Patricia Heaton Has Lost Potential Roles Because of Her Politics

By Rob Shuter Posted May 18th 2011 11:25PM

Known around left-leaning Hollywood for her conservative stances on weighty issues like abortion and stem cells, 'Everybody Loves Raymond' star Patricia Heaton is happy to explain how important her Christian faith is to her and how it shapes her views and career choices.

"My feeling is all these things come from God and as long as I know I'm staying in line with Him, I don't have to worry if there is backlash," she told me during a visit to AOL's New York offices. "God will open any doors he wants to open and if he closes doors that's fine to."

Telling me that she has many gay friends and doesn't oppose gay marriage, Patricia gets frustrated being automatically lumped together with other conservatives, a characterization she says has cost her possible work.

"We know for a fact there are some people who have said they wouldn't want to work with us because of our politics," she said, with her husband David Hunt adding, "We get lumped in with lunatics."

So instead, Patricia has teamed up with her director-husband to produce and distribute their own show, 'Versailles,' a new 8-part comedy web series airing on My Damn Channel. Patricia plays a deceased B-movie actress whose presence looms large over her two children (one played by David) as they produce a public access talk show. Watch the first episode below.

"Around the house if he ties to tell me how to do something I say don't tell me, don't control me. But when we did this he was terrific as a director. I was nervous about having him direct me," Patricia tells me.

"I don't think I could have afforded her if we weren't married," David jokes. "I was a bigger star then she was when I met her. She owes me. I took a decade off my career to raise the kids. Plus, a big bonus is she gets to sleep with the director."

It wasn't until she hit 35 that Patricia's career really took and she spent years struggling and sleeping on friends' futons before 'Raymond' made her rich and famous.

She also isn't at all surprised that the Britneys and Lindsays of the world crash and burn being so success so young.

"Too much money and too many 'yes' people around you at early age. Fame didn't come to me until I got married and had kids. When we got married neither of us had anything," Patricia tells me. "I've let go of needing to be an to an actor so if that pipeline shuts down I wouldn't be upset. I'm perfectly happy."

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Tags: David Hunt, Patricia Heaton, Versailles

Comments

(618)

Saturday 21 May

By tigger

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You lib freak !
Take your meds..........NOW !

By Olivia

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So is being rude and Ms. Heaton certainly is that.

By MaryM

YES, I cannot agree with you more!

By Kent

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If you read the Bible, Jesus calls upon his followers to spread the faith. I know a number of Christians who believe that a Christian who won't talk about his or her faith, let alone try to convert people, aren't good Christians.

By B

You feel the need to share views on religion in the negative...how is that different?

By RAL

If you feel that you should have the courtesy to stop bashing the rest of us over the head with YOUR religion. Atheism seems to be tied with the RADICAL Muslims as far as lack of tolerance for others that are not in their faith.

By brrrrk

We all are judged by what we say or do... that's just the way it is. As a liberal leaning person living in the very conservative South, I've learned that getting and keeping a job is very much dependent upon how vocal you are about your political views. We'd all be better off is we kept our religious and political views to ourselves in the work environment... but if you can't, well you just better hope that most of the people that you work with agree with you. And that's especially true if you work in a "right to work" state.

By Jack

Strange, but it seems that non-believing liberals are the ONLY people who claim that religon is the most divisive force on the planet. The truth is that selfishness is the most divisive force on the planet. Think about it...

By Bob

Only stands to reason. "Hollywood" is so invested in immorality for entertainment that it cant even see beyond it.
Christians are looked on as weird, bizarre, clueless, uneducated, ignorant and fools. But this is no surprise, Christ told us it would be this way.

By Cayce58

Wars are fought for land and wealth. Our genetic programming to claim a territory as Chimps do and our greed are the most divisive.

Sunday 22 May

By foulkeblows

She has every right to say whatever she pleases. That's what the first amendment is all about. If you don't like what she has to say, that's fine. No one is telling you have to change your opinions. I support Patricia's right to speak her mind.

Monday 23 May

By Leslie Miller

My religion is a part of my life. I will not leave it at home or church. Too many people made this country and made it great by NOT leaving it at home. MLK changed the world by not leaving it at home. Leave your sex life at home. People like you are why this country is a place to FLEE from.

By fredd

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Why don't you keep your opinions on religion to yourself ?

By Brian

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By chefacree

Religon is the most divisive force on the planet. Keep your religon but keep it to yourself. PLEASE!

I've met just as many pushy, obnoxious atheists as I have religious nutjobs. I think maybe you mean just pushy people. And before you expound on the "religion kills" tack, remember Mao and Stalin (biggest murderers of all time) were avowed aetheists.

By Bill

Well said

Tuesday 24 May

By gary mac

Today, being gay is a religion.

Wednesday 25 May

By verbatim

Wow, so tolerant of other people's views.

Tuesday 31 May

By Debbie

TO KEVIN:

What do you mean, "kill the babies, save the animals"? First of all, I don't know any true, caring liberal who wants to kill babies. Second, I've had enough of heartless wackos like you who seem to have a problem with helping animals who are suffering. Say what you want about "Liberals", but the worst kind of people are the ones like you who don't care about what happens to innocent animals and yet you still think you're normal.

Monday 06 June

By lana

Please open your mind and try not to be so limited in your thinking. Everyone has social opinions and moral values whether you're a Christian or not. Why should Christians be the only ones who can't speak out about their opinions and values? Laga Gaga is continually spouting off her political and social opinions. Is that okay because she's liberal? Would you tell Patriicia Heaton to keep quiet about her opinions because they are influenced by her faith? And you think conservatives are narrow-minded?

Wednesday 18 May

Religon is the most divisive force on the planet.Keep your religon but keep it to yourself.PLEASE!

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