Kyra Sedgwick Interview for 'The Closer'

Kyra Sedgwick was once best known for playing Julia Roberts' sister in 'Something to Talk About.' But that was before Sedgwick found 'The Closer' (new season starts Mon., June 8, 9PM), the hit TNT crime drama in which she stars as Brenda Leigh Johnson, an Atlanta transplant heading up a special crimes task force in L.A. Think Columbo, with a much nicer trench coat and a desk drawer full of sugary treats.

We caught up with Sedgwick to discuss the new season, the secret to her long and happy union with Kevin Bacon ... and which stripper role she desperately wanted to play. -- By Angie Argabrite



What's in store this season for Brenda Leigh?
Well, certainly she's married. The theme this year is change and all the stories will revolve around the element of change ... I don't think Brenda's good at change; most people aren't, even when it's good. So, you know, she's married, and we wrestle with the decision about having children ... Mary McDonnell from 'Battlestar Galactica' comes along this year as my antagonist, and I think it's fun and different for Brenda to have a female antagonist. And Brenda's cat, Kitty, gets sick and you know, her independent self is really wrapped up with that cat; it's a challenging thing for her, the illness of the cat.

In real life you've been married 20 years, to Kevin Bacon. What's your secret to a long happy marriage?
Not being naïve enough to think there's one secret [laughs]. I have no idea, we just really got lucky honestly; got very, very lucky very young, and I have no idea why or how I had the gift of knowing that someone was just right for me at such a young age. I think I have a guardian angel watching over me, but I think, you know, it's challenging, being married and working and being separated; it's not easy, but it's very good.

How do you juggle work and family? Are you still living bi-coastally?
Well, I hate to even say that, but I guess it's kind of true. I'm here [in L.A.] six months out of the year and Kevin's here for at least part of that, at least a couple months out of the summer when he's not working. And I'm actually coming home this year. I'm going home every other weekend, which has been great for me. Yeah, it's challenging, but we are managing it.



Kevin's directing three episodes of the show this season. Are there any plans for him to guest star on the show?
No, I don't think that's going to happen, I mean, never say never, but I don't see that happening. He's going to direct the finale this year, so that should be awesome.

Your kids, Travis and Sosie, acted in 'Loverboy,' which Kevin directed and you starred in -- have you encouraged them to act?
No, in fact, I think in some ways I've discouraged them, which might not be very fair, actually, because it's given me a very wonderful life, my work, and I love it with an absolute passion. But, you know, I want my kids to save the world, I'm not going to lie. One of the passions in my life is doing service and giving back, and I think that's something both of them do incredibly really well and, you know, both of them also get a lot of fulfillment when they do those kinds of things. I would like to see them pursue something in the service community, I really would.

Do you and Kevin help each other decide what roles to take?
Yeah, we definitely do. I mean, sometimes something comes along and you go "I'm doing it and you can read the script later," but most of the time it's a question. We pretty much do read each other's scripts. It's rare that something comes up that one of us just says yes to before the other one has read it.

Are there any roles that you didn't get that you still wish you had?
Oh, I really wanted to do 'The Wrestler.' I went in a few times on that one. But, Marisa [Tomei] was extraordinary. You know, it's when you see the film that you didn't get you go "Oh yeah, I get it," you totally understand why that person got that part. And it was an extraordinary film, and I just so love that director, and I loved that script.

They're remaking 'Footloose,' who do you think would be good for the Kevin Bacon role?
That's a really great question for my daughter, because she's really more in the zeitgeist of these young actors. I think she likes the idea of this new young guy on 'Gossip Girl' [Chace Crawford -- who is now cast in the role].

Can you talk about the movie that you've got coming out?
It's called 'Gamer.' It takes place in the future when videogames become melded with reality. Instead of controlling characters on your video screen you're actually controlling real people who make the choice to be involved in the game and some of them are ... some of the games are kill and be killed combat ... the Gerard Butler character and then others are sort of these interpersonal relationships that people control online. I play this down and dirty reporter who does anything to get the story, and she kind of ends up being a hero ultimately. It's a fun movie. It's actually quite brilliant and very fresh and new.

Do you really have a sweet tooth like Brenda does?
Oh, major! I just had a chocolate shake for lunch. Yeah, I mean, it was sort of from a health food place, but basically it was a chocolate shake. Thank god for chocolate, that's all I have to say.