Emmy Award-winning actress Patricia Heaton feels she has a “responsibility” when it comes to the entertainment content she puts out into the universe.
And while the “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle” actress has a penchant for and attraction to solid comedy and good script writing, she recently told Faithwire that her commitment to the craft — and to audiences — runs much deeper.
“I feel that I have a responsibility to put something into the culture which is enlightening and would add something positive to the culture,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t necessarily do a darker role or show or subject matter, but it still has to have some kind of enlightenment in it and it has to tell the truth of whatever the topic is.”
We sinners find it merciful. https://t.co/ito7VOdCHY
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 17, 2017
Heaton said that, with this in mind, she also believes that it’s essential to ensure that something is truly entertaining and that it offers people a viable respite to turn to at the end of a long day.
“When you turn on the TV … it’s really nice to have something that takes your mind off of your day and gives you a little bit of a break,” she said.
As for her nearly 30-year experience in Hollywood, Heaton said that she admires anyone who is able to get a show on the air or a movie into theaters, as it’s a “very, very, very difficult business.”
“I’ve been very fortunate that the two longest-running roles I’ve had have been very family-oriented,” she said. “‘Raymond’ has moved into this pantheon of classic comedies and ‘The Middle’ also has really been held up as such an example of really fine writing.”
As for her upcoming role as Edith the cow in “The Star” — an animated movie about the nativity as told through the eyes of animals that is set to releases on Nov. 17 — Heaton said that she loved seeing so many familiar names from across the Hollywood sphere join her in appearing in the family friendly film.
“What I like about this project is it has a number of names voicing the characters from all dfferent parts of Hollywood,” she said. “There’s a really nice combo of people involved in this project.”
Some of those stars include: Oprah Winfrey (Deborah), Gina Rodriguez (Mary), Zachary Levi (Joseph), Kelly Clarkson (Leah the horse), among many others.
As Faithwire previously reported, Heaton also said during her interview that Americans are “in difficult political times” and that she believes Christmas is a great opportunity to more deeply explore the meaning of life.
“Not to get depressing [but] life is short and I think it’s important to realize that you have to think beyond just today, just this minute, a vision about the world and your future and what you’re contributing to the world,” Heaton said. “Our lives here are really brief and the story of the nativity is about all of that and this gift we were given through the birth of Christ and his work on the cross that embues every aspect of our life with meaning.”