Morrow (Katey Sagal) may have had the motorcycle club's interests at heart, but those interests typically involved ruining her son's chances at happiness, culminating in her killing his wife and the mother of his child.
SutterInk
"The Hangover" (2009) We all remember how nice Jade (Heather Graham) was, but we always forgot that she let three complete strangers take her baby for the night in Las Vegas.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"Precious" (2009) Unemployed mother Mary (Mo'Nique) takes out all her fears and insecurities on her 16-year-old daughter, whom she blamed for getting impregnated twice by Mary's husband after he raped her.
Lionsgate
"The Hunger Games" (2012) Mrs. Everdeen (Paula Malcomson) emotionally shut down after the death of her husband, leaving her teenage daughter Katniss to figure out how to keep her family alive.
Lionsgate
"Justified" (2010-15) Mags Bennett (Margo Martindale) runs a family of hillbilly pot growers, makes lethal moonshine and wields a hammer that she's not afraid to use.
FX Productions
"American Horror Story: Coven" (2013-14) There are so many evil moms to choose from on "AHS" but Fiona (Jessica Lange) takes this dark prize as the glamorous wicked witch to belittled daughter Cordelia (Sarah Paulson).
Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision