If, instead of becoming an actor, Allison Tolman had become a nurse, you would have wanted her to be your nurse. As Alex on NBC's new hit mockumentary sitcom "St. Denis Medical," the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated performer plays a dedicated and conscience-driven health care worker. And in real life, she's equally firm in her convictions and confident in her skill.
In the wake of her breakout role as Molly in "Fargo" a decade ago, Tolman — with her quick comic timing and down-to-earth persona — could have slid into a reliable supporting role career. Instead, she met the moment with confidence. "I knew coming off 'Fargo' that I was never going to be closer than that to being like, 'I'm a leading lady, and you should treat me a leading lady,'" Tolman recalled during our recent "Salon Talks" conversation. Ten years on — and after starring in acclaimed series like "Downward Dog," "Why Women Kill" and "Emergence," Tolman still holds firm on what she wants and how she works.
