Rachel Brosnahan's Mom Still Traumatized by House of Cards Death Scene

Playing Lois Lane comes with its own set of challenges. Sure, getting the chance to portray one of comics' most iconic female characters is an incredible opportunity that few would pass up. But when the role often gets simplified to just being 'Superman's love interest,' it's tough to make a real impression. That's why Rachel Brosnahan's performance in James Gunn's new Superman movie stood out so well - she managed to make the character her own.

But Brosnahan didn't just suddenly land this major role out of nowhere. Long before she stepped into the DC universe or became the star of Amazon's hit show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, she made her mark playing Rachel Posner on Netflix's House of Cards. As a sex worker who gets tangled up with the corrupt Chief of Staff Doug Stamper, played by Michael Kelly, Posner became a crucial character during the show's first three seasons.

A Character's Tragic End

Unfortunately, Posner's attempts to better her situation put her in serious danger. Season two ends with Doug kidnapping her, and while she manages to escape and even hurt him during a brutal fight, she's forced to disappear and create a completely new identity. Just when viewers thought she might be safe, Doug hunts her down and kills her. The show never shows the actual murder, but it's crystal clear what happens.

Rachel Posner's storyline became one of the most compelling parts of the show's early seasons. Originally written for just two episodes, the writers loved the character so much they expanded her role significantly. Most people were captivated by her story... but not everyone in Brosnahan's life felt the same way.

Family Fallout

During an interview with Imagista, Brosnahan shared that one family member had a particularly strong reaction to her character's fate. 'I think my mother is still traumatized,' the actress admitted. 'She actually called me after watching my final episode – she was so angry! She said that she had been driving around for hours and feeling really messed up, and how dare I not tell her that that was coming before she watched it!'

While having honest family members can be helpful - and many actors talk about how their relatives keep them grounded - getting blamed for something your fictional character experienced is probably crossing a line. What was Brosnahan supposed to do, spoil one of the biggest TV shows of the time?

Career-Defining Role

In the end, Brosnahan probably doesn't lose much sleep over her mom's reaction. Her work on House of Cards launched her into the spotlight and opened doors to everything that followed. The role earned her an Emmy nomination and set the stage for all her future successes. The show itself would likely be remembered much more positively if not for the controversies that later surrounded Kevin Spacey.