- 2 weeks ago
Light is nominated for supporting actress in a limited series or movie for 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace.'
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00:00Hey everyone, thank you for watching another episode of Meet Your Emmy Nominee.
00:04We have four-time Emmy nominee Judith Light here. How are you? I'm good. How are you?
00:08I'm good. Now I have to say your energy is like waking me up. You're so vibrant.
00:12You said it was the color of the outfit. The dress too is definitely waking me up.
00:17But no, you have such a great energy. Thank you. It's so great. How's your summer going?
00:20How's life? Good. Everything's good. I'm just really, I'm really happy to be here.
00:24I'm really, I'm so thrilled to be nominated again, and particularly for the assassination of Judy Versace.
00:30The new role. Yeah. You know, it's like when you look at all of this and you think about your
00:35peers and all the people that you've worked with and what you've been around for a long time, like I
00:39have, and to still be honored in this way and in such an incredibly expansive category and to be chosen
00:49again in this way, I feel very much like I've won.
00:53I mean, I know that sounds sort of, I don't mean to be coy of that, but it really is.
00:58It's really true for me. It's just so wonderful to be able to have that.
01:02Now, speaking of this, I mean, I'm like Emmy nomination day. What was your reaction in getting it for this
01:06role? And what, I guess, have you celebrated since?
01:10I haven't had time. I was actually in Atlanta shooting a recurring part on a new Facebook show with Catherine
01:18Zeta-Jones.
01:19And I didn't hear anything, and I thought, oh, okay, well, it didn't happen. Okay, let's, you know, we'll go
01:24on with the day and, you know, grateful for the work and all of that.
01:27But it did happen!
01:28And then it happened, and I was like, I was surprised. I tell you truthfully, I mean, I wanted to
01:34be nominated.
01:35I think Ryan Murphy is very, very special, and his people are really amazing, and so many people came together
01:44to make that happen for me in this way that I get to talk about how grateful I am to
01:50all of them.
01:51Now, speaking of that and Ryan Murphy, was there ever a time where you guys were going to work together
01:55on another project?
01:56Or was this the first time?
01:58No, this was, this was...
01:59So how did it kind of come to be where you did, the stars crossed, I guess?
02:02This was really extraordinary.
02:04Years ago, I did a play called Other Desert Cities, and that was on Broadway.
02:08Yeah.
02:09And a brilliant playwright, John Robin Bates, wrote it, and Joe Mantello directed it, and I was with all these
02:18fabulous people.
02:19And I got to know Robbie well, and to love him.
02:22And I got this text from him on a Friday night, and he said, I'm working with these people, Brad
02:31Simpson, Nina Jacobson, and Ryan Murphy, and he said, you have to know these people.
02:35He said, I think you may be getting a script.
02:37He said, I really want you to pay attention to it.
02:39So it was sort of like that.
02:40And I was like, oh, talk about waking up.
02:43And I was like, oh, okay, this is fantastic.
02:45And sure enough, it happened.
02:49And then what subsequently happened was my whole schedule for September was I had all these things that I was
02:56doing.
02:58And my agent, Bob Gersh, said to me, cancel everything.
03:01He said, you have to do this.
03:02And I was like, and they were wonderful with me because there was one thing that I absolutely had to
03:07do that I could not get out of.
03:09And it was in Washington, D.C.
03:11And they needed me in L.A. on September 7th.
03:13And I said, if there's anyone in the world who will understand this, it's Ryan Murphy.
03:18I have to be at the opening of the AIDS conference in Washington, D.C. for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS
03:23Foundation.
03:23And they said, fine, can you take a plane later that day and we'll do all the fittings on the
03:29next day, which was September 8th.
03:30And I said, I will be there.
03:32I got on the plane and got there.
03:35But those are the kinds of people that you're talking about working with.
03:37Yeah, of course, of course, of course.
03:38So that's my first, that's how it came to be.
03:41And that was my first foray with them.
03:43And I swear to you, they did a hair, makeup, and wardrobe test in a day.
03:49And then they made me suits that I wear in the show.
03:53Yeah, for the show.
03:54In like basically a day and a half.
03:56That's unbelievable.
03:56Yeah, it's an amazing team.
03:59And that all comes from the head.
04:01That's all Ryan.
04:02Do you see you and Ryan working together again?
04:05Are you already working together again?
04:07I want to.
04:07I want to.
04:09Listen, yes.
04:10He's watching right now, Ryan.
04:11I want to.
04:12Let's make it happen again.
04:14Yeah, I really, I would love that.
04:16Now, your role as Marilyn Miglin and Versace,
04:19it's such a powerful one in the sense that throughout her whole story,
04:22there's such sorrow and loss.
04:24But it's kind of this internal battle.
04:26And there's a moment when you like break down and cry.
04:29And you say, am I a good wife yet?
04:31Am I a good wife now?
04:32Am I a good wife now?
04:34So what, I guess, were the challenges of playing that role
04:37and kind of showing that struggle?
04:40There were a lot of challenges.
04:42Yeah.
04:42But when you have a great script by Tom Rob Smith,
04:44when you have a great director like Gwyneth Porter-Pitton,
04:47and then some of the subsequent things that were shot were shot by Dan Minahan,
04:51another wonderful director.
04:53And you work with him.
04:54But there were just, yeah, there were such subtleties in showing her.
04:56And when you work with somebody like Mike Farrell, you know.
04:59The script gave me so much.
05:04That, and I keep referring to it as a roadmap.
05:08It was really a way into this character and how this character behaves.
05:16And the behavior and the internal, there's a volcano inside.
05:24And you see it in that one moment of my good wife now.
05:27But there is this tension of holding something within always.
05:34And that I found incredibly challenging.
05:37Because there's for so often, it's like I wanted to show what was happening.
05:42And you can't do that.
05:43That's not going to give everybody else the experience that I'm hoping to have them have.
05:48Nor the experience that Ryan and Tom Rob Smith and Gwyneth want people to have in this particular story.
05:55And it kind of got set apart from the rest of the series in this very interesting way.
06:01And people reacted to it so explosively.
06:05I never expected that.
06:07People were really taken with it.
06:09And I think it came from seeing and watching that kind of sorrow and just that one moment of not
06:17holding it in anymore but letting it go.
06:19That I think was very powerful with people.
06:22And then they brought me back to do episode nine.
06:25Now these are obviously the real events.
06:28This really happened.
06:28Marilyn McMinn is a real person.
06:31Darren Criss recently opened up on our roundtable about when thinking about the role and thinking about the story.
06:37It wasn't that he was hesitant but he thought about kind of the fact that this would reopen the womb
06:41for these families.
06:42Of what Andrew did.
06:43Absolutely.
06:43Can you kind of talk about that when taking on the role?
06:48I didn't speak with her.
06:49I didn't ever intend to speak with her and I don't think anybody...
06:52And there's a million videos out there you did.
06:54I don't think you watched the videos.
06:55No.
06:55No.
06:55No.
06:56I wanted to be very careful that I was creating this person who had this experience.
07:01And that I was not creating a caricature of somebody that I had seen.
07:05I didn't think it was going to be helpful.
07:07But I mean I got a lot from Maureen Orth's book and I really felt deferential and I feel very
07:15much the way that Darren does.
07:16That if you're creating somebody who has gone through this particularly painful episode of their life and is still probably
07:26there constantly at some level.
07:29You don't treat that in a way that is offhanded just because you happen to be doing a piece on
07:36television about it.
07:38It's irresponsible I think to who the human being is.
07:42Now obviously the title of the series is The Assassination Johnny Versace American Crime Story.
07:46And it is about Versace but it's also about these stories that I feel like a lot of people didn't
07:51know about.
07:52Yeah.
07:52So did you know about these stories in the 90s?
07:54No.
07:54Okay.
07:55No I remember when Versace was killed when he was murdered but I didn't know about all of the stories
08:03that led up to that.
08:04I didn't know about Lee Midland and Marilyn Midland.
08:07I had no idea about who these people were.
08:12And I think that's what sort of shocked America.
08:14I think that's why so many people have taken this particular crime story and really were so wanting to see
08:24what had happened.
08:25Because you're talking about a serial killer and you're also talking about what happened in the culture that kept him
08:34from being caught and more people being killed.
08:37Had they been on him and had, and remember you're still talking about the 90s where there was a tremendous
08:46amount of homophobia in the country and AIDS is still.
08:50That's what the series explores that.
08:52Yes and that's the education of the series and that's the historic education, the implications of what happened then and
08:59how it could happen again because we're still living in very much some of the same circumstances and dynamics that
09:08keep homophobia in place in this country and around the world.
09:12And it's not over and so it's like we need to be reminded of these things.
09:17We don't have to be.
09:18We can pay attention if we choose.
09:20But if we want a different world, if we want to be in a different culture, if we want a
09:24different kind of life and relate to people differently, we must remember these things that have happened and what the
09:30problems are that created this in the first place.
09:33Now the cast of Versace, there's so many of you, such a great all-star cast.
09:38Was there anyone in the cast that you wish you had more time with to film with?
09:42Every one of those, of course, but that wasn't my story and so that was not to be.
09:48But I mean I would have loved to have worked with everybody.
09:52I mean look at the performances.
09:54I mean Edgar and Ricky and Penelope and I'm so honored to be nominated with her.
10:00I mean it's like there's that and Darren, of course, but I got to be with Mike Farrell.
10:05Yeah, it was you and Mike.
10:07I mean just who has really just kind of this gentle energy to work with.
10:15He was just quite, quite remarkable.
10:18Yeah.
10:19No, you and Mike both, I guess, when filming, did you realize what stories you guys were telling and the
10:25power I would have at this time?
10:27No, no.
10:28I mean really, I mean it when I say when it was shown and people on social media and everything,
10:35people would say to me, have you seen what's going on?
10:38No, I don't read reviews and I don't tend to do a lot of that stuff and I think for
10:43me I try to be.
10:45You should read your reviews, they're great, by the way.
10:47Thanks, Mom.
10:48Just saying.
10:50Sometimes they're bad, don't read them, but here we go.
10:52No, but see, I learned that very much in the theater.
10:56If you read the stuff that's good about you and you believe it and you take it in and you
11:01use it to amplify yourself in any particular way, of course it feels good.
11:06But if you don't then also read about the things that are not so good about yourself, if you believe
11:14one, you have to believe the other.
11:16And I think it's really better to just sort of neutrally be appreciative that you, you know, and people of
11:21course tell you, I mean they say to you, oh my God, this is amazing.
11:24And I think what happened was, I think they saw that and I think they, all of the, Ryan Murphy
11:31and the team rose to the occasion and they said, let's put her into this, even, there were a couple
11:39more scenes for episode nine.
11:41You know, so there's that kind of awareness that the fans, the people in the world, the audience, who I
11:50am so grateful for, have been for my entire career, really do make a difference in that way.
11:57And they need to know that they make a difference in that way, for those of us who are part,
12:02parcel of this whole television film world.
12:05Now I have some fun Emmys related questions for you.
12:08Is this like a test or a quiz? I'm really bad at this stuff.
12:12Who was the Emmys host in 19 cent home jack?
12:14Oh, stop it. Oh my, I thought you were going to, I thought you were like serious.
12:19Imagine, imagine.
12:20So wrap it around of Emmys fun questions. Are you cool? Are you ready?
12:24Go, go, go, go.
12:26So who from the Versace cast?
12:28I don't know.
12:30Who from the Versace's cast favorite color is blue? No, I'm joking.
12:33Who from the Versace cast?
12:35You are, oh my God, you are so bad.
12:37You're actually really good.
12:39I love that you have these questions and you're not really looking at them,
12:42and it's so fabulous.
12:43Ah, so who from the Versace cast are you most looking forward to dancing with
12:47at the Emmys after parties this year?
12:49Every one of them.
12:50You've got to pick one.
12:51Who do you think is the best answer?
12:54There's not an answer.
12:56Let me say this.
12:56Who's the...
12:59Listen, I would say that...
13:01Look, I mean, come on.
13:02Ricky Martin, Edgar Ramirez, and Darren Criss.
13:05We have this really lovely connection.
13:07I would say that I would dance with all of them.
13:10That's awesome.
13:11That would be my dancing.
13:12Now, last fun question.
13:14What's the one joke you want to see Emmys hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost tell?
13:19If you could give them a joke, what would it be?
13:23Are you serious?
13:24Yeah.
13:24I am so bad at jokes.
13:26I have had people say to me,
13:28do not tell jokes because you do not know how to do them.
13:31You're funny, though.
13:32So, listen, I can be funny.
13:34Somebody gives me a brilliant script, great.
13:37I can do that.
13:39I can give you that.
13:40But to give somebody a joke, no good.
13:44No.
13:44I leave that to other people who are brilliant at doing that.
13:47So, then I guess, what's your favorite part about the actual show?
13:51Oh, it's like getting to be with the people that I've worked with,
13:55people that are my peers,
13:56and to watch people get acknowledged,
13:58to be part of that acknowledgement myself,
14:00to be so graced,
14:04and to get to be so incredibly grateful.
14:07I mean, to be nominated four times in our business now,
14:13with the amount of television that's out there,
14:16it's extraordinary.
14:17With your nomination for Marilyn,
14:19I think it's so special because it's a new role.
14:21It's for a limited series.
14:21It's just a brand new role that you just played.
14:24That's what I think,
14:25it means a lot to me,
14:26for some reason.
14:27I don't know,
14:27I just like,
14:27I really gravitate towards it.
14:30What do you think about it means a lot to you?
14:32I just think it's like a new role for you.
14:34It's part of the limited series category.
14:37Right.
14:39It was such a great role.
14:40Like, I don't know,
14:41I just,
14:41something about it clicks with me.
14:43Yeah.
14:43I can't put my,
14:44does that make sense?
14:45I'm like,
14:46I'm very happy for you.
14:49I,
14:49I'm happy.
14:50And we just met today,
14:50but I still like,
14:51I love the show.
14:52Like, yeah.
14:53I,
14:53you know what?
14:53I,
14:54I feel the same way and I,
14:55and I,
14:56I think it's because being around for a long time.
14:59Yeah.
14:59Uh,
15:00to be in a new category,
15:01to have done something new and different,
15:03and to be being acknowledged for it.
15:05You know,
15:05it's like when you watch the Olympics.
15:08Yeah.
15:09And,
15:09and you know how long somebody has taken to get somewhere.
15:13And it's taken me a long time to get here.
15:16And so when we watch somebody like be acknowledged for something,
15:22it's like,
15:22I feel that way about,
15:23that's what I can't,
15:24I'm just like,
15:24it's like,
15:25that's the way I feel about,
15:26that's the way I feel about a lot of my peers.
15:28Yeah.
15:28When they get acknowledged,
15:29it's like,
15:30you did it.
15:31You,
15:31you put yourself out there.
15:33You've stayed in the business for a long time.
15:35People have been gracious and generous to you.
15:38And,
15:38you know,
15:39and now I just worked with a whole new team of people who have been that way with me.
15:42It's like,
15:43it's,
15:43it's lovely.
15:45Yeah.
15:45That's what I mean.
15:45Like you're being acknowledged for this new,
15:47new part of your life,
15:48I guess.
15:49It's what.
15:49Yes.
15:50Yeah.
15:51I feel,
15:51I feel very much the same way.
15:53I really,
15:53I really do.
15:54And it's,
15:55and it's surprising.
15:56It's sort of like,
15:57oh,
15:58and,
15:59and now this.
16:00Yeah.
16:00You know?
16:01So great.
16:02And,
16:02and,
16:03you know,
16:04like I say,
16:05this is,
16:06this is the win for me.
16:07And I get to talk to you,
16:08and we get to talk about it.
16:10And it's like,
16:10it's lovely.
16:11It's really great.
16:12Is there anything you want to say to the viewers
16:14before we sign off?
16:16Thanks for watching.
16:18Well,
16:18do you want to do it?
16:19No,
16:19no,
16:20you do it.
16:21I was tossing it to you.
16:23Thanks for,
16:24what did you do?
16:25Oh,
16:25let's do a nice wave.
16:26Is that the queen wave?
16:27No,
16:28check out the Emmys.
16:29This is the,
16:30and if you haven't,
16:31hey,
16:32listen,
16:32thank you for watching.
16:33Not only thank you for watching,
16:35but thank you for watching all of the years.
16:39That's what I am really,
16:41really grateful for.
16:42So,
16:43thank you so much.
16:44Happy to be here.
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