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Ana Gasteyers Judge Patrice Lessner wants the characters to preface everything with in my opinion.
Linda Emonds Judge Leora Kuhn lays down strict military law.
I had just been on something really heavy and they were like, Can Denis be funny?
And my agent was like, He won a Tony forTake Me Out!
That was a funny performance.
So I felt a bit like I had to prove something.
I believe the Second Amendment should be erased, and was a historical anomaly and a mistake.
More than one of the episodes intersected with my politics, and I loved that.
There was always a shock or a turn when his verdict wasnt what you thought.
Do you have a favorite case that Abernathy ruled on?I remember one about gun rights.
Then, he set the award as something like $1 dollar in damages.
I sang a little song about giving blood.
It was just so much fun.
We didnt have any scenes together, but we shared a case.
It was one of those great New York clusters.
Something likeThe Good Wifebrings in so many New York actors.
I did an episode with Mamie Gummer, who I didUncle Vanyawith.
Dylan Bakers an old friend.
John Benjamin Hickeys an old friend.
Its so many people over the years.
Any episode I usually shot four or five days, with some scenes in judges chambers.
Then they would check our availability.
Im in Slovenia right now, actually, making a movie with Naomi Watts calledInfinite Storm.
I play a friend, someone she can talk to in this mountain-climbing adventure movie.
Ive been very lucky to work during COVID.
I got to do adog in theGrinch, and I play a crazy scientist in the HBO seriesThe Nevers.
I havent gotten to seeThe Neversyet.
What was it like to film?Its a great show.
Its beautiful, expensive, in the great HBO tradition, in Victorian England with girls with superpowers.
I play a sort of mad scientist.
Hes not really crazy, but definitely got some interesting sadistic streaks.
Its a great character, and an amazing look.
Michele Clapton, who didGame of Thrones, did our clothes.
Im happy I get to shoot six more episodes in June.
We rehearsed a lot.
He shot the pilot.
He directed me in two or three episodes.
My experience with him was all positive.
I was sad to see him go.
All of theother controversies, I dont have any inside information on.
I had a beard at one point for a movie, so suddenly Charles Abernathy had a beard.
They were very funny about putting a line or two about why Charles Abernathy looked so different.
So it made the transition easy going from vampire land to a courtroom.
It was my first day of shooting and the judge whose courtroom it was was watching.
I stood in the back with him and chatted with him and asked for tips.
We also had this wonderful adviser on staff forThe Good Wifeand he was an officer for the court system.
He was always there to give you notes.
I would also do my own research.
When I got the script, Id research case law.
Im a weird method actor that way.
I print things out and bring them with me.
Did you ever come up with your own backstory for Abernathy?I didnt.
Because theres a famous dictum that my acting teacher always taught me.
Nobody cares where the messenger has come from!
They only care about what theyre delivering.
In a weird way, a judge is asked to leave his personal life behind.
But there was never any information given in the scripts.
So I loved that his privacy was protected.
I just love the idea of there being something deeper.
And then also maybe he could go on a date!
