Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Carrie Preston — on making ‘Elsbeth’ her own, and the joyful grind of a working actor

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

“Elsbeth” star Carrie Preston joins the show. Over a swordfish melt, Carrie reflects on building a career defined by versatility — from her Emmy-winning turn as Elsbeth Tascioni in “The Good Wife" and “The Good Fight” to her starring role in the hit CBS spinoff “Elsbeth.” She gives me the backstory of Elsbeth’s iconic display of handbags, and discuss working with Julia Roberts – twice. Plus, we get into her marriage to fellow actor Michael Emerson (Ben in “Lost”), and what Alan Ball told her “True Blood” is actually about. This episode was recorded at San Sabino in the West Village. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Like, I think I play Elspeth. You know, it's like, it's still like, it's still this like little disconnect of like, I'm the person who's playing that. It's hard. This is Dinner's On Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. There's a photo that I'm going to put on my Instagram of me and Carrie Preston at the O'Neill Theater Festival. And I'm going to say, 1998. I have known Carrie for so long.

We met, obviously, through the theater world. as you might have gathered, from the O'Neill Theater Festival reference. I am so happy to have her on the show. I got to guest star as one of the first guest stars of her show that she is leading, Elspeth on CBS. She premiered the character of Elzbeth on an episode of The Good Wife, which she won an Emmy Award for. And she has gone on to play Elzbeth on The Good Fight,

and now she has her own series named after her character. It is absolutely fantastic. I adore her, and I am so thrilled that she has finally agreed to find some time in her busy, busy schedule to do an episode of this podcast. It's noon, and I'm inside San Sabino restaurant waiting for Carrie to arrive. For anyone who hasn't been, San Sabino is the sister spot to Don Angie, which we had Jim Parsons on the podcast of Don Angie's. Don Angie's is run by my friend Scott Tassanelli and chef Angie Rito. The menu is a whirlwind of Italian-American seafood, shrimp parmesan with a sweet and sour, Ariabana twist, crab and mortadella dip with rich crackers.

Fancy, it's fun, it's a little nostalgic, it's all those things. The space itself is a sunny Mediterranean dream. It has these buttery yellow walls, polished brass. A wavy bar that could have floated straight out of Capri in 1960. The cocktails are super inventive. They have a garlic bread martini, you guys. Okay. I know the conversation here will be as lively as the plates we're about to eat.

The playful, whimsical vibe seems perfect for Carrie. I could just imagine her character eating here on the show. It's very, very chic. And in just a matter of time, Carrie is going to walk in. Oh, I think I see her outside. All right, let's get to the conversation I was actually thinking this is serendipitous because I'm going to my last weekend

I'm Shakespeare in the Park here and the very first Shakespeare in the Park I saw was the Tempest that you were at That was your first thing you ever saw? Not ever saw my first Shakespeare in the Park and Shakespeare in the Park And I did the thing where I waited in line because it was a hot ticket.

It was a hot ticket. Did you have to wait the night before? I don't think I had to wait the night before. I think I got there early. But I remember you so vividly, and that show is Miranda. And that, you know, that show was like the dreamiest way to make a New York stage debut that you could ever come up with for a girl who came from making Georgia and then studied Shakespeare. At Juilliard, and then doing, I was doing Shakespeare when I was 19 starting at Georgia Shakespeare Festival.

I mean, who gets to say that they made their Broadway debut doing Shakespeare? And not very many people. Hi. All characters should wear. Very good. Welcome in. I understand some water, sparkling top or still? What would you like? Sparkling.

I would love sparkling too, thank you. Absolutely. We do have a nice special going on for lunch today. Okay, delicious swordfish melt. Sort of like a riff off of a ternet fish melt. You're going to get three pieces of fresh faccatcha bread. On top, you'll get a nice swordfish mixed with some shallot and caper mayonnaise. melted pontina cheese

and these cherry pepper marinated tomatoes wow that sounds good that's an app for us a myth for 24 oh my goodness

thanks wait okay did you and Michael just celebrate a big anniversary recently we did

27 married oh my god 31 together that's crazy and we met during Shakespeare you met during Shakespeare we were doing

Hamlet at the Alabama Shakespeare possible no way so Michael okay we're speaking about Michael Emerson Kerry's husband

of 27 years. Yes. And so you met during Shakespeare. Okay, I did not know that you met before you've moved to New York. Yes, I went down there. I had just gotten out of Juilliard, and I went down there to do a play with my brother, John Preston, who's an actor, and he was a resident actor there forever. And he was like, hey, audition to play Ophelia, and then you could come down,

and if you get the part, then we could hang out and play video games and, like, go see Mom. You know, that was, like, the plan, you know? I got cast, and then. and first day of rehearsal and walks this guy in a three-piece suit. Nothing's changed. Right?

And I was like, wow. You know, everybody else is in, you know, actor wear, and he's in a three-piece suit playing Gildenstern. And I was like, who the hell's that guy? You were in your late teens, early 20s? Yeah, I was in my late 20s.

I was in, I was like 26 years old or something. 27 years old. And fell in love. with him already on stage, and then he walked into rehearsal with the three-piece suit, and I was like, oh, he's gay. And I was like, he's gay, oh, no, okay, I have another crush on the gay guys, because they're the coolest ones, and they're always well-dressed, and they're so polite, and, like, you know, totally stereotyping there, but.

Yeah, and also the most talented. And the most talented, and still to the day, all of my best friends. So I was like, okay, damn it, you know, all right. I'll just be friends with this guy. Yeah. So I asked my brother, I was like, hey, you know, well, what do you think about this Michael Emerson? Because my brother was trying to hook me up with some other guy that was in the master's program.

And I was like, well, what about Michael Emerson? And he's like, oh, Emerson's cool. I was like, but he's gay, right? He said, no. Like, so not. And I was like, oh. And then I started getting, like, shy around. Yeah, yeah.

Do you know what I mean? So you'd already, like, developed a friendship as, you had your gay best friendship, like, definitely figured out. Yeah, yeah. And it was very quick. I was like, oh, okay, I guess I'll just be. Yeah. And then, you know, he was like leaving flowers for me outside my door when I would wake

up to go to, you know, and then he invited me to a party and we showed up together. And you know how it is when you're, you know, doing regional theater. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you show up to a party with somebody else. Yeah, yeah. You're dating. Yeah, absolutely. You're together.

Yeah, the showman is solidified. The showmance is public. Yeah. So everyone just knew then. And then that was true. It was it, done. Like, a month later, I was calling my mom, you need to come meet the man. I'm going to marry.

I'm not going to tell him that, but you need to come meet the man. You knew you had a feeling. Yep. Yep. I love that. It's so interesting. You're feeling ready to order? Anything that matches her eye or any questions like that?

I mean, I think I could do it. I'm going to have that specialty you were talking about. The swordfish, yes, absolutely. Please. I'm going to do the summer herb, new d. Summer herb, new D. Yeah. And I think that's good.

I mean, I dated actors a little bit when I was starting off. But, you know, early 20s, nothing serious. It's complicated. It's complicated dating someone getting to know someone when you're always being pulled away. In your years now, I mean, you're still fine because I know you're working. You're tied down to New York right now with Alphabet. But, I mean, he must be pulled away for things. Yeah, but he's now at the point where he's really happy to kind of have me have the heavy lifting as far as work.

He did that. Like, he was on person of interest for five years. He was on Lost. But Lost was such a big ensemble that he didn't have a lot of, I mean, he didn't, he had to, he had to be away. In Hawaii. Hawaii was tough, because it's, it's very tough to get to Hawaii. Yes, yeah. You cannot just like, you know, when these tsunamis would happen.

I mean, I cannot get an actual vehicle and go and rescue. That's a little... Yeah, it's scary. Yeah, it was, like, alarming. So when he got that job, and I was still here in New York, I was doing a Broadway show, he was out there. I don't know how we're going to do this, you know? Like, how are we supposed to do? It takes 13 hours, you know, to get there.

From New York certainly, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that was when I was like, okay, we're going to, I'm going to have to. to base myself out of L.A. And so we had kept a little apartment there, and I just based myself out there. Just to be closer, yeah. Yeah, I mean, we still always had New York, but we'd sublet here. It was that whole dance of, you know what I mean? Like, and then we had a little place there.

And then that way I could at least get to him quicker, and he could come to me on the times off. And then I started doing True Blood, and that shot in L.A. Right. So it actually worked out pretty well because we were. We were both in these big ensembles. So we would have these little pockets of time. And they were also such incredible opportunity.

I mean, you know, True Blood was, my God, I love that show so much. Yeah, it was so great. What an ensemble. Yeah, I was so great. And to have, what was the creator's name? From Six Feet Under. Alan Ball. I mean, I was already such a fan of his from Six Feet Under.

I was like, whatever this guy does next, I'm going to want to see. Same. And it was such a fantastic, different world. world that he created with truth line. And it was so, it was so surprising because I, I met Alan. Well, first of all, he's from Georgia and so why, but we hadn't ever met. So, so he was, he wrote and directed this movie. It was an indie, and it was called Towelhead, and it was based on a book of the same title.

And so I audition for it, and I met him in the audition, and we hit it off because of the whole Georgia thing. Yeah. And, and so I got cast in that movie. So we were standing around one day on set, and I was like, well, what are you going to do next? And he said, well, I've been reading these vampire books. And I was like, what? How do you go from six feet under to towelhead to a vampire?

He was like, HBO is going to make it into a series. I think I might have something for you in it. And I read and I got the hold of the pilot. I read it. And I didn't know what character he was talking about. Because it was not like you, you know, open the dictionary, Arlene Fowler, and you think of Carrie Preston, that just is not like, but he was like, no, no, no, it's Arlene. And I was like, okay, okay.

And I was like, great. You want me to play a bachsome redhead? Sure, gotcha. Yeah. You know, I can do that. Beautiful. That looks great. Thank you.

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we return, Carrie recalls how she and husband Michael Emerson, who you might know as the incredible villain Ben on TV show Lost, made long distance work, and she reflects on what it was like to both a character actor and a leading lady being on top of the call sheet on Ellsbeth. Okay, be right back. You know, between two kids, two dogs, and my rehearsal schedule, sometimes the last thing I want to do is Wander the Grocery's store aisles. That's where Instacart comes in. Instacart is more than a grocery technology platform. It's really a care company. It connects me to thousands of stores across the country and gives me back time to focus on what matters most. The other day, Justin was en route to New York City to bring the kids to come see a performance of Shakespeare in the park, and I was realizing

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And we're back with more dinners on me. And in that last day, I mean, that was, was that your first, like, kind of taste of job security? It was, yeah, because I had done, I was one of those people that was fortunate to do a lot of pilots. Yes. But unfortunate in that none of them went to series. Right. And so, I think that was maybe my, over the years, you know. of hitting the pavement,

like eighth or ninth pilot or something like that, you know? And finally it hit, and it was such a relief, you know. But when we were shooting that show, we'd had no idea that it was going to be what it was. It was kind of a cultural phenomenon. They put all 10 of those episodes in the can before anyone saw. Anyone saw it. You know, and we had that 2008 strike in the middle of that.

Right. So we shot, like, the first three or something. Paused. And then there was that long strike. And then there was a change of regime at HBO and all this stuff. So it really was something that could have never seen the light of day. Right. Pun intended.

Stupid. But really, it was. And if it did, it would turn to ash. It would burn in the sun. It would burn. up and there would be guts everywhere. This is, by the way, I feel like right up your southern roots alley.

Oh, is feeling like a nice deal. It's a nasty. But I remember one time Alan describing True Blood as being about the fear of intimacy. Oh. Which I thought was really a cool way to look at it. Did Michael ever guest on True Blood? He didn't.

He didn't. A lot of people. did, but he was on Lost and it was a little... Right. Well, I know, you famously guessed on Lost in a flashback sequence where you played Michael's mother, which I just love so much. That was totally my pitch, too, and I didn't even think that they were going to take that seriously at all. I was making a joke. They're like, I'll play him as his mother in a flashback.

Yeah. It's like, wouldn't that be hilarious? I mean, I'm here in Hawaii all the time. Yeah. Wouldn't that be so fun? So it really did line up with you just, like, hanging out and with Michael on. set and they're like, oh, we'll just use you to play his mother.

Yep. I love that. Edipal in a very weird way. And that also was such a phenomenon. I mean, I remember sitting like with Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lily, and they were like literally right behind me because they were nominated for Emmys and like

it was my first year at the Emmys. And I just felt like, yeah, it was I was like, oh, you were you on. Yeah, truly. I mean, it was always so weird going to, I mean, it's still bizarre going to any of those award shows because I feel so out of my element. But to go and like see all these people that I, which is such massive fans. Oh, I know. I'm still the same. And now on Ellsbeth, like, people that I have, you know, worshipped my whole career are coming on to do the show. I know. I know. You, I mean, yeah, let's certainly get to that because I was so lucky and that I got to be a guest star right at the beginning of Elizabeth. Yes. You had already shut the pilot. Yep.

And ironically, full circle moment, your guest star on the pilot was Stephen Moyer from True Blood. Yes. Who, I think you told me you called in a favor to him, right? Was it? Yeah, they were, they were casting this role. of, you know, a teacher at a prestigious acting school, not unlike Julia Art, there's a teacher who is, you know, sleeping with his students, and then when he's worried that he's going to be canceled when it comes out, he murders one of his students.

So, huh, surprise, surprise. We weren't able to really get a lot of yeses from people. And I kept saying, you guys, no one knew what the show was. No one knew what the show was. No one knew what the show was. They knew your character maybe from good wife and good fight. If even that. Yeah.

And, you know, they really wanted to set the Columbo precedence of having people like yourself be the... Fun, splashy guest stars. Fun, flashy guest stars. And so they wanted to get out of the gate early. And Stephen had just moved to New York. And I was like, you guys, just cast Stephen, just cast even. And I was calling him and I was like, are you available? And he's like, I mean, sort of.

but I would do it for you, you know, and then it just worked out. And they were finally, they were like, duh, of course. And he could not have been more perfect. Yeah, he was perfect. And game. And for me, you know, there was a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, you know, trying to get a pilot off the ground and being the... This shows named after your character.

Yes, I was like, I was terrified. Oh, my God, you know, I'm finally getting this operational. opportunity to, you know, be the lead on a TV show. I don't, I really want to make sure that I give it, make this situation as ideal as possible to make it as great as I do. And you're a producer on it as well. I remember one of the scenes that I did, I played like an Andy Cohen type character. And I was in my office and there was a whole wall of glass looking out into the hallway. And then at the end of the glass wall, there was a door to get into the office.

And there's this scene of you trying to get into my office. And you just were like pressing against the entire wall, looking for which panel might open. But just like little things like that just brought me so much joy. And it was a whole thing like, okay, we got to like set up this shot. Yeah. This is the gold of the scene, actually. This is the fun part of watching her, you know, brand of. But that can exist in this kind of.

It's not a serious show at all, but it is, you know, there is a murder. There is a murder. There is. But that can exist in the same show. It's just so fun. I know, I know. I love it that we're kind of walking that line between comedy and drama, you know. It's fun.

It keeps it, I think, is what people want right now. They really want things that are, you know, cathartic, fun. They don't, because of the structure. of the show in the same way that Colombo is, you see the murderer, you know who the murderer is. I remember Jane Krakowski called me when she found out I was doing an episode

of the show and she was being asked to do the following episode. And she just read the script and she called me and she goes, I love the script, but I feel like, is it weird that in the very first scene, like you find out that what's happened? Yeah.

Like, I bet I'm the murderer. And like, what's the tension? I was like, no, Jane, that's the whole point. Yeah. It's like the audience knows what the conflict is and you watch the characters try and figure out how they did it

and she's like, oh, and then she goes like Columbo, I was like, yes, did they not pitch it delay? I don't know who didn't listen to their conversation, but that's definitely how we always talk about it and I think that just, you know, that takes the pressure off the audience. Yeah. Because

they're like, oh, okay, I don't have to I'm not, I'm stressed, wondering you know, who did it and I'm just going to see how Ellsbeth figures out how they did it. Right. And there's always that one little clue that the audience doesn't know. Yeah. That they find out. And it's just like a lovely little, you know, thing for someone to enjoy and then be able to go to sleep and not have nightmares.

Exactly. I mean, first of all, I have a few questions. I want to know where Elspeth carries an obscene amount of bags. Yes. That started in The Good Wife. Okay, so what was the impetus for that character choice? Was that something you discovered, or was that something that was written in a script? No, it was not even the script.

It was Brooke Kennedy, who was the producing director on The Good Wife. Oh, Brooke. Yeah, yeah, of course I know Brooke. So Brooke was directing one of the earlier episodes where Elspeth appeared, and she was like, I just feel like there's so much going on in her life. she would have a lot of things that she was always juggling when she comes in, you know. And is it an act, isn't it? Who knows?

Is it, or is it? Is it a fanny pack, Carrie? Well, I should introduce some fanny pack. I should. I should. That should be the next thing that Elspeth uses. It is New York after all. Tots are very, let me tell you, let me tell you, a choice that is made 15 years ago when you appear once a you,

becomes quite a different thing when you have to carry three tote bags for 14 hours every day. And I made the decision early, early on that the character, whenever the big gotcha scene happens where we come in to make the arrest, I don't need the bags anymore. So I never, those scenes, I never have to carry the bags.

Because they're like a crutch. You know, they're like a crutch for the character and she has everything she thinks she might ever need for that particular case. The audience is never, very rarely going to be privy to what's in there, but it's stuff that she's neat, you know, and I like that. I love it. And I do still give out tote bags to the guest stars, yeah. Oh, my God, it's so generous.

I love doing that. You are a very good number one on the call sheet. Oh, thank you. I feel like, you know, there is that thing, too, and I've talked with several people on this podcast, who have had, like, really successful moments later in their careers. And I think there's something that you bring with you when you get to have that moment. Like, you have been doing this for so long.

I mean, I think back to, like, when I saw you as Miranda in the park. Yeah. And that was so long ago. It was. It was a really long time ago. But, you know, you're now number one on the call sheet. I feel like there is something really wonderful about that experience. that you have brought with you from all these

incredible experiences you've had from like my best friend's wedding to like true blood to like being number seven on a call sheet or just being like a day player and then you get this moment to be number one you're the base in the name of the show and then just something as simple as you

bringing tote bags for the guest star is something I just feel like only someone who has had this career and this underbelly of your career would even think to do and I think it's really wonderful Well, thanks. Yeah, I do. It's not lost on me, you know, this gift. And, you know, it doesn't get to happen very often for anybody. You know, there are only so many television shows in the world. And I never thought it would happen. Of course, I wanted it to happen. But I never really assumed it would. You know, early on, you know, when we were first starting out, there was a different sort of expectation for,

women in the industry 30, you know, 30 plus years ago. It was a little bit more about younger, prettier, sexier, more, you know, whatever that image of that, not, or you were the, you were the wife of the week. Right. And so I was just like, okay, I'm just going to be the character actor and happy to do that. And I'm just going to do that. And, but they're not going to let that person, the character. person lead a show, you know, but it's so funny that this, it was this supporting little

character that they flopped down in the middle of, you know, something where we were following her, you know, and, you know, just feeling, like, so humble by that and kind of, you know, amazed. Still, I'm amazed when I should, whenever every time I see it that it says Elspeth, I'm like, I think I play Elspeth, you know, it's like, it's still like, it's still just like little disconnect of like, I'm the person who's playing that. Hard. That's so, wow. And so I always, my number one priority is to make sure that anyone who's coming on to play on the show feels 100% welcome. I know what it's like more than a lot of people. You do what it's like to walk onto a set and feel like you do not belong there. And it is really hard to do your work. That's right. When you feel that way.

Yeah. You know, and it's so easy, and our crew is amazing, to just make people feel welcome. And then everybody's going to do their own great work, and then we're going to make something fun. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we returned, Carrie tells me what it was like to be a part of the rom-com classic My Best Friend's Wedding. And she shares why Julia Roberts was mean to her while filming duplicity. Ooh, tea, are we about to stir some shit? Get it up. Oh, you've got to wait and seek. Be right back.

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That was my first. That was my first movie. It was your very first movie. Yeah. I mean, that goes down in my book is like one of the like rom-com classics of all time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was, and that was like when, you know, rom-coms were the queen of Hollywood.

Yeah. And not only have, but Julia Roberts was like the queen of the queen of Hollywood. Yep. She's also from Georgia. Oh, really? Okay. She's from Georgia and I'm from Georgia and stuff. So that was a fun connection when I worked with her.

Yeah, she was amazing. And we were, you know, 27, 28 years old at that time. And, you know, she was the top of her game that young. You know, and boy, did she, you know, did she show it, like on, you know, she was, that was a movie start. Oh, yeah. You know what I mean? And it was just like we, I was very, you know, nervous around her, but she was such a pro, you know, like to watch her do that, you know, it was, it was a good learning experience. But also it was like, you know, I was living in Chicago.

We were shooting there. you know, they give you this per diem and it was just like, oh my God, this is how... This is Hollywood's going to be. And, you know, to have that experience now because it's kind of gone now. Yeah.

I mean, that was a really high budget thing, you know? It was, they did not want for anything in the production values and they're shooting on film and the costumes and the lighting. And, you know, it was just, it was like the glamour. Yeah.

And now I'm hearing news. I don't know. No one's at, talk to me, that they're thinking about a sequel. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, my God. That's, it would be incredible. I'd be so happy.

It'd be so crazy, right? That'd be so crazy. You'd see, like, where did these characters end up? And I'm like, well, those, the twins need to be in there somewhere. Absolutely have to be in it. We've got to find out what happens. With those hats, same hats. And the script, they were called the vengeful sluts.

Done long. That's so good. Yes. It's so funny. And then you worked with Julie again in Duplicity, right? Yeah, and then I worked with Joy again. Yeah. Was there like a reconnection?

Like, did you like reminisce on my... You know, it was very interesting because that movie Duplicity, I really only had two or three days in it. You know, it was like a wonderful cameo, basically. And so I had shot the scene with Clive Owen in the bar, which is one of my favorite scenes I've ever gotten to do on camera. Yeah.

And then a month goes by before I'm on set again. And then I'm on set doing a very intense scene where Julie Roberts is staring at me, wanting me to die, because I had slept with her boyfriend. And I have to do that cry-on-kew thing. Yeah. Which, as you know, is a really... A lot of pressure. A lot of pressure, especially when I don't know any of the crew. I mean, I was only on the show, the movie for one day already.

And that was a month earlier. A month earlier. And then, you know, they got me there. They got me ready hair and makeup. And then I had to wait eight hours before I shot the seat. And, you know, you've got to, like, keep yourself in a vulnerable spot. To be ready if they're ready to go, yeah. So I saw her earlier in the day.

She gave me a big hug. And then she said, I'm going to be mean to you for the rest of the day. like she gave me a fair warning she was just like I'm not you know I'm not gonna be mean I'm just not gonna talk to you and I was just like and it was exactly what I needed

yeah because you don't want to like be chumming it up and then have to go and like cry and so it was they built the set they built it as a set so I you know they call me they're like ready for your

you know we're ready to go and the cameras are all set up we heartily rehearsed, and then I just went and sat down, and then she's just like, and I was like, pull, you know, I just started talking. It came. It came. And it was, but it was like the most high pressure acting experience, I think I had at that point. Yeah.

It almost felt like she was doing that more for you than for her. That's what I'm saying. I think she was. I think she was. And she very graciously, you know, the director had asked me, even in the audition, if you were to get this part, you know, what would you need on the day? And I said, I guess I would need you. Do you know, Robbins to be a dick to me?

Well, really, I didn't even think that was what I needed, but it turns out I did. And then, you know, we did the scene in it, and it went well. And then she had the whole crew clap. Oh. You know, it was very, it was a cool moment, you know. And then at the premiere of that, and then it's not like she and I are friends or anything. I didn't, you know, see her since then. But at the premiere, again, like, he was up there, Tony Gore was introing the film.

And he just, you know, he said Julia and Cliver here. And then also, you know, Carrie Preston, I can't wait for you to see her in the film. And then Julia screamed from the back of the audience, we love you, Carrie. And it was just like, wow, okay. Yeah. These little moments, you know, that make you. go, oh, wow, okay. All the hard work came off.

Yeah. When I was doing, I was with that, I think the holder was, maybe just had a screening. Oh, okay. And so a lot of your cast was talking about it. Yeah. And I was so excited to see it. I got to see it a few weeks later.

Yeah. Carrie, you were so incredible in that movie. Oh, thanks. Heartbreaking. It is such a, it's one of my favorite movies. I reference it a lot. I mean, I think Alexander Payne is a genius. He is a genius.

But that, that relationship that you have with Alexander Dumani is just so alive and nuanced and heartbreaking. It's really, I hope you're so proud of that. I'm so proud to be a part of that. It was such a lovely experience because Alexander, first of all, like, he spends so much time on a movie before he even shoots one frame. And you can tell by the time he gets to set, he is so this guy was as relaxed on day one when I met him early as he was when I came on the way he worked with with Dom Dominic who plays the kid who you know that was his first movie you know watch how he worked with him how Paul worked with him also Paul Jammati is you know one of a one of a handful of people that I've ever worked with that is so incredibly present that you can.

I can't even believe. I never saw the man look at his script. I never saw him struggle for a line. I never saw. He just was dropped into it in such an inspiring way. And it lived in way that it kind of permeated everyone around him. And so doing a scene with him, it didn't feel like we were doing anything except just what you and I are doing right now. Okay, yeah.

So all those. elements make for, you know, and watch Devine, just commanding that role and knowing her what she was contributing to it fully. Just watching that, it was really cool. I mean, I have experiences because I've gotten to work with some very talented people, but, you know, and in a moment like Devine, like, you know, she ends up winning an Oscar for that performance. And And then you go back and think, like, God, I watched that person create that role from the ground up. Yeah. It's really, I always feel very fortunate that I got a front row seat to such brilliant.

Yes. And this is not to like, Blospoke a bear ass, but I do feel, I felt that way when I was working with you. I mean, like, I was watching you create something that was really special with Elizabeth. And I know that so many people just love that character so much. Like the fact that I got to be with you on set and watch you figure out things like the glass thing and the door and then the bags. Yeah. All these wonderful things you did, I just, I felt very fortunate. I felt very blessed being on that set with you and that crew.

And I'm just, I don't know, I'm so happy that you're having this moment with this show and with this character that you are, I don't know, it just feels like it's an extension. you in a ways that, like, most times characters don't feel like an extension of someone, you know? Yeah, yeah. And I know you're having it involved doing this. I am. You're one of those people that is not afraid to say how grateful you are, which I think is also really refreshing. And I just am, I'm so proud of you.

Thanks. I know, I know. I feel like we were these little kids together. I mean, I was ahead of you. But when I think about you and I, these young, you know, people with stars and our, I'm eyes at the O'Neill Center when we were just these, like, I'm going to have to put that on our Instagram. Little babies, you know.

Yeah. Just go, you know, they're like, you know, serving playwrights. You know, we were there to, you know, make something and help a script come to life. And, you know, it's humbling. Yeah. It's humbling. I adore you. You too.

Thank you for doing this. Dinner is on me. Thank you. Truly. I love you. Love you. This episode of Dinner's On Me was recorded at San Sabino

in the West Village, New York City. Next week on Dinners On Me, you know her from her iconic performances as Janice Ian and Mean Girls and beloved shows like freaks and geeks and party down. It's Lizzie Kaplan. We reminisce about our time together during our short-lived sitcom The Class,

the lasting legacy of Janice in Mean Girls, and going from a scene-stealing supporting actress to leading lady in shows like Fleishman is in trouble and Fatal Attraction. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinner's 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. Dinner's 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. Alex Schumann assisted in the production of this episode. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans Dale She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tamika Balance Kalasney and Justin McKita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.