Even Carol Burnett Has a Dream Co-Star: ‘Wouldn’t It Be Wonderful If She Did a Guest Spot on ‘Palm Royale?’”

Carol Burnett certainly doesn’t need any more accolades to confirm her legendary status: In a career that has spanned more than six decades, she became a household name thanks to the groundbreaking Carol Burnett Show (1967- 78), and has shined on major mediums from Broadway to films. She’s earned Emmys, Golden Globes, a Tony and a Grammy, with only an Academy Award missing from her mantel. But Burnett isn’t pining to get EGOT status. “I don’t think movies are my deal,” Burnett says plainly when asked about it. But Palm Royale , Abe Sylvia’s comedy series about a woman infiltrating Palm Beach’s high society, was very much her deal, especially when she heard Kristen Wiig would play the lead character. Burnett, Emmy nominated for her supporting role in the series, talks to THR about playing Norma Dellacorte, making new girlfriends on the show and her lucky Wordle wins.

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Congratulations on your nomination — you made history as the oldest female comedy acting Emmy nominee, after winning earlier this year for your variety special.

I have to say, I was very surprised. I was in a coma for four episodes, so I could maybe see, “OK, we’re going to be nominating somebody for best sleep!”

You’ve done countless TV shows. What spoke to you specifically about Palm Royale ?

All they had to do was say who the rest of the cast was. When they said Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Laura Dern, Ricky Martin, Leslie Bibb, Julia Duffy, on and on and on, I said, “OK, I’m in. I don’t care what you want me to do!” And then I found out what they wanted me to do, and I was doubly pleased. Everybody in it was so dear and sweet. We had a lot of fun. Most of my scenes were with Kristen and Ricky, and it was just a pleasure. And then I made a bunch of new friends — young friends — and it was just like a friendly club. And I think Kristen’s last episode, when she had a nervous breakdown, that was a master class in acting. She tore it up. She was so wonderful, and she had to keep doing it all day. I don’t know how she did it.

Norma was supposed to be unconscious for the majority of the show, but once you signed on, they rewrote the part because they were like, “Carol Burnett can’t be in a coma this whole season.” Can you talk about the change in script?

When she starts to come out of it, I asked Abe, “Am I talking yet?” And he said, “Not yet,” so the character is trying to talk, but nothing’s coming out right. And so he said, “Just do gibberish.” He said, “Just go with it, but keep the intent behind what you’re saying.” I had a lot of fun doing that, because it was all improvisation.

Your performance also has such an incredible range, with a lot of understated comedy.

It was fun to do. Of course, it’s fun to find out that she really isn’t Norma.

I didn’t see that coming at all.

Me neither. I remember Abe kind of halfway through saying, “you know, Norma really isn’t who she says she is.” And I thought that’s intriguing. I will certainly find out more in the second season, because I don’t know what’s going to happen to her. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding plot twists and everything, which is really fun for sure, you just don’t know what’s going to happen. Everybody’s got a secret, it seems. Maybe it’ll come out during the second season.

What was your favorite scene to shoot? I can’t imagine staying composed while Kristen Wiig tries to smother you with a pillow.

I had the most fun. I loved it all, I really did. But I have to say, when I first started shooting, I’m in the coma, right? So I get up out of bed at 5 in the morning, go to the studio, get made up, put on my costume, and go right back to bed. Kind of a good gig.

You’ve spoken about how much of a fan of Kristen you are. You always wanted to work with her, and now you did. What does it feel like knowing that she watched reruns of your show when she was a child, and that it would influence her performances on Saturday Night Live ?

I was very flattered because even though I’m 100 years older than she is, I was watching her on Saturday Night Live , just gobsmacked at the talent, and when Abe said, “Kristen is going to be the lead,” I jumped at the chance. Also, I’m such a fan of Allison and Laura. Allison and I Wordle. Do you play Wordle?

I used to.

We Wordled every morning. Allison, she was on a roll. She got it in two [tries] the past couple of days! I hope I have more scenes with her, too, in the second season, and Laura. I think Ricky’s character is going to survive, unless Ricky Martin himself is going on tour, then they have to kill him off! ( Laughs .) He was so delightful. I thought he was so good. He was so there when we were doing the scenes together and so into it and prepared. He’s such a delightful person in person, too.

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Are you going to see him on tour?

I would if he’s around here! Yeah!

Back to Wordle. I heard you also play with Charlize Theron and David Crane. Do you guys still share scores?

Yes! How did you know that? Also, I’m name-dropping, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Every morning with Allison, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Crane and Charlize.

When you and Allison were on set, would you be in separate rooms competing?

No, not when we’re working! I do have the distinction, though, and I’m going to brag, although it’s a crapshoot, I have gotten it in one [try] six or seven times. That’s just a wild guess, but my gosh, it was just weird! One time, my husband and I were talking about my mother, who had a parakeet years ago whose name was Stash, and then we just put that in, and that was it! We’ve got it with “bacon,” “queen,” “talon” — because we were talking about trimming our cat’s nails. I said, “My gosh, they’re looking like talons!” We put that in, and that was it. It doesn’t mean we’re smart. It just means we had a wild guess.

Everyone on the show has talked about what they’ve learned from watching your work. What have you specifically learned from Kristen?

Well, when you’re working and you’re doing a scene, you have to really listen to the other person, not just wait for your cue. And Kristen, and all of the ladies, are masters at that. And I’ve always tried to do that. But it sparked me even more.

Who do you dream of working with but haven’t yet?

Meryl Streep! Years ago, I wanted to do a two-woman special with her. She was busy at the time, and was so sweet, because not only is she a brilliant actress, but she sings up a storm. Also, she’s funny. She does comedy beautifully, and so that would have been a lot of fun to do. That ship has sailed, but I am still a great admirer of hers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she did a guest spot on Palm Royale ?

Do you need to call Abe and tell him that?

I can suggest it! But there’s another person, too, I love: Hannah Waddingham. Wouldn’t she be great for one of those roles in Palm Royale ? We’re fans of each other, so I was thrilled when she came up to me last year at the Emmys. I was a presenter, and so was she, and we just had a great conversation. She couldn’t have been sweeter.

Are you wanting to EGOT?

I don’t think movies are my deal. I don’t know. If something came along… Do you watch TCM? They show all the old movies, and of course, I’m hooked on it because I was raised going to those movies. I remember when I saw the first runs when I was eight or nine or 10 years old, so I watch it all the time. And a few weeks ago, my husband and I were at an event, and one of the hosts of TCM is Dave Karger. We ran into him, and I told him, “I just love watching TCM.” And my husband says, “we’ve got an idea we’d love to pitch to you.” And he said, “say one time you’re showing Mildred Pierce , the whole movie with Joan Crawford, then you show our takeoff on it that we did on my show. And so they jumped at the chance. So they’re going to show seven of them: we have Double Indemnity , which we call “Double Calamity.” We have Gone With the Wind , The Heiress , Torch Song , Born to Be Bad , A Stolen Life … They’re gonna show it in December.

This story first appeared in the August 14 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe .

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