Television's Leading Ladies Grace THR's Latest Cover & Dish on Their Shows!

Keri Russell, Claire Danes, Julianna Margulies, Vera Farmiga, Sarah Paulson, and Jessica Pare take the cover of THR‘s latest issue.

Here’s what the ladies had to share:

Keri, on her explicit The Americans sex scene from season two: “I actually fought against that scene. I just didn’t know if that was the best emotional place for those characters. I wondered if there was a different physical act that could be happening other than that one. But they thought that it had to be something that the daughter was walking in on that was so much more graphic than just sex and then keep her from walking in again. It’s funny, though; sex has never been something I’ve done in my career — at all. But I don’t mind it on this show. It may be the nature of them being spies helps inform the characters. It’s not sexuality for sexuality’s sake.”

Claire, on the death of *spoiler alert* Brody on Homeland: “[Killing him] was supposed to happen in the second season. Then the Carrie-Brody relationship became so captivating for audiences that Showtime wanted to extend it. We had been anticipating the finale for quite a while. We shot the scene [where Brody is hanged] on our final day working in Morocco. It was all very heightened, literally. The crane broke at one point. I still don’t think I’ve really processed it.”

Julianna, on roles for women: “But we’re so lucky. First of all, roles written for women are so much more complex on television. The film world is becoming quite flimsy for women. It’s so lovely having been doing this since I was quite young, and now to see all these movie stars wanting to do TV … there’s no real differentiation anymore, except to say you have a steady job. That feels so good.”

FYI: Claire is wearing Jamie Wolf earrings. Sarah is wearing an EF Collection bangle. Jessica is wearing an EF Collection ring. Keri is wearing Dana Rebecca Designs earrings.

For more from the ladies, visit HollywoodReporter.com.