Melania Trump Inspired Controversial Netflix Character

Malin Akerman says a surprising figure served as inspiration for her controversial role in The Hunting Wives. The 47-year-old actress revealed that the Netflix series’ creative team referenced former first lady Melania Trump while describing her character, Margo Banks—a high-society Texan whose husband, Jed (Dermot Mulroney), runs for governor.

“That was the only reference, really,” Akerman told Vulture, explaining that the comparison was tied to how Margo entered a marriage as one person and found herself adapting when her husband’s political ambitions took center stage. “Other than that, it’s just high society.”

A Dark Turn in the Series

In the show, Margo leads an elite group of women known as the Hunting Wives. Over the first season, her glamorous facade gives way to darker truths. It’s revealed she had an affair with high school student Brad (George Ferrier), became pregnant, and had an abortion. When Brad’s girlfriend threatened to expose her, Margo shot her and framed her friend Sophie (Brittany Snow) for the killing.

The character’s backstory shows she met Jed during a sexual encounter with his first wife, whom he later left for her. The couple maintains an unconventional arrangement allowing both to sleep with women, but Margo’s affair with Brad violates the unspoken rules.

Power, Politics, and Manipulation

Akerman told People that while Margo initially seems like a “trophy wife,” she’s a strategic player in her marriage and social circle. “She needs to make sure that she doesn’t step on [Jed’s] toes because if she’s out, then she’s got nothing. It’s life or death for her, this relationship with Jed.”

A pivotal scene shows Margo offering Jed political advice, only for him to dismiss her “feminist ideals.” From that point, Akerman said, Margo understands her limits and leans into charm and manipulation to maintain her position.

Why Akerman Took the Role

Akerman said she “fell in love” with the role after reading the script, drawn to the character’s complexity and evolution. “She’s a master manipulator, she’s vibrant, she’s sexy… there was just so much to work with there,” Akerman said. “There was no way I could say no to it.”

The Hunting Wives is streaming now on Netflix.