Jennifer Tilly is the Oscar-nominated actress who became a “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” newcomer in season 14. Joining the Bravo show as Sutton Stracke’s friend, Tilly has quickly won fans with her charm, candor, and Hollywood flair. But her take on Stracke’s complex bond with Kyle Richards is stirring buzz. During a recent interview, Tilly unpacked their odd dynamic.
Jennifer Tilly’s Role on ‘RHOBH’ as Sutton Stracke’s Ally
Tilly is a “Chucky” star and RHOBH superfan who dodged the “toxic” Housewives scene for years. During a recent interview with The Cut, Tilly revealed why she was recruited to join the cast—to bolster Stracke’s circle.
“When they hired me, one of the producers said, ‘You know, we need Sutton to have more allies,’” Tilly revealed. “They wanted me to come in so that Sutton had more people with whom she could engage in a positive way.”
Tilly has known Stracke for over 15 years, and they’ve “never, ever had a fight.” She wasn’t willing to dive into the world of the Housewives because of the toxicity. But she changed her mind after “Chucky” was suddenly canceled and she was looking at “an empty summer.”
The Kyle Richards-Sutton Stracke Push and Pull on ‘RHOBH’
Stracke’s need for Richards’ approval became a flashpoint during season 14, especially after Garcelle Beauvais called it out in St. Lucia. Tilly sees Richards’ maternal charm as a draw for Stracke, whose mother was “withholding.”
“I’ve always noticed that, especially this season. Kyle is very kind. There’s times when she has not been kind, but overall, she’s kind and charismatic, with a very maternal side. And we all love Reba, but you all saw how Sutton’s mom is a little withholding. When Kyle is taking care of you, I think that that’s what Sutton is attracted to,” Tilly said.
The 66-year-old actress also pointed out that Stracke glowed when Richards defended her at the tense dinner, then added that she and Beauvais stood up for her, too. But Stracke fixated on Richards.
“Kyle stood up for me, Kyle stood up for me,” she kept repeating. And I’m like, “Yeah, I stood up for you! Garcelle stood up for you!” Tilly said.
The Bravo Newbie Says There Are ‘Two Kyle Richards’
It’s true that Richards and Stracke have had their share of ups and downs on ‘RHOBH.’ But according to Tilly, Richards isn’t always a good friend to Stracke.
“There’s like two Kyles. There’s the one that puts her arm around you. Shows you the ropes. Helps you. Rents her house to you. And then there’s the other Kyle,” Tilly said on the After Show.
“I’ve said to Sutton, ‘Kyle is not your friend.’ Because I feel like there’s a strange dichotomy that Kyle I think genuinely likes Sutton, and then on the other hand, Kyle will take Sutton and throw her under the bus on occasion.”
Jennifer Tilly Called the Shots When It Came to Joining ‘RHOBH’
Tilly says that when Bravo brought her onto RHOBH, she had power over where she would fit into the show. She picked “friend of” because she thought that role would be less stressful.
“The only one-on-one scenes I had were with Sutton. And because I’m the friend of, she’s talking about things that happened to her and I’m being Oprah and nodding along and saying “Oh really?,” which is really not my job! Being an actress, I’m used to being the center of attention!” Tilly explained.
“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” is now streaming on Peacock.
