Rebecca Wisocky on CBS’ "Ghosts," Hetty’s Journey, and the Transformative Power of Storytelling

Wisocky’s acting journey began in her hometown in Pennsylvania, where she discovered the magic of theater at a young age. “I was a really shy kid, like painfully hug-my-mother’s-leg shy,” she shared. “She took me down to the local theater to see a children’s play, and I was mesmerized. She had the bright idea that maybe this could get me out of my shell. I auditioned for a production of Alice in Wonderland -- I think I was maybe eight years old -- and I got a part. I was terrified, but I fell in love with it. I loved this sense of having this community and this team. Everyone had their job, and I just caught fire. It became my team sport.”

Wisocky’s connection to the Ghosts cast reflects a similar sense of community. The series casting and pilot production began toward the end of 2020, just a couple of months after the entertainment industry was coming back from its pandemic shutdown. After the pilot, they had to wait for word back from the network if the series would get picked up or if all of their hard work would go unseen. “We had such an extended period of not knowing whether or not this job that we all wanted so much and believed so strongly in was going to happen,” she explained. “We all became incredibly close and tethered to this idea that maybe, on the other side of this, this community can stick together. Very little that was good came out of that period, but you could argue that our show is as strong as it is because we developed such close ties and a sense of family through that isolation.”

Wisocky’s character, Hetty Woodstone, has been at the center of some of the show’s most moving storylines, including a powerful reveal about her cause of death. The season three episode “Holes Are Bad” revealed that Hetty took her own life after her husband's disappearance as they faced legal battles, which struck a chord with audiences. “It was an incredibly moving and humbling [experience],” Wisocky shared. “We thought very seriously the subject matter and the access that we had to people, people's families, to our audience that sit down and watch a light comedy together, but have shown that they're so open and eager to experience some deeper themes on our show as well.”

To ensure the sensitive topic was handled with care, Wisocky collaborated with the writers and mental health professionals. “Our writers, Sophia Lear and [co-creators/showrunners] Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, wanted me involved early on,” she explains. “They asked for my feedback on how Hetty might express her revelations and emotions. I also spoke to my therapist and other mental health experts about the messaging. It’s not something I take lightly, and I’m proud of how we tackled it with humor, brightness, and hope.”

“If you ever told me that a half-hour sitcom on CBS would be able to responsibly and effectively and still with humor and brightness and hope, be able to tackle something like suicide, I would have been doubtful, but I'm very proud to be on a show that has, that has done so.”

Another pivotal moment for Hetty -- and the series -- was her unexpected role in supporting Isaac’s coming-out. Played by two-time Critics’ Choice nominee Brandon Scott Jones, Isaac is a Revolutionary War ghost who grapples with his identity. Hetty’s response to Isaac’s revelation was surprisingly warm and supportive, a testament to her character’s complexity. “Brandon is one of my very favorite people in the world,” Wisocky says. “I love all of the actors in the cast, but the friendship between Isaac and Hetty is special. The character you might guess would be the least able to understand is the one that provides the safest harbor and the warmest heart because she loves him.”

“It shows how our characters, even in death, are malleable and capable of growth,” she went on. “They’re exposed to perspectives they never considered in life, and that’s such a beautiful metaphor for change and acceptance. I think it's a lovely metaphor and people are responding to it. ”  

Rebecca Wisocky’s portrayal of Hetty embodies the heart of Ghosts: the idea that it’s never too late to change, grow, and understand one another. Whether exploring themes of grief, identity, or connection, the show’s mix of humor and humanity resonates deeply with its audience, proving that life’s lessons endure even in death.

Don’t miss mid-season finale and one-hour Christmas special episode of Ghosts, tonight at 8pm ET on CBS, available to stream next day on Paramount+.

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