‘Little House on the Prairie’ star Crosby Fitzgerald reveals emotional impact of her role

Crosby Fitzgerald says taking on the role of Caroline "Ma" Ingalls in Netflix's Little House on the Prairie has been more than just a career milestone.

"When I realized I was reading for Caroline, I thought, 'No, wait a minute. Hold on,'" Fitzgerald recalled. She said she had always viewed herself as "brash and loud," while remembering Caroline as graceful, composed and elegant.

However her perspective changed after reading the scripts.

Fitzgerald said she was impressed by how layered and resilient the character was pointing to Caroline's determination as she faced dangerous frontier challenges while caring for her family.

"She forges this river, breaks her foot while pregnant, and even pulls a shotgun on a wolf," Fitzgerald said. "I thought, 'Okay... maybe I can do this person.'"

In the Netflix adaptation Caroline works tirelessly to create a home for husband Charles Ingalls and daughters Mary and Laura as they journey west and build a new life despite constant hardships.

While preparing for the role Fitzgerald found herself reflecting on her own family particularly her late maternal grandmother.

"My maternal grandmother was a stern Southern woman," Fitzgerald said. "I don't think I understood her when she was alive."

"Caroline helped me understand women who go through these silent battles," she said. "They're often misunderstood because they're trying to keep their daughters safe."

Fitzgerald described the experience as an unexpected gift saying the role finally helped her make sense of her grandmother's personality.

"There was so much pain and fear behind that strength," she said. "Suddenly I was like, 'Oh. Oh. I see.'"