Jeanne Tripplehorn Defends Polygamy Drama  6/7/06

Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn has leaped to the defence of controversial TV polygamy drama Big Love, insisting the subject matter is handled perfectly.

The Waterworld star plays Bill Paxton's spouse Barb in the series, who live alongside his two other wives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

And despite attracting criticism from religious groups who claim it reinforces negative stereotypes, Tripplehorn sees nothing offensive in the plot or script.

She says, "When I heard the series was about a modern polygamist family, I laughed. I thought it would be this funny social satire.

"But when I read the script, I was struck by how sensitive and respectful it was to the subject.

"What's really funny is that at the end of an episode you think: 'The Hendricksons (her character's family) aren't so odd, not compared to what polygamy can be in the wrong hands.'

"Who would think that you could look at polygamy in that way?"