-Our next guest is a Tony-nominated
and Emmy Award-winning actress you know
from films such as "The Truman Show" and "Legally Blonde"
and shows such as "The Practice" and "Two and a Half Men."
She's currently starring in "The Stand In,"
which is in select theaters, on demand, and on digital now.
Please welcome to the show Holland Taylor, everybody.
How are you, Holland?
-I'm thrilled to be here.
I can't believe I've never been on your show.
I'm so glad to see you this way.
-I know. I am both thrilled that you're finally here
and heartbroken it's not in person.
It has been a very long time since I saw you in person,
and that time was in an airport.
And while I feel you were happy to see me,
you were far happier to see my dog.
-Well, as a matter of fact,
I just found out you're on Instagram.
Because up until now, I've been following your dog.
You're also a presence.
-Yeah, she's got a real social-media following.
This is a video that you and Sarah Paulson took,
right, that we're gonna show?
-Yes, I believe so.
The fastest tail wagger in history.
-Here it is. I mean, obviously she's fan of yours.
Look how Frisbee reacted.
-Hello, hello.
Hello. Hello. Hi.
Oh, my goodness.
Hi.
-[ Laughs ]
When I told her you were coming on tonight,
she waved the tail, knocked over a glass of water.
It was a mess.
-You know, we actually go to that page
and look at pictures of her every so often.
Very soothing. She's so darling.
She's the most delicious dog.
-She's going to be so happy to hear this,
because ever since we had kids,
she feel like she's not getting this level of attention.
-My favorite picture of her is when she's on the --
it's from behind the couch, and you just see her head just tilt.
Beautiful big room.
-You and Sarah just got a dog through this time
that I think a lot of people
wisely have chosen canine companionship
during this difficult year.
-Yes, it's wonderful.
There's a dog park right catty-corner from our house.
And most of the dogs being walked there
are new to that family.
They're puppies and young dogs. and they have been rescue --
They're almost all rescue dogs.
And it's a thing in this pandemic, I'm sure,
all over the country.
There's lots of new puppies.
And not only that, but these young dogs
have had an unusual amount of time with their parents
because most people are home.
So, it's a great beginning for millions and millions of dogs.
-Did you guys become fast friends, you and the dog?
Did you take to each other immediately?
-Oh, yes.
Not as darling as Frisbee in a way
'cause she has her standoffish ways.
She's a mixed bag, as we all are.
-Very fair.
You've had a lot going on this year,
which is a strange thing to have
at a time when you also can't go out and promote it in person.
You have this film "Hollywood" with Ryan Murphy,
the "Bill & Ted" movie.
Have you enjoyed not having to leave the house for press,
or have you found it difficult? -Not really.
First of all, I mean, it's been a frightening year, hasn't it?
I mean, we've all been in an odd emotional state.
And so you retreat to your home.
Well, you have to stay in your home.
And it should feel safe, of course.
You have to go on talk shows,
and you have to do a lot of press.
I've had like five things have opened -- or five or six things.
And to be in your house seeking safety and comfort
and then having to get your slap on
and appear on television is a very strange experience
'cause there's no place safe.
Also, I never wear makeup at all during this whole year,
except when I'm doing something like this.
So I put makeup on and I see myself,
and I look like, you know,
an ancient hooker still working in Vegas.
It's a shock from what I usually --
-As long as you're still working.
That's the important thing.
-I'm working, baby.
I'm about to go to work on something, too.
I'm gonna be working in Pittsburgh for like six weeks.
That's gonna be something during this pandemic.
-That's great and, you know, obviously very exciting.
Another thing that was exciting,
and I know it's sort of put on pause now,
you played Ann Richards in a play called "Ann."
That was your idea.
And you were about to do it in California for the first time.
Is that -- Of the roles you've played,
does that one hold a special place in your heart?
-That one really, you know, it wasn't a job.
It was a mission.
I didn't think of it like an idea.
It really flooded over me truly like an inspiration,
the only thing that ever happened like that in my life.
I was in my 60s. So that's really remarkable.
And I created -- It was a very long process,
years in the creation,
and I did it all over the country
and on Broadway, certainly.
And it was, you know --
I wanted that great American patriot to be known
and still around to inspire people, because she does.
So that is my greatest achievement of my life.
That is for sure, and I don't think of it as a job.
-I know you were lucky enough to get know Ann Richards,
who was the governor of Texas.
And you also then had to do,
I think when you decided this was a play you were going to do,
a great amount of research on her.
-Oh, the research is where I got it all.
And for some reason, I don't know,
everybody around her felt that I could do this.
And the doors were opened.
And I've become very good friends
with lot of her closest people who were friends
and also part of her administration,
one and the same.
And I really deep dive for about three years
before I put pen to paper.
And I just hoped that if I created like a hologram of her,
some of the inspiration would come along with it, and it did.
And so when people see me on the street
and they compliment me on that, it's so great
'cause they don't say, "You were so great."
They saw, "I saw your play. I was so inspired.
She was so great."
That's exactly what I wanted.
So, I was very lucky.
-Did you do it -- Did it premiere in Texas?
Was that the first place you did it?
-Yes, we did it in Galveston, Texas,
the first time at the opera house there.
And we did it at the Paramount in Austin.
Then we did it at the Empire in San Antonio.
And then we did it at the great Shubert in Chicago,
which is great theater town.
And then we did it at the Kennedy Center.
That was a great invitation.
That was truly thrilling on the main stage there.
And then we did it at Lincoln Center.
-Were the stakes higher for you doing it in Texas
for the first time, the place where people
were maybe the most familiar with her, obviously?
-I was terrified. And I got much better.
I mean, I worked with a dialect person, always.
And I was also constantly refining the play
and working on it.
So I would learn a great deal every run.
And I also had to always shorten it,
because you have to keep it very tight
as we headed towards Broadway.
And so when I opened it, I was terrified
'cause I was opening it in her backyard.
And the play started,
and I literally heard a gasp in the audience.
And that's Paul Huntley's wig, I think, got that.
And it was open sesame from there on.
For some reason they just said, "Yeah, we're buying this."
-That's so exciting.
And that's such wonderful feedback to get from fans.
I also want to ask, because you had such a diverse career,
you know, a storied career
that's ranged everywhere from drama to comedy.
Is there something specific that people most approach you about
when they see you on the street?
-"Legally Blonde" is probably the most because of that line.
"If you're gonna let one stupid prick ruin" --
I can't even say it. That wonderful line.
"If you let one stupid prick ruin your life,
you're not the girl I thought you were."
Something like that. People love that.
-It is certainly a multigenerational
good piece of advice.
-It was a great role.
It's wonderful to play a great teacher, which she was.
-Well, it's been such an honor to have you here.
I really do appreciate you giving us the time.
And thank you so much. -It was my pleasure.
And would you please tell Frisbee she's a very good girl?
-I might just play the tape 'cause it's so much better
coming from you than it is from me.