Carol Burnett’s Experience on Palm Royale, Wordle Addiction, and Ideal Co-Star
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.
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.