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 Ron

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So let me see if I understand this correctly. If your a conservative with an ounce of morals, nobody wants to work with you, but if your a cop hating liberal rapper you get invited to perform at the Whitehouse. No wonder tnis country is so
SCREWED UP!!!!!!!!!

By advas58

Messed up. So true.

Saturday 18 June

By ck

Well said!

Saturday 21 May

By jsstewart

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

conservatives and morals? Whatever makes you think they belong in the same sentence?

conservatives flaunt morality but do not practice it.

And be honest, you aren't angry with a rapper that doesn't like crooked cops, you don't like him because he (as well as the president) is black.

Most conservatives (and even a lot of liberals - although at least they are trying) are racist at heart, but are willing to lie through their teeth to deny it.

By Kevin

Keep getting all your information from Fox News, it will insure your continued ignorance.

Monday 23 May

By MJ

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You certainly have no clue as to what you are speaking of, so keep it shut until you do.

By Enough Already

Love you, Patricia. It is refreshing to see someone who acknowledges their faith and doesn't try to hide it or run away for it. It is sad that Hollywood pushes whatever religion is the flavor of the month and demeans religions that they wish would go away. No one or not one religion is perfect, but it is better to have some kind of path to follow than to settle for nothing.

By Coleen

Oh please Patricia. You have a job so quit whining. You are starting to sound like poor Sarah Palin. Maybe you didn't get the job because you weren't right for the part. You obviously are speculating because otherwise you would have grounds for a lawsuit. So tired of fake outrage. Be proud that you are a Christians and if you have to bear your cross for doing so, then do it with some dignity.

By Don Thompson

MAN MADE RELIGION, DOG DID ALL THE REST!

Sunday 22 May

By Scott

Your statement reminds me of the dislexic agnostic insomniac who lied awake at night wondering if there really was a Dog.

By Hello, Gorgeous!

Aren't the Hollywood left wing-nuts the ones who are always preaching "tolerance"? They are tolerant as long as you agree with them regardless of the subject matter. Good for you Ms Heaton.

By eleanor

Maybe she should keep her mouth shut then. It's not polite to discuss politics anyway. Says a lot about her as a person.
She always struck me as being an angry person.

By jeanie w

Ms Heaton, to ME you will always be "Everybody Loves Raymond"'s wife. I loved you in that role. You were women's heroine. Well lets face it. I love the entire cast too. I was heartsick when "Frank" died (in real life). I've seen "Deborah", "Ray", "Marie" and "Robert" in other tv shows and I didn't like any of them. Sorry about that! I've watched the reruns on cable so many times I think I can say all the role parts. Maybe if you hadn't warn that way-to-young for you page-boy hair style in your last role, I would have liked it better. Oh well..not my business..just know that as "Deborah" you were well loved no matter what "Marie" said.. lol.

By JustMyOpinion

I have always respected Patricia Heaton as an actress and stand-up person. It is a refeshing thing these days when someone is not afraid to stand up for what they believe, yet loves and respects those who don't think likewise.

By kittyinspace

how many typo errors could one article have? don't they proofread? How is it that this blog editor keeps their job, but I can't one? haha

By ken

this is just a ad by them to get you to buy thier stuff pretty slick i read it you read it

By Bill

I fear all you people who believe in religon are going to very dissapointed when you go to the worms and nothing happens. Of course you wont know it. what a lfe wasted.

By Wasatchgirl

What if YOU'RE the one that's disappointed?? Hmmmmm.

By Tommy

The left have NO tolerance for anyone whom they disagree. Hypocrites. Love Patricia Heaton and what she stands for.
Great Actress and a Breath of fresh air for Hollywood!

By evoyageur

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

I am a former Christian. I left Christianity BECAUSE of Christians and their "my way or the highway" attitude. I'm part Native and I enjoy going to Pow Wows to dance and give praise to the Creator as I see fit. Right away, the first words out of their mouths were "Devil worship!"

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