Inside the somber world of Mayor of Kingstown the cast finds lighthearted fun

Mayor of Kingstown is often considered one of the most somber series currently airing, yet its cast manages to enjoy themselves once filming begins.

If you haven't seen the Paramount+ production (seriously, you should), a significant portion of its narrative unfolds within a correctional facility. Indeed, the actors genuinely shoot scenes on location in such an environment. The upcoming fourth season, debuting on Sunday, October 26, features an increased focus on the prison setting.

Jeremy Renner reprises his role as Mike McLusky for the series' fourth installment, where the stakes become increasingly intimate as his sibling, Kyle (Taylor Handley), finds himself incarcerated in Anchor Bay Prison. McLusky is compelled to confront the new warden, Nina Hobbs (Edie Falco), intensifying his existing pressures. Furthermore, Laura Benanti joins the cast as Cindy Stephens, a new female correctional officer.

Hugh Dillon, who is both a cocreator and an actor (portraying Ian Ferguson) on Mayor of Kingstown, revealed exclusively to Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 21, that he found the concept of a single mother working as a prison guard "captivating" after encountering a real-life individual akin to Cindy.

“She absolutely excelled. It's quite amusing given her comedic background. She always brings a smile to my face,” Dillon remarked about Benanti. “She shows me no deference, and yet, when the cameras roll, she is extraordinary. … Laura truly brought her A-game.”

Dillon commended Benanti for embracing the part with “elegance and poise,” though the actress encountered a significant “difficulty” in her portrayal of the character.

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“I possess a considerable aversion to blood, even when I'm aware it's artificial,” Benanti shared with Us on Tuesday, at the Mayor of Kingstown season 4 red carpet event. “That experience was also quite embarrassing, as everyone was informed and concerned. … To a large extent, I managed to overcome it out of necessity.”

Notwithstanding her apprehension — and the series' generally somber tone — Benanti and her fellow cast members discovered methods to relax during production. Continue reading to learn how the Mayor of Kingstown ensemble maintained a light atmosphere during filming:

Jeremy Renner

“I believe I simply wait for the scene to conclude and then shed the intensity as I return to my trailer or similar,” he stated.

Edie Falco

Falco informed Us that she was “consistently” on the lookout for “the comedic person” during filming.

“You check your mobile device and somewhat attempt to mentally detach from the plot,” she further explained.

Laura Benanti

Benanti clarified to Us that “each person” discovers a method to introduce some lightheartedness between scenes.

“It was genuinely, and thankfully, a collective of individuals who already operated in that manner. That defined the atmosphere of the set. I simply integrated seamlessly,” she remarked. “Mercifully, they were already quite silly. I merely joined in.”

She quipped, “We simply connected arms and frolicked down the thoroughfare.”

Hugh Dillon

Dillon verified that the ensemble developed an excellent rapport with Benanti — subsequent to an initial period of seriousness.

“Initially, our demeanor was more like, ‘Hello, how are you?’ given our unfamiliarity with her,” he elaborated. “Subsequently, we discovered she's quite a goofball.”