Lisa Ann Walter, Bette Midler.Photo:Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Monica Schipper/Getty
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Monica Schipper/Getty
Lisa Ann Walteris answering fans’ burning question about theAbbott ElementaryThanksgiving episode.
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter,Walter addressed whyBette Midlerdidn’t play her mother on the ABC sitcom after the actress asked for the role on her social media in earlier this year. The comedian, 61, revealed that logistics got in the way, leading toTalia Shirebeing cast instead.
“There had been so much discussion around it because of the whole thing with Bette Midler,” she began. “And when it wasn’t going to work out because of scheduling, they said they were talking about a couple of people and Talia was one of them.”
Walter recalled getting emotional at the thought of working with Shire, saying, “Literally, tears burst into my eyes. Isn’t that bizarre?Quinta [Brunson]said, ‘We’re talking to Talia Shire,’ and tears burst out of my eyes. I said, ‘I don’t know why I did that. I feel ridiculous. But she’s royalty,’ and Quinta just said, ‘She is.’”
Lisa Ann Walter, Talia Shire.Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Growing up, Walter said she and her family would watchThe Wizard of Ozon Thanksgiving, and later,The Godfather,in which Shire starred as Connie Corleone.
“When my mother was alive, we would putThe Godfatheron the way we watchA Christmas Storyat Christmas, just 24 hours of it,” Walter shared. “And I know that for Philly people, obviously, it’s theRockyconnection, but for my household, it was alwaysThe Godfatherand just the evolution of her acting over the years and how we always saw her as being kind of this little meek young woman and then she becomes powerful, I think it’s such a beautiful acting trajectory that she’s had in her career and she’s lovely to work with.”
In April, Midler, 79, joked on X (formerly Twitter) about wanting to joinThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hillswhen she took the opportunity to name more parts she hoped to get.
Bette Midler.Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Midler has worked withAbbott Elementarystars in the past and opened up about her friendship withSheryl Lee Ralph, who plays kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard in the series, in July. The pair filmed the recent filmThe Fabulous Fourtogether and “really bonded” over their roots in performing for a live audience, Midlertold PEOPLE at the time.
“We both come from the stage. I’ve been a fan of hers for a long, long time, ever sinceDreamgirls,” Midler said, referring to Ralph’s turn as Deena Jones in the original 1981 production of the Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen musical about the breakup of a 1960s girl group.
Ralph also appeared in showsThoroughly Modern MillieandWicked.
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Season 4 ofAbbott Elementarypremieres Wednesday, Jan. 8, moving to an 8:30 p.m. time slot and streaming the next day on Hulu.
source: people.com
