Julianna Margulies addresses criticism of her LGBTQ+ 'The Morning Show' character

Julianna Margulies plays Laura Peterson on the second season of Apple TV Plus' The Morning Show. The character is a veteran news anchor who was once fired for her sexuality and sparks a romance with her new co-worker Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon).

The Emmy-winning actress addressed criticism over a straight actress playing an LGBTQ+ character while visiting CBS Mornings on Monday:

"I can understand that. My response also would be: We're all making assumptions as to who I am and what my past is, and what all of our pasts are. I understand 100 percent that I can't play a different race, but I am an actress, and I am supposed to embody another character. Whatever their sexuality is doesn't matter to me—the same way watching a gay person play a straight person.  

"Are you telling me, because I'm a mother, I can never play a woman who's never had a child? Or if you've never been married, that you can't play a married woman? I mean, you have to be careful on where you're drawing the line there. We're actors. We're supposed to embody a character regardless of their sexuality. When it comes to race and gender, that's a whole different story, and I 100 percent agree with that. So, that's my stance on it."

Earlier in the segment, the former ER and Good Wife star explained how she personally connects with the character of Laura: "It could be my age now, maybe, but you get to a place in your life—and I think the same thing happened with Laura—where you go, this is who I am. Take it or leave it. I'm not interested in pretending. I have no skeletons in my closet. I'm not hiding. I'm telling the truth, and if you don't like it, I guess then you're not in my orbit."

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Witherspoon and more, The Morning Show premiered its second season Sept. 17. New episodes hit Apple TV Plus every Friday.

Watch Margulies on CBS Mornings below.