Actress Doris Roberts on the Emmy Awards and her nomination

September 7, 2000 
CNN.com - Posted at: 3:05 p.m. EDT 

Doris Roberts, who plays Marie Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond," has been nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She began her show-business career on Broadway and has appeared in such TV shows as "Mary Tyler Moore," "St. Elsewhere" and "Remington Steele." Roberts is a previous Emmy-Award winner for her role as a homeless woman in St. Elsewhere.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Doris Roberts, and welcome. 

Doris Roberts: Hi, everyone! This is Doris Roberts of "Everybody Loves Raymond," and I'm ready to chat! 

Chat Moderator: You have been nominated and won the Emmy before. Does that make the anticipation easier or harder?

Doris Roberts: It's always the same. It's always difficult. It's always anxiety and nerves and excitement and anticipation -- and what to say, what not to say and what to wear. It's really exciting. 
This is my seventh nomination, and I won one for "St. Elsewhere." That was drama; this is for comedy. I'm hoping I win this one for the full circle -- one for comedy and one for drama. 

Chat Moderator: Which do you prefer, comedy or drama? 

Doris Roberts: I love both. I love to be able to make you laugh and cry in the same sentence. 

Chat Moderator: How did you get started in acting? 

Doris Roberts: I began in kindergarten, and I said, "I am Patrick Potato. This is my cousin, Mrs. Tomato." And I heard a laugh, and I loved the feeling of that. And I've been doing it ever since. 
I began my professional career doing summer stock in Dennis, Massachusetts. My first thing on Broadway was "The Time of Your Life" at City Center. Then I went on to do Broadway. I did "Last of the Red-Hot Lovers" and "Bad Habits," for which I won the Outer Critics Circle Award. 
Then I went to Hollywood, because Lily Tomlin saw me in "Bad Habits" and asked me to be a regular on the "Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour." I came out to do the "Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour," and we won all kinds of Emmys for that show, but we didn't get picked up. They picked up Howard Cosell instead. 
I went back to New York and was in some more plays -- "The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild" and, after that, "Cheaters." Then I came out to California to do the "Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour." And I read for a show called "Angie," and I got the lead part and left the "Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour." 
I've been working ever since in television and movies. And I'm presently in "Everybody Loves Raymond." We've just started our fifth year, and I think we'll go a few more after this one. 

Question from Annie: Would you rather be on Broadway now? 

Doris Roberts: No, it's working that I care about. I love the stage. It's my favorite, because once you're up there, nobody can edit you, shoot the back of your head, cut you out of the scene, or not even be on you -- be on someone else with the camera. 
You realize that on one night -- Monday on CBS -- I'm seen by anywhere from 22 to 25 million people. You cannot, doing eight performances a week, ever be seen by those millions of people. 
I travel all over the world, and I'm amazed and delighted to receive fan mail from all over the world, to be recognized by those people and how I make them laugh. So I have no complaints. 

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Who are some of your favorite actors to work with? 

Doris Roberts: Certainly my favorite in the world and dear friend of mine -- no longer alive -- was Jimmy Coco. I had more fun with him than anybody. It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to work with him, as well as to call him my dear friend. 
Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist were great fun to work with, and we traveled many places to film "Remington Steele." I just did a movie for CBS with David Hasselhoff and that was fun. Joan Plowright was wonderful to work with. 
There are so many great actors and actresses who are just the mainstay of American theatre and film: Elizabeth Franz, Elizabeth Wilson, Joyce Van Patten, Mary Tyler Moore, Cloris Leachman, Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates, and I can go on and on. Walter Matthau -- I did three films with him. What a pleasure that was! 

Question from YogiBear: Doris Roberts, what does this do to your ego, to know 25 million people are watching you?

Doris Roberts: It does my ego very well, because it means I'm doing something right, that these people are all watching every Monday night. I've been honored by winning the American Comedy Award. I have been nominated seven times for Emmys; this is my seventh time. I love when fans meet me on the street or at a mall, and the way they approach me, with such smiles and enjoyment. It makes me feel very good. 
A woman came to me not too long ago and said, "I don't mean to intrude, but I need to tell you that I have cancer, and I watch your show every Monday, and you make me laugh so much that I forget I'm ill." It doesn't get any better than that. 

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Do you have any funny stories from the "Everybody Loves Raymond" set? 

Doris Roberts: There's a funny story every day! It's such fun to come to work, because with the whole cast, they're just fun people to be with! Their behavior and the joking around -- the atmosphere is just wonderful. 

Question from Robert: Do you ever see any of your co-stars from shows like "Angie" or "Remington Steele"?

Doris Roberts: Yes, I do. I see Donna Pescow from "Angie" and, less often, Debra Lee Scott. And from "Remington Steele," Stephanie and Pierce, although he is working all over the world on the Bond films, so I don't get to see him as often. But I do run into him and keep in touch.

Question from Robert: Of all the shows you have done, do you have a favorite? 

Doris Roberts: I'm having the best time on "Everybody Loves Raymond." I loved "Remington Steele" because it was a challenge -- an hour show and one-camera filming -- opposed to now, which has four cameras. We traveled a great deal with "Remington." We went to Mexico, England twice, Ireland twice, the south of France and Malta. It was great fun. 

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Do you have a favorite role you've done? 

Doris Roberts: My favorite role in theatre was in "Bad Habits." My favorite role in movies was in "Hester Street." My favorite role on a TV drama was "St. Elsewhere," in which I played a bag lady. And in comedy, I would have to say, "Everybody Loves Raymond." 

Question from Pelando: In Venezuela, "Everybody Loves Raymond" is the favorite series. Did you know that? 

Doris Roberts: Yes, isn't that exciting? I hope to come to Venezuela one day. 

Chat Moderator: Who were your biggest influences? 

Doris Roberts: My mother, teachers that I had, certainly Sandy Meissner, Milton Katselas, my late husband William Goyen, and I had an uncle years ago when I was a child, who was very responsible helping to raise me, so I would say Uncle Willie. 

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Is there a part you'd like to do over, and perhaps, do it differently? 

Doris Roberts: No, I don't think so. I think I gave the best I had for that given particular time, and I'd much rather be challenged by something new. I have an expression I quite like, "It's okay to look back, just don't stare." 

Question from Robert: I understand you have grandchildren. Do they like to watch you on TV? 

Doris Roberts: Yes, they do. And I love that they respond to me as they do, because they laugh. And I love them very much. I have three: Kelsey, Andy and Devon. I took them to Europe with me this summer, and we had the best time. 

Chat Moderator: If you weren't an actress, what would you be doing right now? 

Doris Roberts: I think I'd make a good psychiatrist. I think I might be quite good at publicity. Those are two quite diverse professions. But I've always wanted to be an actress. I can't imagine doing anything else, to tell you the truth. 

Question from Sunny1-CNN: Who else is nominated in your category this year? 

Doris Roberts: Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow, both from "Friends," Kim Cattrall from "Sex in the City," Megan Mullally from "Will and Grace," and me -- that's five. 

Comment from Robert: Hi, Doris. I just have to say that I have loved all the shows you've done. 

Doris Roberts: Thank you very much. Keep watching! 

Chat Moderator: Are there any dream roles you have? 

Doris Roberts: I always wanted to do "Come Back, Little Sheba." I've also directed. I think I'm quite good at that. I want to do something original. I don't want to repeat a performance that someone else gave, to tell the truth. I'd like to be original. 

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us? 

Doris Roberts: I hope those who are chatting with me find for themselves something they love to do and do it, because I am having the best time of my life. I don't think I've peaked yet as an actress, and to have that joy in your work is a blessing. And I wish that for everybody. 

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today. 

Doris Roberts: Goodbye, and take care of yourselves! 

NOTE: Doris Roberts joined the Entertainment Chat via telephone from California. CNN.com provided a typist for Ms. Roberts. The above is an edited transcript of that chat, which took place on Thursday, September 7, 2000.

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