Atlanta native brings Ma Ingalls to life on Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie
Crosby Fitzgerald has one of the most iconic roles in American television and literature. The Atlanta native is Caroline “Ma” Ingalls in Netflix’s hit Little House on the Prairie, which debuted at number one. With rave reviews noting how she created a well-rounded woman with depth, humor and character, Crosby is well on her way to stardom. A graduate of Tulane University, she went to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, which counts Gregory Peck, Connie Britton, Allison Janney, Diane Keaton, Leslie Nielsen and Jeff Goldblum among its alumni. Prior to landing the lead role in Little House on the Prairie, she appeared in Abbott Elementary, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Know and Crime 101 with Halle Berry.
Travelgirl: Most young girls dream of being actresses and then go in different career directions. How and when did you decide to make it your career?
Crosby Fitzgerald: I always wanted to be an actress but growing up in Atlanta I had no clue about how one would go about doing that.
I went to Tulane for gender studies so I may as well have been an actor in terms of a reasonable career. But I tried to do a lot of things adjacent to acting. I was in a sketch comedy group and did the Vagina Monologues. That’s where I met a lot of theater majors, and I would ask them what they were going to do after college and they would say: ‘Be an actor’. And, I was like, ‘No, what are you really going to do?’ And then they would say ‘Be an actor’ and I remember it like it was frozen in time. Oh, you have to choose to do it and then just do it!
I thought that if I didn’t start acting when I was, like, 10, there was no use. But I remember reading Jane Lynch’s book [Happy Accidents: A Memoir] and it was so inspiring. I realized that if I didn’t give acting a fair shot that I would regret it forever.
After college I went to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and never stopped acting after that. Well, I’ve actually been a nanny for the past 10 years. Billions of children! I kept getting fired because I would say I couldn’t come in because I had an audition or a small part. I eventually learned to be clear early on in the interview process that I might have to leave for an opportunity, but luckily in LA lots of families I ended up working for had that same lifestyle. After about 10 years I started to think that maybe I should move back home to Atlanta and go to nursing school. But I’d get auditions and just kept going.
What I did learn was how to live a live a full life and be happy while trying to live my dream.
TG: What are the biggest challenges? The biggest joys?
CF: That hardest part about acting is not getting to act. You have all these years leading up to this. It’s a lot of hoping that someone will trust you enough to give you a job. And, you learn lessons. You learn that it’s strangely easy to fall into the hands of hungry vultures who want to take your money because they say they have the answer on how to be a great actor. You learn those lessons. The best part is you are with people who get it when no one else does. It’s so crazy looking at acting and actors from the outside. But the people who have been in it with me — crazy people — will be my friends forever.
TG: Tell us about Little House on the Prairie. It’s one of Netflix’s biggest hits.
CF: I thought it was such a dream role when I first read the script. I got to ride in a wagon and take horseback riding lessons. I got to scream and cry and run through a field and break my foot! I got to give birth and sing, which was terrifying. So for a first real job, it hit all the points, all the stuff I want to try as an actor. The creative team is so smart. The executive producer is Joy Gorman, the showrunner is Rebecca Sunshine; the first season all the directors were women. This was basically my first job and I understand that it’s not usually like this, but the whole process has been really special.
It’s important to understand that we are re-adapting it from a different angle [than the original television show]. It was such a fascinating time in history, a tragic time. Also, it weirdly is not that long ago and yet so different from today. The beauty is that kids are kids no matter what they’re going through. No matter the time, kids don’t know that they’re going through the hardest time of their lives. They just want to sing by the fire with Ma and Pa. People are still drawn to it.
TG: How did you make Ma Ingalls different from the original with Karen Grassle?
CF: I didn’t have a lot of exposure to the [original] show. It’s such a part of our culture. I knew about it and had seen some of it and I loved it. But I didn’t reference it to prepare for this role. We are adapting from the books, so I focused a lot on the books.
Caroline is a fully realized person, along with Pa. She isn’t a side character. She has depth and flaws; she’s a fun mom and a mean mom. She’s not thrilled about moving across the country but she pushes him every step of the way. She wants to challenge herself and her husband but she wants to be smart about it.
TG: You’re getting your first real taste of success and stardom. Do you think about what becoming more well known will do to your personal life?
CF: I’m am not anywhere close to that sort of fame, and if I ever am, it will hopefully be because I’m getting amazing opportunities. I’m really glad I had to wait a long time to get my shot. I’m older now. Had I been faced with the possibility of success in my twenties, I might not have handled it with grace.
I feel honestly there maybe three people on the planet who can’t go to the grocery store, other than that, it’s pretty chill.
TG: What would be your ideal career path? Whose career do you admire?
CF: One of my first ever jobs was a few days of work on Palm Royale. My first line on television was with Kristen Wiig. I’ve always just loved her comedy and I thought that was the world I wanted be in. People who know me were shocked that my first big role was in an earnest drama like Little House. Kristen showed me that you can be a comedy girl and also have a character who has depth and grit. Watching her films opened up that possibility for me. I love her career and I love her as a person.
My greatest hero has always been Olivia Coleman. She can really do it all.
TG: I know you’ve been to Ireland often and you have relatives there. What do you love about the country?
CF: My dad went to Ireland back in the 70’s with just the name of the town where his grandfather was from and he found our relatives. We’ve stayed in touch ever since and visit as often as we can. That’s the place that feels the most like home to me. I love Atlanta and the lake, but Ireland is where I just feel at home.
TG: What are your must-takes on trips and what is your favorite place to visit?
CG: I love going to the most random state fair or tubing down a lazy river. Simple things that make me happy. It’s more who I’m with than where I’m going. I love to travel with friends and family. When I’m there I like to actually explore the place, go to low-key restaurants that don’t make me feel like a tourist.
I’d love to go to Thailand and I love Mexico. For the past 10 years I’ve been so focused on getting acting jobs that I haven’t really given myself the space to dream up where I’d want to travel. But I’m looking forward to venturing out finally.
TG: You are living out your dream. What have you learned about yourself?
CG: I think I’m learning that I want to be more involved in more [of the business]. I’ve always wanted to be an actress so badly and I’m finally able to make a living that way. So, now I want to learn more about the industry as a whole. Even when you have a job, there is a lot of time waiting to act, a lot of down time. And, that makes me understand why actors become producers, writers, directors. I’m excited to use that part of my brain and see what else I may get involved in. I’d love to find ways to make the industry more accessible to people who maybe feel like there’s no way in for them.
