Legendary Patty Duke Pays Visit to DROP DEAD DIVA

Over the past four seasons, the Lifetime dramedy Drop Dead Diva has had some amazing guest stars, but tomorrow night’s episode will feature legendary actress Patty Duke as Rita Curtis, a career floor-greeter who is fired after heroically stopping a shoplifter; but when Jane takes the case, she begins to wonder whether Rita may also be inhabited by someone else.

The legend joined in on a recent conference call and the following is an excerpt from that conversation:

Question: How did you get the role; how did that happen?

Duke: In my world you never know how the hell you got a role. This one came to me as an offer, which makes you feel good because you’re not auditioning; and after 55 years of doing this, I’m still auditioning mostly, but I didn’t have to for (this show). It was like a vacation. First of all, where they shoot is glorious but I knew that I admired Brooke Elliott – but my god, the first day—it was all I could do to concentrate on my part because she was so fascinating and she had to memorize…(what) must have been 15 pages of (dialogue)…she’s…brilliant.

Question: This is a great role that you’re (no pun intended) tackling in this episode of Drop Dead Diva… [Note: Ms. Duke’s character literally tackles a shoplifter in the episode]

Duke: It was a hard role because…I was discovering things about the role as we went along, which makes it far more interesting…it was a wonderful part. There was not a person on that set who was not gracious and kind (with) great senses of humor led, of course, by Brooke.

Question: Have you ever had an experience in real life with someone who you saw shoplifting or someone that you watched be nabbed for a crime?

Duke: Bottom line, I’m a chicken. I wanted to speak up and say oh that person’s doing something wrong, but (there’s) part of me that says “you’re 65 years old now, shut up and get out of the way” seems to come to the fore more often.

Question: It’s great to see that you’re on Twitter. How are you enjoying it and how is it important to you to promote roles like your Drop Dead Diva (part) and your upcoming film project?

Duke: Well…it’s so new to me. I’m astonished at the speed with which information is exchanged.

[It should be noted that Ms. Duke shared that her husband does the typing part on Twitter for her, but that she just might decide to take it on herself.]

Question: What do you think it is about the show Drop Dead Diva that fascinates so many viewers?

Duke: Brooke Elliott. She is a force. She invites you into the most private part of her psyche and you feel safe there. She is so extraordinary and…there are so many others on that show that are just wonderful and fun. April (Bowlby) just kills me, but for me the anchor is Brooke.

Question: What do you consider your proudest career achievement?

Duke: Well, (I guess) one would expect…for me to say The Miracle Worker. I’ve had so many opportunities to ply my craft. I have (had) roles that…nobody even knew about. There’s one called Birdbath that was done on public television.

Question: Can you talk about what appealed to you most in the beginning? When you first read (for the part of Rita), what drew you to her and how much fun was it?

Duke: I had not had that kind of fun on a set in I don’t know maybe 40 years. The people were so just gracious and kind. (On) the first day that we worked (Brooke) had about six single-spaced pages to say and I was the defendant. I was (just) sitting there on my hands doing nothing while this woman is struggling to get through six pages. She’s brilliant. She’s very loving and…I was just thrilled to have the opportunity. At my age, we don’t work all that often and I’m a workaholic so I’ve been in withdrawal for quite some time now.

Question: In what ways did this lighthearted role give you something different to sink your teeth into as an actress rather than the more serious parts (for which you have done)?

Duke: (Well)…laughter is crucial to me. To find that line between making you believe what I’m doing and the humor is a very delicate kind of job. I find comedy much harder than drama but I’ll do both.

Question: Did you have a favorite moment on set?

Duke: Yes, oddly enough, it was the scene where the focus was not on me, it was on Brooke and she had pages and pages and pages of lawyer stuff to say and I felt sitting at the defense table that I was being transported by this creature who could not only remember all the words in a row but deliver them with such energy and intelligence. You know, I fell in love with her off the bat.

Question: (With a) career as extensive as yours, is there a role that you would love to tackle one day that you have not yet portrayed?

Duke: Yes, it’s funny you should ask. The timing is only perfect. All my life I have wanted to play Mary Lincoln. I have missed every production that was done because somebody else did it. I am now a year away or a year in the process of getting ready to play Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. First we’ll play it in the museum in Illinois and then at the Ford Theater. It’s going to be a lot of work and I hope I can be half as good as I claim I’m going to be.

Question: Out of everything you (have) done, what’s been your favorite?

Duke: I did two series with (the late) Richard Crenna; and I could have stayed in that place, in that mode with him for the next 500 years. His work ethic, his humor and his grace. He’s gone now seven years I think and I still miss him.

Question: Is there anyone that you’d like to work with that you haven’t yet?

Duke: Everyone, truthfully. I would feel that I’d died and went to heaven if I could get the part of Memaw on The Big Bang Theory.

[NOTE: Ms. Duke has been joking about wanting this role on Twitter and it seems to have become a rallying cry.]

Question: Do you have any advice for people trying to get into acting?

Duke: Definitely have a day or night job. (You) have to be realistic. It’s very hard to be realistic when your passion is so great and you know in your heart that you can do this play or whatever. There must be some reality that says this is one of the toughest industries you can imagine and I will keep working at it but I can’t put my entire self-worth (into) it.

Question: You (have) done so many different roles; which do you enjoy doing more: TV, movies (or) theater?

Duke: I have to tell you theater. I find joy in some TV or movies and all that, but the bottom line is theater. (That) is where I want to be most of the time.

Question: Do you enjoy doing drama more than comedy or does it really not matter as long as you’re doing something that you love?

Duke: It really doesn’t matter as long as I’m invited to the party.

Question: Aside from Drop Dead Diva and The Big Bang Theory, what other TV shows do you currently enjoy?

Duke: Oh, Smash. I love Smash; but mostly I’m a news watcher and a public TV watcher but I like all that “skullduggery” they’re doing (on) Smash.

Question: How much are you like Rita (the character she plays on Drop Dead Diva)?

Duke: I think there’s quite a bit. I was going to say not much at all but I just realized that yes, there’s a lot of me in Rita. I don’t know that I would be as bold as Rita under the same circumstances. I had to go way inside and find that kind of brass.

Question: You have obviously done a lot of work before this, but is there anything new that you learned about yourself after being on Drop Dead Diva?

Duke: Yes, I had been going through a time where I kind of was doubting that I really could do it anymore. Part of that is because we older ladies don’t get cast as often so what I learned was something I already knew; but (I) had allowed to get kind of hazy and if I put one foot in front of the other and do my job, I can be proud of the work I do.

Make sure to tune in to Lifetime tomorrow night at 9/8c to see the newest episode of Drop Dead Diva that features Ms. Duke in a very interesting role.