The X-Files guest star Karin Konoval isn’t surprised that people still talk about her memorable performance in “Home” three decades later.
It’s “a timeless, remarkable piece of filmmaking,” she tells Gold Derby about the fan-fave episode that originally aired on Oct. 11, 1996. The Canadian-American actress played Mrs. Peacock, a quadruple-amputee matriarch who lived under the bed in her Pennsylvania home with her murderous, inbred children.
Initially, Konoval had to watch the episode with “eyes closed through parts of it” because she was “squeamish about the gory bits.” However, she still had a “huge appreciation and admiration for the story being told” and its underlying themes.
Because of the grotesque nature of “Home,” Fox later banned it from television, with a network executive telling writer Glen Morgan, “You’re sick.” (James Wong was the other writer.) Konoval doesn’t recall specific details about the banning, beyond simply hearing about it — again, this was 30 years ago.
The actress spent much of her time on the set working with Toby Lindala’s special makeup effects team in order to get Mrs. Peacock’s prosthetic just right. However, she declares that “everyone was gracious and wonderful to work with,” including director Kim Manners, David Duchovny (as FBI Agent Fox Mulder), and Gillian Anderson (as FBI Agent Dana Scully).
Read on for our complete anniversary interview with Konoval.
Gold Derby: What comes to mind when you think about the 30th anniversary of “Home”?
Karin Konoval: What first comes to mind is a kind of sweet/funny thing: I remember watching the episode when it aired, with the script in my lap, turning the pages and reading along carefully so I could close my eyes in time not to see the gory bits! I had huge appreciation and admiration for the story being told, the underlying themes, the larger questions it asked — but I was squeamish about the gory bits.
More than two decades later, I attended an X-Files fan convention where they had a screening of “Home” for several hundred fans. I told them about watching it in 1996 with eyes closed through parts of it, and I promised them that this time I’d keep my eyes open throughout — and I did! It was an unforgettable experience watching “Home” with hundreds of enthusiastic X-Files fans. I was genuinely blown away to see afresh what a timeless, remarkable piece of filmmaking it is: layered, thoughtful, and the terror in it so artfully crafted.
“Home” is the most controversial episode of The X-Files, and Fox even banned it from television at one point. What do you remember about the network’s reaction at the time?
I heard about the banning at the time, but I don’t recall details beyond that.
How did you land the role of Mrs. Peacock, and what most intrigued you about the character?
I remember it was an initial audition, and then two or three callbacks after that. What intrigued me about Mrs. Peacock was twofold. First, I was riveted by her passion and drive, her unflinching commitment to protect her family at all costs, and how that commitment itself ultimately created such a terrifyingly unhealthy circumstance for her and her sons. Second, how to fully portray her in all her emotional intensity, when (given her physical challenges) I could only use my upper torso, shoulders, and face to communicate. This combination of such monstrous strength of character within such physical limitation. This was hugely intriguing to me.
Do you have any memorable behind-the-scenes stories from working with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson on the set?
I appreciated working with both of them very much, and with director Kim Manners, and with Toby Lindala’s SFX team. Due to the necessary physical procedures for getting me as Mrs. Peacock in place on set (the makeup time, loading me into the body-fitting box they built to hide my extremities, attaching the prosthetic limbs and wires to remotely operate them, etc.), I didn’t actually spend time off-camera with anyone except the SFX team. It was very focused work throughout. Everyone was gracious and wonderful to work with.
You also appeared in The X-Files episodes “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” and “Plus One.” How did you become the go-to performer for Ten Thirteen Productions?
I will always be incredibly grateful to Marcus James Dixon Chris Carter for the opportunity to be part of The X-Files in such interesting roles. It floored me when Chris wrote the double (or quadruple?) roles of Chucky (nice and nasty) and Judy (nice and nasty) for me to play. “Plus One” continues to be among my top favorite jobs as an actor — playing Chucky in particular was a delight. This is a gift from Chris I will always treasure. The “Home” episode also introduced me to Glen Morgan, who has given me several wonderful opportunities on other projects over the years, and is an absolute joy to work with.
Why do you think “Home” continues to haunt audiences three decades later?
What a great question for all the X-Files fans out there! Myself, I’d be most interested to hear what they all have to say in answer to this!
Are you OK with X-Files fans calling you Mrs. Peacock for another 30 years?
I’ve had the chance to meet many X-Files fans, and a few have become dear and long-time friends — lucky me. If they would like to call me Mrs. Peacock for another 30 years, they are welcome to!
Konoval’s credits also include Maurice the orangutan in the Planet of the Apes reboot film trilogy, and TV roles on shows like Tracker, Wild Cards, Schmigadoon, Snowpiercer, The Good Doctor, Big Sky, and When Calls the Heart. Next up, Konoval can be seen in lead roles in the films A Most Delightful Game, Firesky, and Encryption, and is currently filming Prime Video’s Rose Hill, based on the book series Wild Love by Elsie Silver.
All episodes of The X-Files are available to stream on Hulu and Pluto TV.
