Jean Smart Talks “Harry’s Law”: MyFoxLA.com

So when Smart — best known for her roles on ”Designing Women,” ”Frasier,” ”24,” the new ”Hawaii 5-0,” and ”Samantha Who?” — was offered the recurring role of district attorney Roseanna Remick on Kelley’s latest series ”Harry’s Law,” which stars Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates as lawyer Harry Korn, she jumped at the chance.

”I always wanted to speak his words. I was ecstatic about (this role),” said Smart. ”I’m the district attorney you love to hate. She’s so outrageously ruthless in a way that’s almost kind of funny. She will obviously say and do just about anything to win, which is fascinating. She’s the Richard III of modern district attorneys.”

According to Smart, she didn’t have to do any research for this role.

”David used to be a lawyer; he’s done all the research for me,” said Smart, who is married to actor Richard Gilliland.

Together, they have two children: Connor, 21, and Bonnie, 3, who was adopted from China in 2009.

Smart pointed out that on television the lawyers people root for and sympathize with are the defense attorneys, whereas in real life people root for the prosecutors and think defense attorneys are ”scumbugs.”

”Roseanna would say, ‘I don’t understand this. I’m trying to put away the bad guys. What’s the deal here?’ Obviously, she does it in very unethical ways occasionally. She does have a rather twisted sense of humor, which I adore. She says to Harry at one point, ‘I find it interesting that you’ve defended all these murderers and drug-dealers, and you save all of your disdain for me.’ I think that’s how she sees it,” explained Smart. ”For whatever those reasons, I think she feels like she’s on some kind of a crusade. She’s enjoying it. She also sees it as a game — it’s a big game. Her attitude is a bit like athletes’ attitudes are in a way — you trash talk, you go out there and try to break each other’s knees, then you go out and have a beer together.”

She continued, ”Harry doesn’t quite see it (Roseanna’s) way; she’s a little bit purer. Kathy’s character is an anti-hero in the sense that she’s such a curmudgeon, she smokes dope, and she isn’t always sympathetic — which I think is fantastic for a lead character on a show like this — but along comes Roseanna Remick (who) makes Harry look nicer. That’s fun to have. I love the scene where they sat down in bar and had a drink together — that was fun.”

In addition to working with Kelley, Smart also enjoys teaming up with Bates.

”Who doesn’t love Kathy Bates? I’ve always admired her so much; we have mutual friends from the New York theater community. I’m crazy about her. I think she’s fabulous and she has been unbelievably kind and supportive of me,” Smart said. ”Every few days, I’d hug her and kiss her and tell her, ‘This is from so-and-so’ or ‘So-and-so says hi.’ We have a one degree of separation kind of relationship. We both starred in theater, so we have similar sensibilities about work.”

The actress earned critical praise and an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of mentally unstable First Lady Martha Logan on the fifth season of ”24.” Her last appearance as Martha was in the sixth season when she stabbed her estranged husband, the evil President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin). Although Martha’s current whereabouts and activities after that incident were never revealed, subsequent episodes have hinted that things did not end well for her. Smart has her own theory about her character’s fate.

”They made it sound like she jumped out a window or something,” she said, laughing. ”I half-jokingly picture her with a shaved head in a rubber room somewhere, babbling in Russian. Who knows? Poor Martha.”

What wasn’t ambiguous was the fate of Smart’s recurring character, Gov. Pat Jameson, on the first season finale of the new ”Hawaii 5-0.”

”I went down in a mini-hail of bullets. I say that because it was two to three bullets,” said Smart, who really enjoyed the role. ”You get to play the governor of Hawaii, you get to shoot in Hawaii, you get to be part of a remake of a classic TV show. I thought how fun could that be?”

Earlier this year, Smart jumped at the chance to portray Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and wife of Prince Charles in the tele-film, ”William & Catherine: A Royal Romance,” which chronicled the courtship of Prince William and Kate Middleton – now the Duchess of Cambridge – who were married earlier this year.

”I just couldn’t say no. It was just one of those things that sounded like so much fun,” she said. ”I was nervous because there is almost no video footage of her speaking. I Googled and YouTubed until I was blue in the face. My husband found an audiotape of her addressing a group of journalists. That helped me get down the quality of her voice — she has a very posh accent and a very deep voice.”

She continued, ”I thought it was great fun. When I heard that Jane Alexander and Victor Garber were starring, I knew it would have wonderful acting in it. I read the script and thought it was really enchanted. I totally got sucked in by the love story — it doesn’t matter how much of it was fictionalized — I found myself rooting for this young couple… It made me cry and I just loved it.”

Asked if she heard from the real Camilla, Smart laughed and responded, ”I doubt if she watched it. I’m sure their reaction was: ‘Oh, please, another movie about this family? Really? Okay, fine, thank you.”’

Smart enjoyed filming ”Youth in Revolt” in Michigan in 2009. She and her son drove through downtown Detroit and dined at the restaurant Coach Insignia, which is located on top of the Renaissance Center. The actress sang Motown’s praises.

”Even though parts are depressed, you see those spectacularly beautiful old homes and cathedrals — some of which, unfortunately, are boarded up. When you get downtown, you see parts of the city that have been revitalized. There was a street fair down on the water,” recalled Smart. ”You can see driving through the city — even the parts past their heyday a little bit — you can see why Detroit has been called the Paris of the Midwest. You can see it — the architecture is breathtaking.”

She continued, ”We ate at one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten — bar none — in my entire life. The food, the view, the service was phenomenal. It was amazing… Detroit has always been an incredible city: the history, the things Detroit gave to our culture. I wish Detroit the best.”
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Nikki Lichterman (Moderator): Thanks everyone for joining the call with Jean Smart today. We’re excited about her return to Harry’s Law. As a reminder, the episode will air this coming Wednesday at 9:00 pm.

Operator: Our first question coming from the line of Jamie Steinberg with Starry Constellation Magazine. Please proceed with you question.

Jamie Steinberg: Good morning. I was just wondering if you could talk a little bit about the chemistry between Roseanna and Ollie.

Jean Smart: Oh. Well, apparently they – yes, they have a – there’s a little friction there. Apparently they had – it’s been inferred that they had a little fling at one time. And maybe neither one of them are too proud of it. I don’t know. But they get some of these sort of spar with each other, a little bit about that. I don’t know if she’s proud of that fact. I mean I know she’s married so it may have been a – may have caught her in a extremely weak moment. But she obviously – I don’t think she’s attracted.

Jamie Steinberg: What do you think it is about Harry’s Law that has it such tune in worthy show?

Jean Smart: Well I mean first of all, I mean David Kelley. I have always wanted to work on a David Kelly show. So I was just thrilled because I just think – I just like the way he uses the language. And he’s got a terrific cast, with really interesting, really talented actors. And [Kathy]‘s character is very unusual especially for television. I mean her character – I mean she’s not always the most likable person in Harry and she’s, you know, she’s kind of a grouchy curmudgeon and she, you know, smokes marijuana and she gets stressed out. And she, you know, so she’s not your typical hero. Well maybe they brought me on to make her look nice, I don’t know by comparison. But I just think that, you know, he’s written a show about a person who sort of has been in trouble in a (unintelligible) depression and – but someone who does actually really, really care. They really, really care about what they do. They really, really care about their clients a lot. And so that’s all sort of, in spite of, you know, her other attributes. But she loves what she does. So she’s back.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question coming from the line of Reg Seeton with thedealbolt.com. Please proceed with your question.

Reg Seeton: What do you like about playing such a strong character like Roseanna opposite such a strong actress like Kathy?

Jean Smart: Well working with Kathy, I mean it’s (unintelligible) because first of all I’ve always been a fan. And I had never met her or worked with her before so it was – that was – so I was really looking forward to that. And we have a nice relationship. Incredibly we both, you know, we both take it seriously. But I think…

Operator: Our next question is from Cindy Kong with SpoilerTV.com.

Cindy Kong: We really enjoy watching the show in Canada. So you mentioned the casting. Were you cast in the role of Roseanna…

Jean Smart: I love Canada… I like Canada. Yes. I was offered the role and I was really, really excited because as I mentioned before, I’ve always, always wanted to do – speak David Kelley’s words. But I’m just having fun because she’s sort of the woman you love to hate, you know. She’s so ruthless and I just find her, you know, amusing. But in this episode that’s coming up Wednesday night, you – she actually sits down in the bar and briefly has a drink with Kathy’s character which is kind of fun. And you sort of get a little tiny glimpse underneath, you know, her facade. And you kind of see a little bit what makes her tick. And I just think it’s a great episode. I just – I’m really looking forward to seeing this one.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Suzanne Lanoue with TV MegaSite. Please proceed with your question.

Suzanne Lanoue: Oh yeah. I was going to ask you what do you think drives your character most?

Jean Smart: Well I think between some of her personal issues which we get a little glimpse of like I said Wednesday night, I think she really does – I think she really does feel like she’s doing something very, very important. And in this episode she feels a little bit betrayed by someone in her own profession. But it’s true. I mean she’s extreme. She’s like a pit bull. It’s something between jaws, you know. She’ll say and do anything to get what she wants and what she needs. And I just find it – I just find it funny that when we watch all these big profile – high profile trials on TV like this – (Stacy Anthony), is that the right name? (Casey), no. (Stacy) I think. And O.J. Simpson and those kind of trials, it’s always they’re – for the most part it’s the prosecutors that we’re rooting for, you know. And we kind of tend to have some disdain for the defense team. And I just find it odd that in – on television almost all the time the prosecutors are the bad guys and the defense team are the good guys. At least I find that interesting. So I’m a good guy darn it.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question coming from the line of Deliana Dixon with divagalsdaily.com and thirdage.com. Please proceed with your question.

Deliana Dixon: You’ve had such an illustrious career. I’m wondering what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned professionally and do you and Ms. Bates share stories about your years working as actresses?

Jean Smart: Oh, you know, I feel fortunate because I had not really been typecast and I’ve gotten to do an enormous variety of things which I’m very grateful for. Kathy and I actually have – and I actually knew this going in. But we had so many mutual friends that we had never met or worked together. So it’s sort of been fun. Every once in a while I’ll walk in and I’ll say – I’ll give her a big hug and a kiss and I’ll say that’s from so and so. And we (unintelligible) and so oh that’s from so and so. Everybody has clients that I’m working with and say, “Please, please tell her I said hi. Tell her I – give her a hug. Give her a kiss.” And it’s really been old home week for her and the two of us. From New York theater mostly.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question coming from the line of (A.J. Grello) with scifivisions.com. Please proceed with your question.

(A.J. Grello): Hi Jean. Thanks for taking this call today.

Jean Smart: You’re welcome. Are you putting my character in the sci-fi department?

(A.J. Grello): We base most of our stuff is sci-fi but we watch all walks of life. The first thing I ever saw you in was Designing Women and, you know, I’ve seen you in various things throughout the years. You know, you see – you’ve done comedy, you’ve done drama. What’s your – what do you prefer to do and what’s been your favorite character to play over the years?

Jean Smart: Oh gosh. Well this one is right up there. This one is right up there. It’s probably so far one of the most fulfilling parts I’ve done since 24 definitely. Twenty-four was very (experimenting). Oh, you know, there’s a couple comedies I’ve done that I could have done for a long time and loved. You know, I did a show for (unintelligible) called Style and Substance, which was truth be told sort of a little (unintelligible), Martha Stewart in a loving way I think. But it was one funniest things – one of my favorite characters that I ever played. But this is going to be – this is going to be right up there. And Designing Women of course. I loved playing that character. I’d actually like to play that character sort of like that again. But I certainly didn’t get typecast as the sort the sweet and (unintelligible) I am in real life. Kind of (unintelligible) back again.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question coming from the line of Deliana Dixon from divagalsdaily.com and thirdage.com. Please proceed with you question.

Deliana Dixon: Hi Ms. Smart. I had a follow up question for you. You’re such a timeless… ((Crosstalk)) …I wanted to know some of your beauty secrets that you always look amazing.

Jean Smart: Oh my goodness. I’m – I don’t have much of a regimen that I do. You’re so kind. I’m always kind of horrified lately when I see myself on camera. I think oh, good Lord knows like that and especially since, you know, high def film has arrived. That was – that’s been taking a huge getting used to to put it mildly. Thank you. I have to – I have to give all the credit to – most of the credit to hair and makeup artists that really most of it do to the DP, the Director of Photography. So especially on Harry’s Law he is a very bright, very energetic extremely caring young man who makes sure that – he takes care of – a little unnerving sometimes and he always walks over and gets about three inches from your face and is inspecting you all over and holding up his hand and yelling orders to people for, you know, bring in this light, shut off that light, bring in more, you know, every year it’s like more equipment for you (unintelligible). It’s all about lighting. But you know that – you know that yourself probably looking in your mirror, you know, you have certain mirrors in certain places and you look, you know, ten years older or ten years younger. It’s all lighting. But I do use something religiously. It’s my only thing that I always do religiously. Sunscreen.

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“HARRY’S LAW”

“THE REMATCH”

11/02/2011 (09:00PM – 10:00PM) (Wednesday) : JEAN SMART (“SAMANTHA WHO”) AND PAUL MCCRANE (“ER”) GUEST STAR – A FORMER PROSECUTOR IS ACCUSED OF AIDING THE KIDNAPPING OF A GIRL AND HARRY MUST DEFEND HIM AGAINST HIS FORMER BOSS – Harry (Kathy Bates) and Adam (Nate Corddry) defend former prosecutor Josh “Puck” Peyton (Paul McCrane), who stands accused of aiding and abetting a kidnapper; Peyton successfully negotiated her safe return, but did so behind the back of the FBI. The case brings Harry into a fierce rematch with D.A. Roseanna Remmick (Jean Smart) who is back with a vengeance and determined to outdo Harry and put Puck in prison. Elsewhere, Tommy (Christopher McDonald) ropes Cassie (Karen Olivo) into an ethically questionable divorce proceeding involving his oldest clients. Mark Valley also stars.
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You can view the whole album: Here

You can view the whole album: Here

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