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)

Wednesday 18 May

By JustSaying

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@lara
Speaking of hypocrites....Don't forget about the conservatives who preach family values while divorcing multiple times and/or just plain cheating on their spouses with women AND men.

By catzs

I totally agree, not everyone wants to be bombarded by a bunch of made up fairy tales. I respect those who are religious just keep it to yourself. I like to deal with what's real in the world, not some ficticious characters.

By pk1138

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@JustSaying
Yeah, speaking of hypocrites. How about those left wingers going on and on about tolerance, acceptance, etc. but they never actually practice what they preach.

By Coleen

How about the hypocrites that are against abortion, but they are also against helping the mother once the child is born. Or how they are against abortion but for the death penalty and for unnecessary wars. I think we can all agree that there is a lot of hypocrisy in religion and politics.

Thursday 19 May

By Paul

Right . Keep your religion to yourself. Like the Jewish people or Scientologist do. And don't forget to keep politics to yourself too. You know, like all those Hollywood actors do.

Saturday 21 May

By sarms58

@ Coleen

How about the hypocrites that are against the death penalty but for abortion? I think we can all agree that there is a lot of hypocrisy in religion and politics.

By david

How is religion divisive? Sounds a little intolerent.

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sarms58 - I agree. Either way you say it - there are hypocrites on both sides. One is not better than the other.

By Andy

Good for you, Ms Heaton. Stick to your guns! Is there no proof reading anymore? This article is full of mistakes.

By knouvkabble

No one proof read this.

Examples:

1. "God will open any doors he wants to open and if he closes doors that's fine to." The last word should be 'too'

2 . corrections are in ** "Around the house if he t*R*ies 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.

3. . "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."

By maddie

I agree with both statements.
I am supportive of Ms. Heaton to hold to her beliefs.

Also, there are multiple mistakes with word usage. That's why spellcheck does not always work.
e.g. "to" in the last sentence of the second paragraph should be "too" meaning also.
Another one is in the seventh paragraph. "Then" should be "than". There are more but don't want to list all of them.

By Geo

These articles are usually written by 20-something "bloggers". They practically text these things to Popeater.

By mageen

Hey,no sympathy here. I'm of the same faith but I don't use it to distract people. Here in the workplace, I'm usually the one who tells other people - discreetly - "I'm sure you are very sincere about that and I also know that you want things to go smoothly here in the office and you don't enjoy being distracted by the very vibrant views of other people." Discovered that if you go in wearing your faith/politics/biases as a flag to begin with, things only go downhill. You have to be grown up and professional about these things.

By Clara

Whether it is your religion of just an opinion, everyone is entitled to it. Having said that, so is everyone else. I wonder if Sharon Stone wishes she hadn't made such dumb remarks about the Chinese that cost her an extremely lucrative Dior endorsement, whose largest customer target are Asian. Dior has an opinion, too. They don't want a spokesperson's politics alienating their client base. So what would have been smarter? Keeping one's opinion private or "I just gotta say it because I can...?" It also alienated the largest cinema owner in China, who refuses to play her movies. That might not be such a loss given her bombs, but when will these people remember that not everyone will separate someone's talent from their persona... and they don't have to...

By suziq2476

As Christians, we believe we are on earth by God and for Him. We are supposed to spread His word. I don't shove anything in anyone's face, but I never miss the chance to speak of Him and the blessings my family and I have received. I'd rather be in His favor than man.

By William

Thumbs up Mrs.Heaton
You go girl.

By Starla

How right leaning is the catholic church with their man/boy sexcapades? Disgusting! I feel so bad for those poor abused kids.

By lk

Sounds like a bit of catholic bashing to me, what about ALL the other religious groups who have covered up the young boy sodomizing.

By Larry

The Catholic Church is corrupt corporation so yes very right-wing. All one needs to do is consider that even posthumously it hasn't disavowed the evil of Adolph Hitler.

Tuesday 31 May

By Debbie

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@STARLA:

What?!? How is having sex with underage boys "right-leaning"? You're out of your mind.

And @LARRY: It's funny how the Catholics get bashed all the time for being corrupt, yet there are many religions which are corrupt. I'd say those polygamist off-shoot religions and radical Islam is just as bad, if not worse. Why don't you people ever put THEM down as well? Hmmm...

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