Katherine Mayfair - Development and Casting

Development and Casting

Delany auditioned for the series' pilot episode in 2004 for the role of Bree Van de Kamp. Creator Marc Cherry thought she delivered "a fantastic audition." Delany was offered the role but rejected it three times. Delany has since insisted that she was not ready to do another television series at the time and that the character of Bree was too similar to her character on Pasadena. The role eventually went to Marcia Cross, Cherry's second choice. Delany reportedly regretted not accepting the part.

I've never ever been in this for the money. I just like to do what challenges me. Thankfully, Marc circled back. That's unusual in Hollywood. Usually when you say "no," they hold it against you for the rest of your career. I've experienced that. said I was sly, and that I got the slyness of the show.

When Cherry was developing Katherine, a character with "a lot of Alpha female qualities and some slyness and darkness," he offered Delany the role. She accepted the role and remained on the series until the end of the sixth season. Following her multi-episode guest role on another ABC series, Castle, network executives offered Delany the lead in a new pilot for the 2010-2011 television season. Delany filmed the pilot for Body of Proof in April 2010; her absence in Desperate Housewives was explained by having Katherine and her girlfriend, Robin Gallagher (Julie Benz), leave town indefinitely. In May, ABC picked up Body of Proof for thirteen episodes; thus, Delany did not return for the seventh season of Desperate Housewives as a series regular. Delany admitted that her exit from the series was quick, but insisted that she may return to the series at some point, regardless of whether or not her new series is successful. She returned during the series finale in 2012.