Annaleigh Ashford on Masters of Sex Season 2

Betty's story line in season one is very emotional. She's a lesbian, but she's agreed to marry a man—and because he'll want children, she asks Masters to reverse her tubal ligation. But when he tries, we learn that she has too many reproductive problems to get pregnant anyway. Why do you think Betty was willing to go through all of this for a relationship her heart wasn't in?

The fact that she would give up the love she had for someone else to advance in life by being with a man she didn't love—for so many women before the women's lib movement, that was how you changed your station in life.

And I'm assuming that she hasn't backed out of that arrangement when we're reunited with her in season two?

She's still married to the Pretzel King and hiding so many secrets from him. Then we meet Betty's former lover.

Played by Sarah Silverman. I was so pleasantly surprised when they cast her.

I was so excited to work with her. She's one of the most important comedians of our time. And comedians are often great actors, because as storytellers they're extremely honest. We had a ball.

Is there anything you can say about the story line?

Only that it's extremely complicated and unexpected. I think it's really important that the show is looking at that alternative lifestyle.

Earlier this year, largely because of Masters, I wrote about the fact that women are having better sex on TV than ever. Exploring a lesbian relationship on a show like this feels like a big piece of that puzzle.

People often forget that women can have more orgasms than men and by more different ways. I think the show is a reminder to our culture that women are superior to men, physiologically, when it comes to sex.

One clothes-on question for you—do you get to keep any of these fantastic vintage fashions you wear?

Ah, I love the clothes. The costume designer and I believe that Betty would be looking at the magazines of the day and taking cues from Hollywood stars, and now that she's married to a wealthy man, she gets to be quite fabulous this season. But I'm a good girl—I leave everything in my trailer.