Actress Kelly Bishopis opening up about her time playing Lorelai Gilmore’s (Lauren Graham) mother, Emily Gilmore, on the hit series, Gilmore Girls.
While honoring the show’s 25th anniversary in an October 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bishop shared one of her favorite episodes from the original Gilmore Girls series, which had a seven-season run until 2007. Bishop referenced that Emily experience an unraveling after she discovers her husband, Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrmann), has had annual lunches with his ex-fiancée, Pennilyn Lott (Linda Gehringer) during the show’s fourth season. The usually uptight Emily becomes particularly unhinged after finding out Richard’s unkind mother, Lorelai “Trix” (Marion Ross), warned him against marrying her shortly after her death in Season 4, Episode 16. In the episode, Emily announces that she’s going to stop planning Trix’s wake. In addition, she is seen smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol during the daytime.
“The one [episode] that was so out of character for Emily was the one I call ‘the Tennessee Williams episode’ for my character, when she finds out that her husband’s mother has died and, going through her things, she comes across a letter that her mother-in-law had written to her husband the night before the wedding, begging him not to marry me,” said Bishop in The Hollywood Reporter interview. “That just set me off in some other place where suddenly I’m wearing caftans and drinking in the day, and that’s why I called it that, because it was so out of character for Emily. She completely lost it and I enjoyed that one so much because it was so bizarre.”
Kelly Bishop Discussed Her ‘Gilmore Girls’ Character in an October 2020 Interview
Bishop, who returned to play Emily in the 2016 Netflix revival mini-series, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, spoke about her character in an October 2020 interview with TODAY. She described Emily as “a piece of work,” with a “no nonsense” attitude. She clarified that Emily is “smart” and understands “current things.” However, she referenced that Emily often clashes with her more free-spirited daughter because she believes Lorelai should adhere to certain standards.
“There’s a certain value system that she expects people to live by, particularly her daughter,” said Bishop while speaking to TODAY.
In addition, the 81-year-old actress shared what she most liked about playing Emily. She said she loved wearing Emily’s clothing, which she said was quite expensive. In addition, Bishop said she “liked her attitude.”
“She was difficult and demanding and hard to please, as far as Lorelai was concerned,” said Bishop during the 2020 interview.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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