Patricia Clarkson — on being childfree and why equal pay shouldn’t be political

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Patricia Clarkson on Being Childfree and Why Equal Pay Shouldn’t Be Political

Episode Overview In this heartfelt episode of Dinner’s on Me, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down with acclaimed actress Patricia Clarkson to delve into her personal choices of being childfree and her passionate advocacy for equal pay. Filmed at the enchanting Elefante restaurant in Santa Monica, California, the conversation seamlessly blends personal anecdotes with profound insights on societal issues.

---

1. Introduction to Patricia Clarkson

Jesse Tyler Ferguson warmly introduces Patricia Clarkson, highlighting her stellar career and personal charm. Recognized for her versatility across indie dramas, Broadway plays, and prestigious television roles, Clarkson is celebrated not just for her talent but also for her thoughtful selection of projects that resonate with authenticity and emotional depth.

Notable Quote:

"Patty brings intelligence and depth that's just unmistakable."
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson [00:53]

---

2. Navigating Hollywood and Personal Experiences

The conversation kicks off with Patricia reminiscing about her experiences at high-profile events like the Vanity Fair Oscar party. She shares humorous and relatable moments, including her interactions with fellow actors and the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the glamorous Hollywood scene.

Notable Quotes:

"I wore my mother's wedding ring that I inherited. My mother passed away in June."
— Patricia Clarkson [07:09]

"I need a face transplant. I need. I need an IV."
— Patricia Clarkson [05:50]

---

3. Being Childfree: A Personal Choice

Patricia opens up about her decision to remain childfree, emphasizing the importance of personal happiness over societal expectations. She discusses the support she receives from her family, particularly her parents, and how this choice has empowered her to lead a fulfilling life without the conventional pressures of motherhood.

Notable Quotes:

"Chelsea and I are, you know, we're unmarried, we're single, childless women, and we love our lives."
— Patricia Clarkson [19:50]

"No one can take that away from us now, literally."
— Patricia Clarkson [19:57]

---

4. Advocating for Equal Pay: Beyond Politics

A significant portion of the discussion centers on equal pay for women, inspired by Patricia's portrayal of Lilly Ledbetter in the film Lily. She articulates why equal pay should be viewed not as a political issue but as a fundamental right that benefits everyone in society. Patricia underscores the ripple effect of women earning equal pay, from strengthening families to fostering broader societal progress.

Notable Quotes:

"Equal pay for women is not political. It's a right. It's just simply every single person in everyone's life benefits with equal pay."
— Patricia Clarkson [23:17]

"When women make equal pay, your children most of all, but also your friends benefit."
— Patricia Clarkson [23:17]

---

5. The Making of Lily and Its Impact

Patricia shares intimate details about her role in Lily, portraying a tireless whistleblower fighting for equal pay. She reflects on the research she undertook to embody the character authentically and the emotional journey of becoming Lilly Ledbetter. The film not only serves as a tribute to Ledbetter’s resilience but also as a catalyst for conversation around gender wage gaps.

Notable Quotes:

"I wanted to just be her. And I realized the greatest tribute and ode I could give her was to just try to become her and not meet her and be filled with playing this and that."
— Patricia Clarkson [29:13]

"She will live on. You know, I'm going to take this everywhere."
— Patricia Clarkson [31:11]

---

6. Reflections on Change and Activism

Jesse and Patricia discuss the arduous process of enacting change, drawing parallels between financial equality and other social movements like marriage equality. They acknowledge the emotional and physical toll such activism can take but remain optimistic about the progress driven by determined individuals like Ledbetter.

Notable Quotes:

"Change is grueling. It takes a lot of work, too. And, like, there's gonna be a lot of points where roadblocks are put up."
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson [32:12]

"It takes everything."
— Patricia Clarkson [32:13]

---

7. Personal Connections and Friendships

The episode also touches on the personal side of Patricia’s life, including her close relationships within the industry. She fondly recalls her interactions with friends and colleagues, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and mutual support in both personal and professional realms.

Notable Quotes:

"She was just. She's so kind and soulful, and she's genuinely so engaged."
— Patricia Clarkson [13:02]

"I'm so glad you fit us in while you were here."
— Patricia Clarkson [44:55]

---

8. Conclusion and Final Reflections

As the dinner winds down, Patricia and Jesse share light-hearted moments, reflecting on their shared experiences and mutual respect. The episode concludes with a sense of camaraderie and a reaffirmation of the values they've discussed—authenticity, equality, and personal fulfillment.

Notable Quotes:

"Dinner's on me."
— Patricia Clarkson [45:25]

"Patricia, so nice."
— Patricia Clarkson [44:19]

---

Key Takeaways

• Personal Autonomy: Patricia’s choice to remain childfree underscores the importance of individual happiness over societal norms.
• Equal Pay as a Right: Equal pay should be recognized as a fundamental right, benefiting not just women but society at large.
• Resilience in Activism: Achieving significant change requires relentless effort, emotional resilience, and the courage to confront systemic barriers.
• Authentic Relationships: Building genuine connections within the industry fosters mutual support and personal growth.

Closing Thoughts

This episode of Dinner’s on Me offers a profound exploration of personal choice and social justice, all set against the backdrop of an intimate dinner with one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses. Patricia Clarkson’s candidness and passion provide listeners with both inspiration and a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

If you're a parent or share a fridge with someone. Instacart is about to make grocery shopping so much easier because with family carts, you can share a cart with your partner and each add the items you want. So odds are together you'll remember everything you need and never eat milkless cereal again. Minimize weekly shop stress with family carts. Instacart we're here. Download the app today. Enjoy. $0 delivery fees on your first 3 orders. Service fees apply for 3 orders in 14 days. Excludes restaurants. So I'm here in London, knee deep in rehearsals for Here We Are at the National Theater, the late, great Stephen Sondheim's final musical. And it's been an incredible experience so far. But between the long days of learning lyrics and blocking scenes, I've come to appreciate a good system that makes everything run smoothly, like Airbnb's co hosting feature. Now, if you're a host and you're juggling life like I am right now, a local co host can handle the details while you focus on your big projects. They can manage guest communication, check ins, and everything in between. So whether you're hosting while traveling or simply need some help, you can rest easy knowing someone reliable is looking after your place. And the best part? These co hosts are local pros who know your area inside and out, ensuring your guests have an unforgettable stay. And you can focus on what matters most. So whether you're looking to host or need a hand while you're away, find a co [e-mail] host hi, it's Jessie today on the show. You know her from her Emmy Award winning role in HBO's Sharp Objects and more recently as a trailblazing equal pay activist. In the film Lily, it's Patricia Clarkson.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I played a lot of drug addicts.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And yet I've never done any drug in my whole life. I've never even smoked pot. I've never been high.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Never been high?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really?

[Patricia Clarkson]

No. But the day is young.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is Dinner's on Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Patricia Clarkson, or Patty, as her close friends and colleagues call her, is one of those rare performers whose presence elevates everything she touches. Now, I've admired her for as long as I can remember. Her career is a masterclass in range, nuance and taste. Whether she's lighting up the screen in an indie drama, commanding the stage in a Broadway play, or stealing scenes on prestige television, Patty brings intelligence and depth that's just unmistakable. She has a knack for Choosing projects that feel elegant and human and resonant. If her name is attached to something, you can bet it's going to be a high class affair. Born and raised in New Orleans, Patti carries that unmistakable blend of Southern warmth and Northeastern sophistication. She went to the Yale School of Drama because, well, of course she did. And her work reflects both rigorous training and a lived in emotional authenticity. She's like the personification of an expensive candle. She's elegant, intense, and she smells amazing. And somehow she's always bathed in perfect mood lighting. Now, one of her oldest and dearest friends is the celebrated playwright Richard Greenberg, whose Tony Award winning play Take Me out remains one of the great American works of the 21st century. I had the incredible fortune of being part of the recent revival of this play. And through that process, I got to know Patti a little bit better. Watching her navigate this world not as a star, but as a fiercely loyal friend, was something I will never forget. Her stories, insights and reflections about Richard Greenberg gave me a deeper understanding of the man behind the beautiful, complex words I had the privilege of performing every night. Patti is the kind of person who can whisper a perfectly timed bone dry aside one moment and deliver a profound emotional truth the next. She's equal parts intimidating and disarming, like if Katharine Hepburn and a French existentialist had a very fancy baby. Look at those shoes.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Gorgeous. Well, I dressed up, you know, sometimes. Well, I was in these killer shoes last night. These are actually like slippers compared to the damn Louboutins I had on last night.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I brought Patricia Clarkson to Elefante in Santa Monica. Elefante is the vision of Nick Mathers and the Wish youh Were Here group. A hospitality and lifestyle group built on creating unforgettable dining experiences inspired by travel. And dining on the rooftop at Elefante really did feel like we were transported to a coastal cliffside in Sicily. The ambiance alone is worth the visit, but the food completely seals the deal. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted with beautiful presentation, but the whipped eggplant, their signature dish, is definitely a standout between the perfect ocean view, golden hour glow and decadent pasta. Everything about my dinner with Patty was absurdly romantic. It almost felt like a waste to not ended our night with a kiss. Okay, let's get to the conversation. You're at the Oscar. Well, you were at the Vanity Fair.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Vanity Fair, Yeah. I go to the dinner and then just go right into the party.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I've never been invited to the dinner. I've been invited to the party afterwards. But I've never gotten invited to the dinner.

[Patricia Clarkson]

The dinner is fabulous. Are we ordering food?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes.

[Patricia Clarkson]

When we have alcohol, yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, I don't drink. But you drink.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I know, but I need. I need hair of the dog.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I would love. Yes. Okay. I actually. I went to the Vanity Fair party one year when I was doing Modern Family, and I. We were shooting in Culver City. We shot at the Fox lot right In Century City.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Century City.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And the Vanity Fair party is in Beverly Hills. And so Justin and I, my husband and I decided to get a hotel room in the area because I knew I had 6am call to go to.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Vanity Fair and then go to set the next day.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I. For some reason, having, like, a hotel nearish to work made me think that I could stay out till like, two in the morning. No, I arrived to work. I was like, yeah, I should be fired for the way I've arrived to work. I was not prepared for work.

[Patricia Clarkson]

No, I mean, I woke up this morning realizing I had to do your interview. And I was like, oh, my God, I need a face transplant. I need. I need an iv.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

First of all.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It's just me. I need an IV and a stretcher. Oh, come on.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Did you. So you stayed la.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes, because I had friends in the hotel. And so I got back to the Chateau, where I basically lived for 30 years. And I love the Chateau. And, you know, I knew a bunch of people there, and we were all hanging in a room and having. We just. I had a beautiful night last night. Yeah, it was very, very sexy. Very sexy and very glamorous.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, it is quite a party. I remember. I mean, the first time I went to the Vanity Fair Oscar party, I was like, this is. First of all, it was my dream to always go to that.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Cause, you know, you see the photos, you know, roll out over the next few weeks after the Oscars, and it's like, oh, my God, to be in that room.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I wore my mother's wedding ring that I inherited. My mother passed away in June.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But I wore her beautiful diamond recently, too. It's tough.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mom's passing away.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I know. You know, and I think I'm over. I think I'm okay. And then, like right now, I just go, you know, just even. But wearing her ring last night on the red carpet was beautiful. Beautiful wedding rings. It's nice here.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Are you warm enough?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah, it's fabulous. Yeah. The ocean in the back. It's gorgeous. That is the ocean.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Are you distracted by yourself? That is the Ocean. Yes. Are you distracted by yourself? Look at yourself in the mirror.

[Patricia Clarkson]

No, I can't. You know, what's good is you're blocking me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, good.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And I like that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You know, we look at ourselves so much as actors that I won't look. I don't look at pictures.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I've learned to, like, see what the shot is. But then I don't need to see, like, playback.

[Patricia Clarkson]

No, I don't need, like, today, if you say I look good, I look good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But it's like all the pictures from last night on the big red carpet and all the. I want to see the one of me kissing the dog and that's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, no, it's adorable. That's how I knew you were there. Selma's service dog was kissing.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, it's so funny because I remember going once for the. To the Emmys with Modern Family, and you all filter in and like, they're. They're showing shots of the red carpet inside the auditorium. I don't know if they do this for every award show, but they were doing it this. This year for the Emmys. They were showing people on the carpet, but there was a bit of a delay. So, you know, they'd be, like, showing, you know, people arriving, but those people would actually be at that point inside the room, but they were showing them on the carpet still. And I remember Sofia Vergara coming in kind of late, and she's going to sit down, and then she's looking up and she's actually watching herself in an interview. And then they were talking about what she was wearing. Like, they were like, just like kind of, like dissecting her dress.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And she's sitting right there watching herself being, like, dissected.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It's so meta amongst her, like, peer. It's so picture.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So it was so crazy. How are you? I'm well. How are you? Nice meeting you, Patricia.

[Patricia Clarkson]

So I'm so glad there's unattractive waiters. Yes. My goodness. Thank you. So happy to be here. Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you. I haven't.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I haven't. No. Can I start with a. Oh, maybe a Provence rose? It's not sparkling. That's. The Provence is not. Oh, it's dry and not sparkling. Yes, perfect. I see you have your own. But that's sparkling. But I'll have. Or should I get the Vermentino?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

They're both excellent choices. I prefer the Provence, but.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Okay, good. Okay, I'll go with your preference. Excellent. Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Could I have this watermelon mint Spritz. Of course you may.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, that sounds good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And so just so you guys know, we're known for the whipped eggplant here. It's puccia bread. It's Italian. It's this puffy bread that comes with eggplant dip.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, that sounds fabulous.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really good. It's like our steak.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I love eggplant.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's so good.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I think we could eat that. Do you like eggplant?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, it sounds great. We'll definitely do that. Yeah. And I'll be here for you guys if you have any questions. All the food's good. Family style is a great way to go to share. Okay. Pastas are made fresh daily in house, so I'll be here for you guys.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Okay. Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you have any allergies that I should be aware of? Seafood.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm allergic to seafood.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I knew that.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm allergic to anything.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Put it by the ocean.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Seaweed swims on shore. I'd love to bring you some water too, for the table.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Sure.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I prefer sparklings.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I prefer flat. Excellent. I'm good with that too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Okay, thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh, I'm going to take my table.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I have my plates.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You don't have a plate.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Come on. He is handsome. I saw him walk in and I said, oh, Patty's gonna like this.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Like. But he's beautiful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He is.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's not just handsome, he's beautiful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's very good looking.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes, yes. I mean, is he on camera?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I hope so. We'll have to make sure he is.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's an asset.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Were you just in LA for the Vanity Fair?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah, I flew in to go to a beautiful party celebrating Guy Pierce, who is, you know, such a great, great, great, great actor. Like, he. He just said, I'm gonna throw Guy a party, you know, for his. For his work in the Brutalist. And so I went to that on Thursday and then I went to CAA party, which was packed, packed, packed. Yeah, it was. But I mean, it was sexy. There were some great people there. I like telling people, God, I love you, you know, I love you in this. Or telling them something odd that I know about them or something, some unknown movie probably that they. That I've seen of theirs that I really loved. I like doing that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm glad to hear you say that because I always find myself in those situations, shy and feeling like I shouldn't approach them. I will always remember you coming up to me after take me out and just gushing and being so effusive. And so wonderful. And we had met before. We knew each other a little bit, but not well. And just because I'm such a fan of your work and I love you so much. So to hear it, even if you had said good job to me, that would have been like, oh, my God. Patricia Clarkson told me I did a good job. So, like, you just, you know, being so effusive was so meaningful.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It was honestly one of the greatest nights in the New York theater, and you were, of course, a major part of that. And I'll just never forget your performance and the other men, the direction. Scott Ellis is just. He's the bomb.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You did Elephant man with him.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I loved every single minute of working with him. We started in, and I told Bradley, I have stage fright.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Bradley Cooper. Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I can't do it. And he goes, I will cure you of your stage fright.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was like, you have stage fright?

[Patricia Clarkson]

I did. I don't anymore. But every step of the way, Scott Ellis was perfection.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's just. He's kind and soulful, and he's genuinely so engaged. He's such a bro, you know, he's so butch.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He is.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But he has a really soulful side.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

To Scott Ellis.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Scott Ellis.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes. Come on.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's a great director. I've gotten to know Bradley Cooper a little bit through Scott Ellis. And the last time I saw Bradley, he lives in the village next to Brooke Shields.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Who's a. Who's a buddy of mine.

[Patricia Clarkson]

A friend of yours. She's so lovely.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So lovely.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Beautiful person. Beautiful inside and out. Beautiful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I saw Brooke, and we. It was late at night. We were at a restaurant together, and she's like, do you want to. I'd never seen her house, and so she's like, do you want to come and look at the house? Like, sure, let's go look. You know, she and Bradley are very close because they're right next to one.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Another, and in fact.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, this looks incredible.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Whoa.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It's like a pillow.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The whipped eggplant. Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow. That looks incredible. I think I need a plate and some. Yes. Silverware right now.

[Patricia Clarkson]

So.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But So I. So I go to. So they're very close. I guess. Bradley would come over every morning and have.

[Patricia Clarkson]

They live right now.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

They share a wall.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And he would come over and they would have. He'd have coffee in their kitchen every morning. Anyway, she's showing me her. Her house, and I'm in her kitchen, and it's like, it's like, midnight, and Brooke is like, I wonder if Bradley's awake. And she decides to peek her head around the corner of her backyard. And again, I do not know Bradley very well at this point. And she goes, oh, yeah, he's up. He's watching tv. It's midnight. She's like, let's go knock on his window. I'm like, I don't know if this is a great idea. Like, I know you're super close with him, but, like, I don't know if he's gonna be thrilled to see me at his back window.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Who wouldn't want you knocking? I would kill for you to knock on my door at midnight. Like, get your ass in here.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Anyway, it happened. I was like, I somehow got convinced to go knock on Bradley Cooper's back door at midnight. And his dogs are easy.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And that's not a metaphor.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, no, exactly. It's not a metaphor. It's not a euphemism. I knocked on Bradley Cooper's door at midnight. Anyway, he couldn't have been kinder. He was. Seemed happy to see us. I was like. I was like, I'm so sorry. I'm disturbed. He was, like, watching late night tv. I don't know. He's watching, like, a Saturday Night Live or something.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Anyway, lovely human being.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's lovely. And. And it's so, so talented.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I agree.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Let's taste eggplant. Mmm.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is it great?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, that's fabulous.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, that is good.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Mmm.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Patricia tells me about her portrayal as Goodyear Tire whistleblower Lilly Ledbetter in the new movie Lily and Wyatt's. Hampton's debut was particularly emotional for her. Okay, be right back. All right, let's talk about something near and dear to my heart. Building the perfect sandwich. And yes, yes, I take this very serious. Step one, you need a great bread. Fresh, crusty. Something with character. Step two, Boar's Head Oven Gold Turkey, always. It's juicy, it's flavorful. It's the backbone of this operation. Step three, a few slices of Boar's Head Smoke Master Ham, because I like to mix it up. It adds a slow smoked beechwood flavor that makes your taste buds just, you know, do a little dance. Step four, cheese. Sharp cheddar if I'm feeling bold. Creamy Swiss if I'm feeling fancy. Step five, a swipe of Dijon, crisp lettuce, thin sliced tomato, and maybe a pickle or two, you know, for drama. Layer it all up, cut it in half diagonally, obviously. And you got a sandwich that's perfectly crafted. Thanks to Boar's Head. Every bite tastes like it was made with care. Because it was. So if you're ready to level up your sandwich game, trust me, start at the deli counter. Discover the craftsmanship behind every bite at your local Boar's Head deli counter. Boar's Head. Committed to crafts since 1905. Between traveling to record dinners on me. Whether it's a sit down in LA or takeout in Salt Lake City. I'm away from home a lot these days. And as someone who's a little type A about safety, I finally decided to upgrade our home security. Especially after reading that break ins are more likely to happen during the day than at night. Yeah, that little FBI fact really got me. So I got Simplisafe and I went all in with the Elite package. Also known as the Beacon. It's their most comprehensive system. Cameras, sensors, smart locks, the whole thing. I set it up quickly and now when I'm off recording with a guest, I know my home is being watched over. Simplisafe's monitoring agents can spot trouble, talk through the camera flash spotlights, even call the police before someone gets inside. No long term contracts, no hidden fees, and monitoring starts at just about a dollar a day. Plus there's a 60 day money back guarantee. Visit simplisafe.com Jesse to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free. That's SimpliSafe.com Jesse. S I-M-P-L-I-S-A F E.com Jesse, there's no safe like Simplisafe. And we're back with more dinners on me. What are you thinking? Are you hungry?

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm not super hungry, but I'm.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's not a weird hour to eat.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah, and I'm getting on a red eye.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Why do you have to fly back on a red eye? Do you have something? Tomorrow morning.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I just gotta get home.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You just wanna go. I get it. Get me out of here. I just arrived from New York at 9am this morning. We're passing ships.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You just got in.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I just got in this morning.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You live here And New York?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mm, yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You live. I'm not gonna say where you live, but I ran into you coming out of your apartment.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh yeah, Remember? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And I told you again how much I loved you in the take because I hadn't said it enough.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

My God, you're so wonderful and truly Your effusiveness means so much to me. To finish that thought that I was saying earlier about saying, you know, hello to people or complimenting people who you are, maybe you don't know super well or might be intimidated by. It's something I'm still learning to do because I always assume that the reactions, like, I don't want to hear this, even though I've never not wanted to hear it from someone that I. That is in this industry. And I've. I've been learning to just, you know, say the things I want to say to people, not expect anything. You know, sometimes people are more gracious than others. But, yeah, it always feels good for me to just like, let someone know that their work is important to me.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, at Vanity Fair last night, you know, I just. There were so many people to compliment, so many. But I met Chelsea Handler finally.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, you've never met Chelsea.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Isn't she incredible?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God. First of all, she looked so gorgeous last night. Oh, my God, she looks so beautiful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I saw a picture of her. Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But Chelsea and I are, you know, we're unmarried, we're single, childless women, and we love our lives.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And nobody can take that away from us now, literally.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Chelsea was just on this podcast a few weeks ago, and we were having that very conversation.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, she. But I finally met her and I said, you know, we are kindred spirits and, you know, we just, we made our own decisions. We weren't pressured to live a life that we did not choose.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You know, and I'm a Southern girl, but my mother was cool about it. My mom and dad and my sisters. My father only would only ask me, are you happy?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Uh huh.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And that's all he wanted to know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Are your sisters married?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Well, my oldest sister, like me, kind of a career girl. My other. My three middle sisters have many children and many grandchildren.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay, so there's lots of kids in the family.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Many, many, many, many. And they are beautiful. My nieces and nephews, I'm very close to, I kind of worship them. And when they were little, when I was first kind of making it, they were 4 and 5, and they had the Pat Pat Fan club, because they call me Aunt Pat Pat. And they would wear little T shirts when I come over. Pat Pat Fan Club, that's adorable. But they would see photographs of me, you know, like on a red carpet or something, and they knew I was an actress, and they kind of understood that. And I love going home. I'm going home to New Orleans soon. When I'm in New Orleans, my life feels complete.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You know, I mean, a lot of.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

People, you know, are raised in one place, but then they move around a little bit, and they don't have really necessarily a grounding city. But New Orleans really, is that for you?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Well, when I. Because I was born and raised there, my mother ran the city under the great mayor Mitch Landrieu. Saved it from Katrina after Katrina, rebuilt it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Talk about what your mom did with that.

[Patricia Clarkson]

First of all, she was president of Louisiana Realtors, and then she became a state legislator. And then she really got to the heart of her soul, which is her heart and soul is city. Is the city. The great city of New Orleans. She became president of District C, councilwoman of District C, which is the French Quarter and Algiers. So I grew up in Algiers. I didn't grow up fancy. I didn't grow up uptown or in the Garden District. But my mother finally ran for District C because she had a grandmother, her Bubby, my great grandmother who. My Jewish grandmother who lived in the French Court. So Bubby would hire a horse and cart to take them in their gowns, in their long gloves, like when my mother was, like, 12, 14, to take them to the opera, to take them to the ballet, to take them to the symphony. And, you know, when after Katrina, my mother said, well, we're going to rebuild every single artistic venue in this city. This is the soul of this city, along with our music and our culture.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So, I mean, you've always been involved in politics. You were raised in it. Because I know I got to watch Lily, which is your most recent film.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes. Which is the great Lilly Ledbetter. As you know, you see this woman who really suffered such blows and kept getting back up, you know, she really fighting for equal pay. And, you know, the thing is, what's beautiful is the Democrats embraced her. But the real truth of this story is equal pay for women is not political. It's a right. It's just simply every single person in everyone's life benefits with equal pay. Your partner, your spouse, your lover, your mistress. Everybody, Everybody wins. When women make equal pay, your children most of all, but also your friends benefit, because you're sometimes, you know, if you're making really great money, you can live a certain life. And to think that she was kept down.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

In a really tragic way.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Her name is someone I remember hearing so much specifically around the 2008 elections with Obama and Hillary. She was campaigning for both of them.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, she was. Because she Believed in their. Because they believed in equal pay. And the first Obama held to his promise. The first bill he passed was the Lilly Ledbetter act.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Because he's. I mean, who would think this extraordinary black man from Hawaii loving this, you know, older southern white lady from Possum Trot, Alabama.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But they really got on. They really. They had a kindred spirit, and it moves me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, me too.

[Patricia Clarkson]

To this day.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We're always happy to have you come visit us.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah, we're always happy. I'm gonna get the fusili.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Okay. And can you leave off the breadcrumbs? Of course. But I will take some parmesan on the top. All righty.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm gonna have the butternut squash agnolodi. Excellent.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, that's. That does sound good. What is it?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Opposite you. You ordered, like, a really healthy pasta. Like, I've. You are withholding a lot. This does not withhold anything. We got. There's a lot of naughty, beautiful. It's.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It's like pockets. It's what?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Exactly. It's stuffed with squash and mascarpone. A lot of butter, right? Yes.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I have to get on a plane. I.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What does that have to do with it? Stop making excuse. I have to get on a plane.

[Patricia Clarkson]

No, but I think the fusilli looks. Looks good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I think it's gonna be great. No breadcrumbs. And the agnolodi. Thank you so much. Thank you. Are you guys enjoying the eggplant?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, this is extraordinary.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's great.

[Patricia Clarkson]

So, but anywho, you know the beautiful part of Lily, you know, the love of her life, played by the great John Hickey.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Love him so much.

[Patricia Clarkson]

How good. He's so lovely.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's so good.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's effortless.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He really is. He did an episode of Modern Family. He played the therapist to one of the kids. And it was this really long, basically like a four page scene where there was no jokes. And it was actually the first time that, you know, we were learning about this Ariel Winthrop's character, like, just the. The difficulty she's having as, like, a middle child. And it was just. She was bouncing these ideas off of John, and it was such a beautiful scene, and it really stood out as just something. I mean, there were jokes eventually, but, like, it went on a long time without a lot of jokes. It was just all emotion. And I was like, wow, what better person to do this than John?

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, he's just. He's sexy as hell.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, he's so sexy.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's so sexy.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

He's such a gentleman and he's a man who carries heavy thoughts.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah, It's a great cast. I mean, I learned so much about her, though. Like, she came into my conscious when she was being talked about on the campaign trails in 2008. I didn't really know too much for history and where she came from with Goodyear tires and like just how she. Can you sort of explain her story?

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, look at 40. So, you know, this is the beauty of women. Sometimes they're just getting started at 40, 50, 60, you know, like my mother.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Inspiring, by the way.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And so she said, listen, there was an opening to start in at, you know, ground level, lug and tires, which I did on a few occasions. And I have to say, yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Not in real life.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, in real life, when she was.

[Patricia Clarkson]

When she caused trouble and they put her back on the line at 60, when I was shooting this, I was what, 62. I. I thought they need an ambulance standing by. Like, I need, like I'm going to need help getting home after lugging tires for one day. And she was doing that five days a week.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow.

[Patricia Clarkson]

So she. But she decided, I want a better life for my children. And there was an opening that paid a lot of money. It was the highest paying job in the county. And she started working at Goodyear and some really good whistleblower, some good Samaritan, some good citizen passed some records to her to let her see after she had been there for 20 years, working brutal shifts, night shifts, giving up time with her children. You know, she struggled with her son. It's not quite in the movie, but she sacrificed everything for this job. And to think that she was paid 40% less than the men.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Doing the exact same job. She fought in every way, shape and form. And then winning the lawsuit and then having it taken away from an all male jury. I mean, she suffered the blows. And that's when really great politicians stepped in and said, wait, this woman is remarkable.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Like, why are we not championing her? Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And some of her loudest champions were women.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah. They're all most. I mean, there were men, there were great men. And you know, but she was a survivor. And she knew, you know, I know her daughter too. I know Vicky. I didn't meet. This was all planned because I didn't want to play her. I wanted to just be her. And I realized the greatest tribute and ode I could give her was to just try to become her and not meet her and be filled with playing this and that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Sure.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And of course, I did my research, and she was very cool with this.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And she was very happy with what I did, which I'm very thankful. You know, we debuted it at the Hamptons, and she died two days after we debuted the film, so you never know. I was going to meet her in the Hamptons the first time. We had a big interview set up, but she felt she fell very ill. But her daughter. I had the privilege of meeting her daughter Vicky, in real life, who is one of the greatest human beings. That apple falls so close to that tree. It's very emotional for me because they're just really great people. And she gave up a lot to be the great person she is. It did not come without, you know, sacrifices. But meeting Vicki was very emotional for me. And then to learn where we're all there in the Hamptons that she had passed was brutal. I mean, brutal. My phone started blowing up from everybody, and it was hard. It was a really tough time. But she will live on. You know, I'm going to take this everywhere. We're doing a beautiful premiere in New Orleans, Louisiana, New York. We have the support of so many women. Like, the women who supported her, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, you know, I also loved it for, obviously, the historical reasons, but there's something very accurate about how change gets made. And I think it's really important for people to see, first of all, that we can do anything. Yes. Anyone could do anything.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Well, I mean, a woman from Possum Trot, Alabama. Okay. That lived with only an outhouse.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Uneducated. You know what I mean? Coming from a very specific family, a mother who was tough, but also, it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Takes time and it's hard.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it takes a lot of.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, wow.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my goodness. No breadcrumbs.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you. Thank you. Thanks so much. Thank you. Thank you. But it takes a lot of work, too. And, like, there's gonna be a lot of points where roadblocks are put up. And, you know, Justin, my husband, and I did the same thing with marriage equality. And, like, it was actually visiting face to face with a lot of these people. And it takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of emotional energy. It takes.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It takes everything.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It takes everything, and it takes it out of you. And when you. And you're met with a resistance, sometimes more often than you are, with open arms.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But to see someone succeed like Lily did and make progress and see how hard it was and see how many times she was told, no, no, so many times. That's why I think the story is.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Powerful and I think it's, you know, it gives. People just don't know, you know, equal pay for women was really in the crosshair. I mean, it really wasn't an easy thing at people didn't believe it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And we're slightly back to that now.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, no, we are.

[Patricia Clarkson]

They hired her because they thought she could do it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And I think they looked to her to become a manager, and she did. You fought her way up like anybody else, like any man. But I think that's an important point you brought up, is that change is grueling.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, you must be so proud of the film. And I'm just so glad that you got to make it and I'm so glad it exists. And you're so wonderful in it. You're always fantastic in everything you do.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And no, when they said, oh, Patty, you're gonna play her from 40 to 73, I was like, oh, you know, Yeah, I was always just, you know, what age am I today?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Uh huh. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Patricia tells me about her role as eccentric Aunt Sarah on the HBO classic Six Feet under. And I share some fun tea on Golden Girls icon Bea Arthur. Okay, be right back. This episode of Dinners On Me is brought to you by Nissan. These days, it feels like the world and our lives are moving at hyperspeed. I mean, that's why I love doing this podcast. It's a chance to slow down, to truly connect with another human being and to enjoy the feeling of actually being in the present moment. On that note, I am very excited that Dinners On Me is partnering with Nissan because Nissan understands that sometimes the greatest rush comes from not rushing at all. And with the all new Nissan Murano, you can enjoy an unapologetic refuge amidst the daily hustle and bustle of life. The Nissan Murano is not just a vehicle. It's a space where you can take a beat to catch your breath and re energize to be in the present moment. And trust me, this is the moment you'll want to be in and drive in. The Nissan Murano features an elevated modern interior design and a bold new exterior look. Plus, the expansive panoramic moonroof adds tons of natural light to the roomy cabin with massaging leather appointed seats to help melt away the tension of the day. And ambient mood lighting with 64 color options to set the vibe just right. What's not to love? So thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Dinners on Me and for reminding us to take a moment and breathe. Learn more about the all new nissan [e-mail] Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting and massaging leather appointed seats are optional features. Hey, podcast listeners. I'm Chris Marocco, food director of Bon Appetit and Epicurious and host of the Dinner SOS podcast. Every week on Dinner sos, my test kitchen colleagues and I help listeners figure out what they should be cooking right now. And this winter, we're helping you embrace all things cozy cooking, letting you join the Ba Bake club and getting back to basics with simple strategies to level up your home cooking. So don't miss out, listen to and follow Dinner SOS wherever you get your podcasts. And if you have your own kitchen question, email us@ninnersoson appetit.com Happy cooking. And we're back with more dinners on me. I mean, you've got to play some pretty remarkable roles in your career, and.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It must feel, but I've played a lot of unsavory ladies.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, I poison my children. I'm not poisoning anybody. I'm not killing anybody.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, this is what I also said.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm not a drug addict.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, true, true. You're clean.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Because I played a lot of drug addicts.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And yet I've never done any drug in my whole life. I've never even smoked pot. I've never been high.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Never been high.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really?

[Patricia Clarkson]

No. But the day is young.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You guys enjoying the food?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Nice.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mommy needs a refill.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah. They're going to kick me off, off the plane like we have. The pilot's going to be, excuse us, we're removing a lady from the plane.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We have to circle back to the gate.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Circle back. But acting is a drug to me. I, I can't imagine drinking or doing drugs on stage and then performing. I, I, that would be antithetical to me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

After. Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. This is an anecdote that.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What about Bea Arthur? I don't know if you've ever heard this. She would, during Golden Girls, she would do reshoots. So they would film the show and then they would let the audience go. And this is. Christopher Lloyd told me this story who did my, who's one of the creators of Modern Family and then also worked on Golden Girls. Yeah, of course. Yeah. And he said that they would let the audience go and then they would do something, pickups and reshoots. But at that point, once the audience was gone. They would loosen up a little bit and be. Always, like to have a drink.

[Patricia Clarkson]

A drink? Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So they would get her a drink, and sometimes the reshoots would take a while and she'd have more than one and. But she was always. She always drove herself to the lot and she would drive home, and they were getting nervous. Like, on some of these days where they stayed a little longer, like, you know, it might not be super safe for her to drive home.

[Patricia Clarkson]

We'll get a driver.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So this poor PA had to, like, go. Did they, like, put on someone else? Like, go tell Bea that we need her to be careful about, you know, the drinking after. After the reshoot. Because so this poor PA goes over to her and he's like, you know, b. I'm just. I'm just worried about, you know, because she. Oh, she thinks she would take her drink to go with her, like, in the cup holder.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God. And that's New Orleans.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know, right? And so they say, you know, be. We're just. We're just nervous. Your car's very low and, like, you know, if, like, someone came up and drive next to you, they'd be able to see. And it's just, you know, I just worry.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She's like, oh, no, I understand. I completely get it. Totally understand. So the next week, she arrives to set in a higher car.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I just. I just love. I just love her so much. I love Teresa.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But I'm obsessed with the Golden Girls.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, me too.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm obsessed. Like, it's just the comedic scenes from Will and Grace from your show to Golden Girls. It's just brilliant. Well written, well written. But you rise to that and you lift it above sitcom because nothing is that good. Other sitcoms are very good, but they're not that good. That's a certain level.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, the lovely, beautiful man who plays your husband on the show.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Eric Stonestreet.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah, Eric Stonestreet. I mean, the two of you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, you're kismet. You're a match made in heaven.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I agree.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And just your yin and yang. And it just fills me with such joy. You know, I saw Megan Mullally last night at Vanny Vere with her gorgeous breasts in full display. She said, pat, Patty, can you stand up? I can't keep bending over. My boobs are gonna fall. You know, she's so beautiful, mega mullally and just glorious and gorgeous. And I hadn't seen her In a while. And I just worship her, too, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, at that time that, you know, Will and Grace was on, weren't she? That was kind of the time that Six Feet under happened. Right. Which was like, you know, Will and Grace was the buzzy comedy, and Six Feet under was the drama everyone wanted to be.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And I, you know, and I was given Aunt Sarah this crazy part. I know, to play the sister. It was just such a crazy shoot. I would fly in. Everybody thought I was a regular, but I wasn't. I would just fly.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, you won two Emmys for it, so, you know.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I know, I know. But that's the writing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Patricia Clarkson]

And the directing, they were. They had. And the actors that I was surrounded with. Franny Conroy, you know, Kathy Bates. Kathy Bates, yeah. So when the three of us would work together, they called, they said, get the three tenors on set. That was a blessing, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, it was such a massive, huge hit in a time where, you know, streaming didn't exist.

[Patricia Clarkson]

No.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, you waited every week for the new episode. You waited.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I remember boarding that train early. I watched Six Feet under from the very beginning, the moment I had access to hbo, and I rode that train all the way to that brilliant finale. I mean, that was brilliant.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I would get these scenes, and sometimes I. You know, as a crazy aunt, I had these things, and I thought, oh, surely they're going to cut this down or they're going to rewrite it. But a lot of times what I got on the page stayed, and I just learned it. I'd run it and learn my monologues, and they were just like, you know, it just was. It's like Richard Gray some. When you have. When writing is great, it just. Yeah, it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It becomes easier. You memorize it easier.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You do. I know it doesn't take a toll on you the way when you're trying to make something work.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, no, you're right. I remember working on a few projects in Modern Family with not being one of them, but, like, where you really do feel like you're shoving a square peg into a round hole trying to memorize something and make it work. And I feel like now there's a lot more playwrights who are working in television, and I'm so glad that they are beautiful.

[Patricia Clarkson]

You know, many more people in the theater are coming to television and to movies, which is thankful because they understand arc and character, and that's what greats. That's what great writing does.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. When I was going back through all these Films that you've been in, so many of them. I'm sorry.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But no, no, Patricia. I mean like Easy A and Station Agent and, you know, just great, great films. I went back and I watched high art and I saw some of your early stuff, which I, you know, obviously love. But there was that moment where it was like. It was Station Agent and Pieces of April.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Pieces of April, which were.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it was just like all this incredible, beautiful.

[Patricia Clarkson]

But that was Bingham Ray. That was independent cinema. That was Sundance. Really was on fire.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You were labeled the Sundance queen.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I mean, the independent cinema was alive and well and kicking and really powerful. And it still is. Look at the win of a nor last night. And noor was an independent film in its own way. But I was lucky. I hit the jackpot when it was on fire.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, it's a career I greatly look up to and admire.

[Patricia Clarkson]

My mother was just like, Patty, what are you playing this time? I remember with sharp objects. She was like that. Please tell me that woman is not based on me. You did not use.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's just like a mom to like.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Assume you did not pour. Your cooking was fabulous and. No, no, no.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I meant to ask. Would you like to look at dessert? I'm okay. Do you want some thing?

[Patricia Clarkson]

No.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you so much.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Think. What's your name?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

My name is Nick.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Hi, Nick. I'm Patty.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Patty, so nice.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It's so nice to meet you. Really, really nice to meet you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Thank you, Nick. Thank you, Jesse. Take care.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you. See ya.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I love.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mommy wants to take you on a red eye tonight. He's so handsome.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm coming back to LA at the end of the end of April maybe I'll say. Oh, let's all meet.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

How do you see my friend Nick is working. I'm so glad you fit us in while you were here.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I mean it's going to be the, the. The. The red eye is going to be downhill, but I'm. Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Of course. Thanks for doing this. I really love you so much.

[Patricia Clarkson]

I'm. I'm. What a privilege. It really, really is. I. I just simply think the world of you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Just dinner by the sea with Patty Clarkson with all the sun setting in the background. What could be better?

[Patricia Clarkson]

Nothing. I know. Look at this.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's very romantic.

[Patricia Clarkson]

It is.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I love that.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Should we make out?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, maybe we should. Maybe we should. I'm definitely paying for dinner if that's the case.

[Patricia Clarkson]

Dinner's on me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinners On Me was recorded at Elefante in Santa Monica, California. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know him from the queer rom com Bros, the leading man on countless Hallmark classics. And now as the host of Hallmark's home renovation show, Home is where the heart is. It's Luke McFarlane. We'll dig into our 20 year long friendship. Can you believe it? The impact of gay visibility on television, parenthood and so much more. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners On Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. Dinners On Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Behr engineered this episode. Hans Dale, she composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week. All right, let's talk about something near and dear to my heart. Building the perfect sandwich. And yes, yes, I take this very seriously. Step one, you need a great bread. Fresh, crusty, something with character. Step two, Boar's Head Oven Gold turkey. Always. It's juicy, it's flavorful. It's the backbone of this operation. Step three, a few slices of Boar's Head smoke. Master ham because I like to mix it up. It adds a slow smoked beechwood flavor that makes your taste buds just, you know, do a little dance. Step four, cheese sharp cheddar if I'm feeling bold. Creamy Swiss if I'm feeling fancy. Step five, a swipe of Dijon crisp lettuce, thin sliced tomato, and maybe a pickle or two, you know, for drama. Layer it all up, cut it in half diagonally, obviously, and you got a sandwich that's perfectly crafted thanks to Boar's Head. Every bite tastes like it was made with care. Because it was. So if you're ready to level up your sandwich game, trust me, start at the deli counter. Discover the craftsmanship behind every bite at your local Boar's Head deli counter. Boar's Head, committed to crafts since 1905.