Laura Linney
Appearances
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I was in the catwalk watching Catherine Hepburn watch Stockard Channing. Wow.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And because I had done stock and was a technical apprentice, I knew how to get up into the catwalk.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
But there's no show. We would just go up there and like... Oh, yeah. Except Sean did have a snack with him, right? What was his snack, Sean? Probably Swedish Fish.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Oh, I think more. Because the longer I'm in it, like a new set of problems sort of unlock themselves. It's like I've earned the right to a new set of problems. And so it just keeps going.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I know. And I did it three times. I did it once in London. This was a show called My Name is Lucy Barton. And then I did it again in London to see if it would get easier because my first run wasn't that long. I was like, well, if it comes to New York, will it get easier? And what I learned is no, it does not get easier. It does not get easier. If anything, it gets harder, yeah.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Well, you have to learn how to translate what you've learned into an appropriate setting.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Well, there's that, but then also just on stage. I mean, there's like going to school is very different than being in the profession. And going to school, there's a certain type of concentration and there's a certain ability to get things done. And you have to learn how to translate that so you're still doing what you're doing, but that it's appropriate for the situation that you're in.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You gotta... I remember because I did it with him on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
you know, you just sort of throw yourself in it and you just hope to God it's going to be okay.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And you just sort of keep at it. That's what Jason wants to do. That's right.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You wouldn't be good at it because you'd have to touch things. You'd have to touch other people's food and that would not go terribly well for you, I don't think.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I have to ask you, Laura, I was going to wait until the end, but I'm going to ask you now.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes, not just that. You must have like a classic something that went horribly wrong.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yeah, the good stories usually happen when you're in a show that's really bad. I mean, really bad, of which I've been in several. And it's so painful, and you really think you're going to rip the skin off your body just to get out of the embarrassment and the humiliation of it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, you sort of know. Okay. You kind of know if it's really bad. You kind of know. It's the ones where you think like, oh, this is right on the edge. I don't know. I don't think this is terrible. I think it's pretty good. I don't know how good it is. You never know how good it is. But you know how bad it is. That's something you can't run away from. That makes sense.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I think, well, I did a production of The Crucible a long time ago with Liam Neeson that Arthur Miller was actually involved in. And before I accepted the job, I was offered Goody Proctor, and I thought, oh, for fuck's sake, who wants to do The Crucible? Oh, God, you know, ye buckle shoes and ye oldies speak. Oh, for God's sake.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I called my dad, and I was like, I've been offered Goody Proctor, and I don't know, I don't know if I'm, and he was like, oh, no. He was like, you do that. You must do that. He's like, it is a great play. And it's only because we've all seen nine-hour high school productions of that play that it's sort of, you know, it's badly represented. Not that it shouldn't be done there. It should.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
But, you know, you don't realize how great that play is. And I had no idea what a masterpiece that thing was. A masterpiece. So good.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I've never been someone who feels a big boost from any one job. I really haven't. Wow. I think it's been very subtle and consistent, and I'll take that. Thank you. I mean, that's fine by me.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
It's funny because different people have different things. You know, some people, there's the Love Actually crowd. There's the indie movie crowd. There's the Clint Eastwood crowd. There's, you know, there's the theater people. So it's sort of, it's always interesting. The John Adams people.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yeah, was that your first Oscar nom, You Can Count on Me? Yes, it was. I remember that. I remember sitting at home. I was so blown away, of course, everything before that, but that movie really had an impact on me and you especially. That's when I first was like, oh my God, I got to find out more about this person. And I just thought,
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know, there was this, they did a 25-year fundraiser thing. And I don't like to watch myself, so as Jason knows.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
So I went and saw the, I went and watched it for the first time in 25 years. I think I've maybe only seen it once. And it was so wild. And Jason, I don't know if you feel this way when you look at stuff from a long time ago. But I saw things in myself. Well, I saw things in myself that don't exist anymore.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
There are parts of me that are just from another time. That because of age or where I was or the relationship I was in or parents and dynamics and all of that's gone. And then I could also see the things that I recognize, you know, that is still there. So it was a wild thing to.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
It was a very tough shoot. You know, they had like two sets, so we were sitting outside and then we had to clean out. Finally, I was like, guys, we need a place to sit. Like, I can't sit outside. I can't change outside. Like, I need a place. And so behind the house where we were filming, there was a chicken coop that literally the chickens had left like two days prior.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I mean, it was like, you know, chicken shit was like hanging in the cobwebs. And I was like, perfect. So I went in and we cleaned it up and we all sat in the chicken coop. Oh, that's great. You know, so it was very rough and tumble. But, you know, it bonded us all for life. I mean, Mark is literally like my brother. And, you know, Kenny and I are still close. And, you know, all of us are sort of,
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And that's the thing about what we get to do. The connections that you make, Jason Bateman, are deep and meaningful and very, very significant in your life. That's what it's about. Yeah, and you do develop chosen family along the way. And it's really, it's one of the greatest things.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Like, you have a history. You have different periods of your life that you've been through. Not just one, not two, but many. And it is wild to think.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes, it is. Yes. You know, last night, Scotty and I went down a YouTube rabbit hole about opening songs to old shows from the 70s and 80s and 90s. Oh, God, how fabulous. And we did Silver Spoons. Magic to do.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
But I was watching these openings of these shows, and it took me right back to being a kid. Like, something clicks in your brain. Mannix. Yeah. Barnaby Jones. Yes, all those. And I didn't, like, the second I saw them, I actually had the feeling of a moment, like you said, of a stage in my life, which you don't sit around and think about until something triggers it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Okay, so I've been very, very single for five years or so. And I'm invited to the Telluride Film Festival where there are two films screening there. And I think, oh, you know what? I've never taken my mother anywhere. I should take my mother to this. This will be good. I'm just going to fly in, fly out. Terrific. So I bring my mother.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
We go. And, you know... Sometimes you're paired with a liaison who's a little eccentric. Sometimes those people can be a little out there. Sure. And Mark sort of bounded up to us and said, hi, I'm Mark Schauer. I'll be taking care of you for the weekend. And I was like, oh, okay. Like a nice person. Okay. And we spent the weekend together. And I can remember we were waiting to go to a screening.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And you're going to shut your mouth for one second because... Will, have you seen the two episodes, the first two episodes? Well, no, I'm not there with you. No, I didn't know if you could send it to him. It's so fucking great.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And we were waiting for Bill Condon, my director, to come downstairs and join us so that we could leave. And I remember I turned my head and I looked at Mark and I was like, am I attracted to this person? Am I attracted to my handler at the Telluride Film Festival? I was like, calm down. Like how wonderful I was feeling anything at all.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know? Yeah. And I thought, you know, I'm going to be gone in 24 hours. Just be happy you're still alive and get out.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
My mother, on the way to the airport, she was, well, Mark, are you involved with anyone? At which point I wanted to fall into the center of the earth. No way, no way. Center of the earth. And he was like, no, actually, I've been single for a bit. She was, oh, how interesting. Yeah. So I left and we ended up, Mark and I ended up just emailing each other. I just, thank you. And I had a great time.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And we, emails sort of started to fly. And then he started to get a little nervous. He was like, I don't understand what's going on. And I immediately called. I said, look, I don't know what this is. I have no idea what this is. I don't know if we're friends. I don't know if it's more. The only thing I know is I don't want to let it go. So I don't know what to tell you.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And he goes, well, when can we spend some time together? And I said, well, I said, I'm on a tour, a press tour when they used to do that. And he goes, well, where are you going to be? I said, I was going to be in Seattle. I was going to be in Chicago. He's like, I'm from Chicago. When are you in Chicago?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I was, well, this date. He goes, I'll meet you in Chicago. At which point I got very nervous and very scared and tried to get out of it several times. And I can remember going down the elevator in Chicago to meet him in the lobby, just terrified. Like, what am I doing? What in the world am I doing? Jesus God, someone, what is happening?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
So when you say you're scared, is that what you mean? You're like scared, like, I don't know how to do the date anymore?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I just, I didn't know if you, I didn't know this guy. Is he a serial killer? Like, what am I doing?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes, he drove a friend's car, which he had to drop off anyway. He was doing a favor for a friend and he just made it work.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I got out of the elevator and I turned and I saw him there and like every fear evaporated.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, absolutely not. And refuses to watch anything I've ever done. My kid's the same way. I made Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles specifically for him. because anything else would emotionally damage him and scar him for life. And did he see it? No, won't see it, refuses. Won't see it. What? Refuses.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
She's done more than that. No, listen, I knew it was going to be good. But I was floored by how great it was. And the thing that's great- Tell us why.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, no, no, I'm not done. I'm not done. The thing that is amazing when you have a relationship with someone who you've worked with for a long period of time and you watch them grow and to see Jason- turned into this unbelievable director. I mean, always great. But this is a whole other level. And I've said this to him. I mean, it was absolutely, I was undone when I saw it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, but it's going to be one of those series everybody talks about. Of course it is. You're completely sucked in right away. Who's that? Why is that guy? And you start asking your questions as an audience member, and you know they're going to get answered in the few episodes that follow. But it's so exciting.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes. That has been a real- Well, I'm playing a drug addict, you know? I saw JB at the pool at his house two days ago. I came over two days in a row. How'd you see him? And he was at, I drove over there.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Let me ask you this, and you don't have to pat yourself on the back, but isn't it a gift to have been an actor and then a director?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Without a doubt. And also, like, but I really, I can't emphasize enough how I would never have done this unless Jason really pushed me to do it. Ever. I had no desire to do it. None. Why? I would say I didn't want to be one of those, like, you know, idiot directors who you're saddled with who didn't know what they were doing. I didn't want to be one of those people.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I know, but still, you know, I don't think of myself as a director at all. I think of myself as an actress who's directed a few things now. But, you know, I don't know, as I've said to Jason, I don't know how to thank him for that. How do you thank someone for giving you a whole other sort of way to go?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know, I think I will go with it the way I have gone with the other stuff, which is if it comes my way or if there's something I find or if there's something I want to do, then I'll do it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know, I'll have to see because the Ozark, which I did, was such a blip and sort of my head was spinning the whole time. And, you know, I just didn't know what had happened. And then this one was so intense in the best way and so all-consuming. Literally, we finished on Thursday. I just got out of bed this morning.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I mean, it took me like three days to, you know. Really? The fatigue, it's a whole other level of fatigue.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Exactly. You know, so I'll be really curious to see what it does. Hopefully it will make me a better actress. I mean, that's the... That's the hope.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I didn't have to deal with any people. I didn't have to deal with anybody. It was just me. I only had to deal with my own horrible stuff. But I didn't have to deal with, you know, 200 people. And 4,000 questions.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You don't have to reveal any names, any things. What's the thing that you find difficult in any working relationship? Something that gets you, first of all, that you won't stand for, or second, that really kind of rubs you the wrong way and you look out for to avoid?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yeah, I think it's always hard when people have a preconceived notion of what something is supposed to be. And then you come and you see something very different or you see something way beyond that. And that is always a painful negotiation for everybody. And I understand from the other point of view, like why that would be hard. I totally, totally get it. And we were very lucky on this one.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know how amazing it is. all these writers were and all of that stuff. But I've seen that from the acting standpoint as well. I've really seen it more as an actress. Like people don't see what, I can just see things very clearly sometimes. And it's, I turn to these people and go, but you wrote this. I'm just doing what you wrote.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Here's one thing that I think why our friendship is so, you know, fulfilling for me, at least, and why working is so good, is that we work completely differently.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I mean, we come from totally different cultures. Completely different. And it's, I love watching him work. It's just kind of amazing. And it can only, that sort of work can only happen. And now I believe as well, the directing is benefiting from this as well, from someone who's been doing it as long as Jason's been doing it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I mean, it's in his bones in a way that it will never be with most people. He's just, you know, had the time with it. And, and,
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Well, you sort of test the waters with me. I'm sort of, you know, as close as you'll get at this point.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Laura, what do you do to zone out after you've been working 14 hours and you're done directing something like that or a big play or something?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I just picked up. Oh, God. What's it called? I won't leave you. Do not leave me. I forgot. But I was reading vigorously until Black Rabbit happened.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
But Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is one of the things I read last year, which I just still am floored by.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, it's about three friends who make video games. It's a world I know nothing about, don't care about. And boy, this book is glorious. It's so beautiful. It's just, it's beautiful.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I think they're already, I'm sure they're already taken. Also, The Librarianist is really good. I've heard that one.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I weirdly know things. Like how do I know what a pericardium is? Why do I know that?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I sort of use it also as a way for arts advocacy, which is just to talk about the arts as much as I can, anywhere I can, as long as I can, because it's so important.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I don't know. I think I like people. And I love the arts. I love the arts. I think more than just like a selfish thing, I think it's unbelievably important for culture and society.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
It's unbelievably medicinal. You cannot, there is no wasted time when you're engaged with the arts. It will make everything better. I mean, it's just- I so agree.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Juilliard is a arts conservatory school, which is sort of one of the leading schools in the country that teaches music, opera, dance, and drama. There are four departments.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Right across the street from Lincoln Center is the Juilliard School. It's there. It has a long, illustrious history. I somehow, by the grace of God, got in there. And people will ask, what was your big break? And for me, it was getting into that school, hands down. Hands down. So I was there for four years.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And about 15 to 18 years ago, they called and asked me to give the commencement speech, which I did. And they also invited me to join the board of the school. which I did, I was the only, I think there were only two artists on the board at that time. And I've been on it now for a long time and I'm now vice chair for a limited period of time.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
So I'm very involved there and seeing like what institutions like Juilliard, what they do, how they do it, why they do it. And the, you know, the challenges that are facing young artists today. You know, so, and also I try to, when I have the time, I try to mentor the outgoing class. I will go in and talk to students. I'll take them out to lunch.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
What is the biggest challenge, Laura, for young aspiring actors today? What do you think that biggest challenge is? Money.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I mean, it's impossible, which is why Juilliard's making such a concerted effort to go tuition-free and why a lot of schools are because we train these artists at this very, very high level. They leave, and then they can't support themselves, and then they drop out, and we lose them.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes, the angel people, yes. And then you need the small donations as well. You need people just involved. You need people who just care about the arts.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
He just got back from Paris. He goes... Speaking of books and stuff... Tell me something you've seen that you love recently, a TV show, a movie.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Well, you know, there are moments in your life, there are big moments that need to be recognized. And, you know, Eli had been through, I know what it is to go through Juilliard. I know what it is to graduate from that school, to feel like you've, you know, you've done something and now, oh God, what's going to happen now? And you've done it with an ensemble of people.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yeah, I knew. So I went to him, I'm like, are you okay about this? And he was so good-natured about it. He was so happy to be there. He was like, I'm fine, I'm fine. And I just sort of couldn't, I couldn't. stand it. And Jason was kind enough to let me sort of hijack the set for a bit. So it was fun. It was really fun.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
The performance of being at a graduation doesn't come close to doing the thing that you graduated for. Right, to get the job.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I'm just going to say I'm always interested in what people are watching recently that you liked or any recommendations, documentaries, movies. Alone.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know, I think it's go. Find something in your community that is there. Go with your family. Have a communal experience and go.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know, here's a big name-dropping moment, but Edward Albee said to me one time. He was, I know.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
He said, listen to Bach for 10 minutes every morning. He says, it organizes the mind.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And he's right. And so I tell people, when I give these speeches around the country, I tell people, like, try it for two weeks. See what happens. Just 10 minutes. And Jason, you know, because you love classical music, you know, that it does, it permeates your being and it realigns you in a way. Music does. I mean, Sean, you know this as well. You know, it's a powerful thing, the arts. And
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I think it's the most underused resource we have, or one of them, in this country. And it makes me crazy that our government has never really leaned into that. Except now our Surgeon General is using it for mental health. You know, he's encouraging people to get involved.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yeah, I was going to say there's probably a lot less violence in the world. I know that's a crazy thing to say. It's not. But, like, if more people are exposed to the arts.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Absolutely. And graduation rates skyrocket if a kid is involved in the arts. Yeah. It just skyrockets. And there's always something somewhere. And you don't have to be good at it. You don't have to be an artist yourself.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
or grab someone you like and go and have an experience and just see what happens.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I know, it's intense, isn't it? I mean, I love the guys who go in, this is early in the first few seasons, the really tough guys who are absolutely going to crush it, and they're gone in two hours.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
They hear like a rustle in the weeds, and they're like, I'm tapping out, I'm tapping out, I'm tapping out. And I think that would be me.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You know, I wouldn't last for two seconds out there. I'd tap out before they land the helicopter. Yes.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
It's like they took Naked and Afraid and kind of just heightened it a little bit. Yeah.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I also love these poor people filming themselves at the same time. I know, I know. That's all part of it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Truly. I love all three of you. I've been lucky enough to work with two of you, and Sean, we're due. I would love it. Figure that out. Thanks, JB. I love you.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Well, imagine if it wasn't her. I mean, it was her for a reason. You guys really connected and I can't imagine anybody else playing that part.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
So lucky. And what a great guest. Yeah, I've always been such a massive fan. Like, she's an actor's actor. She really is, exactly. And you look at her body, and it just goes on and on and on and on and on. IMDb.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I got a couple things, but we should probably get to it. Wait, Sean, go off the list. Open up the list. No, I was just going to say, on the way home, I told Will, Will, you and I were driving home from a friend's house we visited in the hills a couple months ago. Yeah. And I told Will the story, but Jay, I haven't told you.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, I just thought it's nice that she said hi to directing, but she definitely didn't say... Bye. To acting. Christ. Bye.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
So when you go past Greystone Mansion, and there's a runaway ramp there, right?
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes, I did. Come on. I swear to God, I tried it. You stupid ass. Because I was like, what would it feel like? Because I want to know what it felt like. Well, I didn't know what it was. I thought it was just like an inch of gravel. It was just to stop a truck. But it's like 80 feet of gravel. To stop a truck. Yeah.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I drove up it and I started singing. I was like, holy shit, I got so scared. I peel it out. I kick some gravel up and thank God I got out of there.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Hi. This is a long time coming. Is it ever? And you had to suffer through all that bullshit we were talking about.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
You too. I mean, when he was going through all of those noms, like nine, I mean, five Academy.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
The thing about it is every once in a while, I mean, I don't know if you guys are like this, but I have to stop and every once in a while it'll hit me and I'll have to remind myself because you never feel like that's happened. I mean, you never, you know, and I've been nominated a lot and I don't win all that much, but I'm nominated a lot.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
But every once in a while I'll be walking down the street and it will hit me. I'll be like, oh my God.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yeah. And, you know, the sock drawer is a mess and, you know, there's stuff that hasn't been taken care of and I'm behind on everything. And, you know, I have family members who are peeved at me because they haven't heard from me in so long. And so there's all of that stuff. Absolutely. But then there is, you know, the wild moment where you're like, oh, oh, my God, I cannot believe this.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
My life has led me here. I cannot believe I've been able to do everything I've been able to do.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Yes, and the thing that you chose to do with your life actually paid off in spades.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
The thing that I found is that you sort of, you have a sense if you're in the running to win. And then there are times when you're like, I'm not winning. There's no way I'm going to win.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
So in some ways, that's the nicest because then you go and you get to have a good time and you're nominated, but you know you're not going to win, so you don't have to worry about— I'm going to forget. Nothing prepared because I know. Oh, my God. It's so scary. And then there are the times when you know you're in the running for things and you do have to prepare. So I must admit, I do have a few.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
It was the original production of Vanities. That was downtown at St. Clement's Theater.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
In the church. I was, well, my father was a playwright, so I grew up around the theater. So I always knew I wanted to be a part of it in some way. I really didn't think I'd be an actress. I really, it took me a long time to sort of get there. But I went and saw this play and Kathy Bates was in it.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
It's a three-person play. You know, it's not the greatest work of, you know, dramatic literature ever written, but there was something about it and being in that space and watching those three women be so wonderful. And I remember leaving, I was like, oh, I'm different. Something has changed.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
No, what happened was my father was an apprentice at a theater in New London, New Hampshire called the Barn Playhouse. The New London Bar and Playhouse. And I used to spend the summers with my dad. My parents split when I was very young. So I would spend time with my dad during the summers and I begged him to let me go work there. Begged him. So I went and I was a technical apprentice.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
And I broke every child labor law known to man. I mean, I was there for like 14, oh yeah, you know, making a mess and doing all sorts of stuff and being way too young to be doing what I was doing.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
How old? I was really young. It was middle school. And it was the same year that Ms. Magazine came out.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
That's right. That's right. We did a feminist turn. We did a feminist turn on Santa Claus where Santa got a cold and Mrs. Claus had to take over. So it was that.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
Oh, nice. I remember one of the first things I ever saw that made me go, wow. I was like 12 years old and I saw a chorus line. And I always thought how different my life would be if I'd only seen it sooner, like at five, six, seven, eight.
SmartLess
"Laura Linney"
I, well, I think probably, at Brown, I was more sort of an academic theater nerd. So I studied theater history and all that sort of fun stuff. And then Juilliard was where it got serious, yeah.
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"Laura Linney"
I was the understudy in a production of Six Degrees of Separation, which was right across the street at Lincoln Center.
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"Laura Linney"
And I was actually at that theater yesterday watching Holland Taylor in N.A. Oh, wow. So it was fun. Every time I go in that space, it's professionally where I started, so. Wow, that's crazy. I was the happiest understudy around. There was this room of understudies who were like, hello, yeah, hey kid, how you doing? They've been understudies for years. And I would bounce in, happy as can be.
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"Laura Linney"
Yeah, where the lights are. And I would sneak up there and watch just to watch Stockard Channing get better and better and better and better and better. And there was one night, I remember Catherine Hepburn came to see the show.