News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Lourdes Benedicto to Play Lesbian Love Interest on ABC's "Cashmere Mafia"

Lourdes Benedicto (The Nine, 24) will play the love interest for Bonnie Somerville's character Caitlin in ABC's Cashmere Mafia, a midseason drama about four 30-something women in Manhattan trying to juggle their personal lives with their high-profile careers.

Produced by Darren Star and written by Kevin Wade, the series is described by ABC as "a thinking woman's Sex and the City mixed with the wit of The Devil Wears Prada, this one-hour drama assembles a cast of bright, driven, relatable women who support each other through rocky marriages, rival colleagues, kids' recitals and the hunt for the perfect loft." In addition to Somerville and Benedicto, the cast includes Lucy Liu, Miranda Otto, and Frances O'Connor.

Benedicto's character, Alicia, was originally described in the casting sides as "37, British, with a striking physical beauty made all the more appealing by a disarmingly scattered, un-self-conscious air. Men want to be with her, women want to be like her."

In the pilot, Caitlin, a cosmetics-industry VP, interviews and hires Alicia, and unexpectedly finds herself attracted to her. At dinner one night after working late, the two women kiss — and Caitlin's world turns upside down.

Benedicto, a 32-year-old American actress of Filipino and Spanish/Dominican descent, will be only the fourth regular or recurring Latina lesbian/bisexual character on network television (the others were played by Lisa Vidal on ER, Iyari Limon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Daniella Alonso on One Tree Hill).

Benedicto is best known for her role on last season's short-lived series The Nine. Other television roles include Carrie Turner on Season 2 of 24, and guest roles on Dawson's Creek, ER and NYPD Blue. It is not yet clear how many episodes of Cashmere she has signed on for.

The series is currently slated to air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC beginning in January 2008.

See Benedicto and Somerville in the three-minute trailer for Cashmere Mafia here, and visit our blog for more details on the pilot's lesbian story line:

ginaji's picture

Ahem

I'm going to watch the show, but you know people that busy don't have time for themselves, their lovers, their kids, but they have time for each other?
--
"One does not see anything until one sees its beauty" - Oscar Wilde
cris's picture

uhhhhh

so far so good, im loving the clothes on this show... except the all-girlls-catholic-school uniform lucy liu's wearing around the 2:0ish mark... and please no one give me the "it's actually fashionable statement" because that would be saying the nuns at my old high school actually had a sense of fashion...

browne's picture

Don't scream at me, crs, but

Don't scream at me, crs, but I have to say I actually kind of like Lucy Liu's outfit...

This looks like it could really be good, especially from the lesbian/bi angle... I am really, really hoping that the character Bonnie Somerville plays will be genuinely lesbian or bisexual, and that they will maintain that as her sexuality for the entirety of the show... that it won't just be some few episode 'experiment'... come on, a show about four friends, they've got plenty of room to put in handsome men and het storylines for their straight female viewers, they could keep one storyline for their gay viewers, pleeeeease! We deserve our Kevin Walker!

One thing I've never understood about American comedy/drama/romances though... why is it that any future couple who "meet cute" have to do so either through spilling papers and bumping heads, or by walking into each other and spilling something over each other? Really... it's not that cute.

 

angelab's picture

Bonnie is so cute!!

Can't wait for the show to kick off!! I totally agree with Manon des Sources that they should keep Caitlin gay or at least bisexual for the entire show. This trailer features the Caitlin/Alicia storyline quite prominently, anyone thinks it's a good sign?

Any girl as cute as Bonnie Somerville should be at least bisexual to me.

lezxotic's picture

Liu's Outfit

Does evoke a purient catholic schoolgirl fantasy.
formicalinoleum's picture

look forward to recaps

as I won't be watching it here in the UK.  It's somewhat promising that the lesbian angle is included in the trailer.

So, Benedicto is Asian as well... Asian lesbian/bi characters on US network TV must be pretty rare, too.  I can't think of any right now.

lezxotic's picture

"So, Benedicto is Asian as well"

Lourdes is of Filipino and Spanish/Dominican descent.

I am so looking forward to this show, unfortunately it is a mid season replacement? That sucks.

formicalinoleum's picture

not clear

I'm not sure what your response meant.  I know she's Filipina and Spanish/Dominican; that's why I was pointing out that she is Asian and Latina, as the original article referred to her only as Latina.

(Sorry if that sounds rude or disagreeable--it's just the medium.  I was just puzzled by your response and wasn't sure if you meant to be agreeing, disagreeing, clarifying, etc.)

Omega II's picture

Good time...

Good time slot, with VM officially canceled now. I hope it clicks with me, I love Bonnie Somerville.

 

Check this out- http://www.myspace.com/marchinghome_documentary

Hoop skirts!! (Yes, I will shamelessly plug a friend's stuff. What of it?)

JBLuver's picture

Eh.

I'm not as enthused about the clothes as thought I would be. And of course, I'm not as interested in the gay girl as I thought I would be. I'm more interested Ms. Ottos character. We'll see come Jan.
Faithful Chosen's picture

Good choice!

Lucy Liu wasn't enough to get me watching but I might now Lourdes is in it. I really do like her, she's a good actress! Now to find a torrent when it's aired... it's gonna be three years before it airs here in Holland :P

Anyway, good, good choice! 

---

Who you gonna be if you can't be yourself,
you can't get it from t.v., you can't force it on
anybody else.
-- Ani Difranco

Mara's picture

*lol*

I think the trailer's alright. I loved how clumsy Bonnie's character is! 

Now I don't know whether to laugh out really loud, or to cringe because I'm just as clumsy... 

_ _ _ _ _

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

Ash's picture

Thank God

Loved the trailer. I can already tell Bonnies character is going to be my favorite. I cant wiat till this show starts

ASH

Rachel JW's picture

Finally

A show I can watch without having to order super-ultra-Showtime/Comcast TV BS! I'm excited. The women are gorgeous and if I were God or rich my wardrobe would be there’s. –Rachel

Queer Silver's picture

Filipino shout out

make that latino/asian since benedicto's partly filipino. nice to see a part filipino play queer.

i still think lucy liu should get some girl on girl action. that kiss on ally mcbeal years before is just not enough and it could be much hotter. make lucy liu gay, now! :)

-MJ

smile. i just slept with your girlfriend :)

harmoni's picture

mmm...

It looks very similar to "sex in the city" but, a different slant. More focus on women in the business world and how they deal with other aspects of their life.
Anonymous's picture

Is it wrong..

That I've already booked it into my blackberry and sent out the promo to all my business friends? Finally a business show worth my time. The ROI better be high on this, I've got a lot invested.
GargylovesWolfy's picture

I've already got this on my favorite TV Shows' List:

If, anybody has the promos/trailers/clips on their computer in .wmv format would you e-mail (gargyandwolfy@yahoo.com) me them via megaupload.com.
Sarah's picture

ZOMG! You're totally on here

ZOMG! You're totally on here too. I tried to join your LJ community... I'll work on converting the clips into .wmv format then send 'em to you.
GargylovesWolfy's picture

Thank you, very much! It is greatly appreciated!! ;)

Um, it's moderated because I maintain/moderate a lot of LJ communities.....and I've had problems in the past.....so, I have a tendendacy to moderate everything that goes on with my communities.....but, click the join link....it'll send your request to me and I'll approve mostly all memberships.....I've already accepted one today!! ;)
Betty's picture

Cool!

I think it's really cool that they let a major character in a major show to have a same-sex crush/fling/relationship very early on, unlike desperate attempts/rating stunts of many other shows. I really hope that they will keep Bonnie's character gay/bi.

I was a tad worried Bonnie would be boring after watching the 1st preview clip but after watching this clip makes me happy. She's so adorkable. And Lourdes is gorgeous. They would make a HOT couple :D. Can't wait for the show, hee!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

""My love life is terrible. The last time I was inside a woman was when I visited the Statue of Liberty."

GargylovesWolfy's picture

Nevermind!!

I finally found a site that had it for download via a sucky verison of .avi........but, if anyone needs it.........PM me!! ;)
VJ's picture

Lordy, Lordy, Lourdes!

Wow! Thanks for making me aware of this show. Lourdes Benedicto is very sexy and sweet! I can't wait to tune in!