Q. What’s it like being in a political drama when reality may be stranger than fiction?

A. I think if we were to put what’s going on in the political landscape right now into a series, you might say it’s over the top. I read where people were saying they think Beau [Willimon, the show’s creator] has ESP, because of some of the things that go on in this season.

Is Leann as morally dark as Claire?

We’re still finding that [out]. She could go either way, which is fun about the character.

Did you draw on any real-life political personality for Leann?

No, honestly it’s really come from witnessing certain females in my industry, directors or agents who have a certain energy to them because they’ve had to really fight to be respected equally to their male counterparts.

Who’s your favorite political partnership?

Well, Hillary and Bill have been fascinating to watch, the way that they’ve had to navigate their drama was pretty intense. Harvey Weinstein had a gathering at his place on Martha’s Vineyard for Bill Clinton, and I spent a very surreal evening with the Clintons [when he was in office]. I remember standing on the water and looking out, and Bill Clinton was somewhere playing the saxophone. I was like: “What are those things out there? There are, like, heads bobbing.” I guess the Secret Service has to be within a mile radius of the president, so there were SEALs out on the water.

You’ve said that, as a Canadian, you’re comfortable being called a socialist.

Yeah, I guess you would call me a democratic socialist.