Patricia Heaton to Debut in New Movie - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 11-22-2005, 11:30 PM

Patricia Heaton to Debut in New Movie

(AP) Patricia Heaton, who won two Emmys for her role on the CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," poses...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Her nine years playing a no-nonsense wife on the CBS hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" proved to Patricia Heaton that family strife has universal appeal.

"Everyone related to 'Raymond,'" says the two-time Emmy winner, because "family emotions are a big deal." No surprise, then, that the actress, in her first big post-"Raymond" role, is starring in TNT's "The Engagement Ring," which she describes as a "sort of comic opera of grand emotions."

Premiering Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern, "The Engagement Ring' is a romantic story about the interwoven family lives of rival vintners of Italian heritage in California's Napa Valley (though most of the film was shot around Victoria, British Columbia).

Heaton, who is also the film's executive producer, plays Sara Anselmi, whose desire to merge the two vineyards in order to create a new vintage heightens long-simmering resentments.

Heaton's husband, David Hunt, plays Sara's cold-hearted, business-minded fiance, his ear constantly pressed to a cell phone. Vincent Spano is Tony Di Cenzo, a member of the rival family, whose very different freeform attitude toward life and love stirs Sara's untapped emotions.

The senior generation in the families experience equally complex romantic entanglements, marked by fate and choice. "In a way I'm the love interest" exclaims Lainie Kazan, 65, who plays Sara's mother, Alicia. Despite a girlhood romance with Tony's uncle (Tony Lo Bianco), Alicia married Sara's father (Chuck Shamata).

Kazan says she responded instantly to the script's "visceral emotions" because, "I have those feelings, big feelings." Heaton, who had nurtured the film project for several years, says she was attracted to the script's exploration of "true love, and what it is, and how do you know what it is. Is it just chemistry, or is it years and years of commitment and being together and hanging in there building a history? And how do you find both?"

As the mother of four sons, ranging in age from 6 to 12, Heaton knows quite a bit about finding such a balance in life. Snatching time for a quick lunch at a coffee shop near her Los Angeles home, the 47-year-old actress exudes the air of someone who can cope. But she explains that it was probably a little easier to organize her life when she was locked into the comfortable routine of sitcom production, where "the schedule gave a lot of time to be with the kids, be home, make good money, and have fun. And really what more could you ask for!"

Heaton and her husband run a production company, Four Boys Films, and she's in the "early, early" stages of developing a possible sitcom for herself. She'll play someone, she says, "fairly close to who I am."

Other projects from Four Boys, which produced "Ring," include a documentary feature called "The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania," a portrait of small town America, and "Amazing Grace," a feature film, to be directed by Michael Apted, about William Wilberforce, an 18th century English anti-slavery activist.
Heaton says she and her husband like to seek out stories that "are fairly uplifting," and that their goal is to "explore humanity without being either sentimental or nihilistic."

As she moves on, she does so with no regrets about "Everybody Loves Raymond" ending. "It was a wonderful nine years, but I think it was really time to go."

Is she bothered at all by the fame and relentless recognition that "Raymond" brought? "Bothered? Me? You're kidding! All my life I've waited for that moment. People say, 'Oh, you must get so tired of it.' I say, 'I didn't work in restaurants and hotels all those years in New York so people would ignore me!' I'm really at a point where I really enjoy it."

Brian Damage · 11-22-2005, 11:57 PM

I love Patricia!

BiggestLeahFan · 08-12-2006, 02:55 PM

OMG!! I just watched it, and I have to say that I absolutely loved it!! SHE WAS GREAT!!

JesseElizabeth07 · 08-12-2006, 07:51 PM

OMG i know it was awesome, i loved it. it's my new favorite movie!

BiggestLeahFan · 08-16-2006, 04:58 PM

same here!! and after moulin rouge, I never thought there would come a day when i got a new fav movie!

11-22-2005, 11:30 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Patricia Heaton to Debut in New Movie Patricia Heaton to Debut in New Movie (AP) Patricia Heaton, who won two Emmys for her role on the CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," poses... LOS ANGELES (AP) - Her nine years playing a no-nonsense wife on the CBS hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" proved to Patricia Heaton that family strife has universal appeal. "Everyone related to 'Raymond,'" says the two-time Emmy winner, because "family emotions are a big deal." No surprise, then, that the actress, in her first big post-"Raymond" role, is starring in TNT's "The Engagement Ring," which she describes as a "sort of comic opera of grand emotions." Premiering Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern, "The Engagement Ring' is a romantic story about the interwoven family lives of rival vintners of Italian heritage in California's Napa Valley (though most of the film was shot around Victoria, British Columbia). Heaton, who is also the film's executive producer, plays Sara Anselmi, whose desire to merge the two vineyards in order to create a new vintage heightens long-simmering resentments. Heaton's husband, David Hunt, plays Sara's cold-hearted, business-minded fiance, his ear constantly pressed to a cell phone. Vincent Spano is Tony Di Cenzo, a member of the rival family, whose very different freeform attitude toward life and love stirs Sara's untapped emotions. The senior generation in the families experience equally complex romantic entanglements, marked by fate and choice. "In a way I'm the love interest" exclaims Lainie Kazan, 65, who plays Sara's mother, Alicia. Despite a girlhood romance with Tony's uncle (Tony Lo Bianco), Alicia married Sara's father (Chuck Shamata). Kazan says she responded instantly to the script's "visceral emotions" because, "I have those feelings, big feelings." Heaton, who had nurtured the film project for several years, says she was attracted to the script's exploration of "true love, and what it is, and how do you know what it is. Is it just chemistry, or is it years and years of commitment and being together and hanging in there building a history? And how do you find both?" As the mother of four sons, ranging in age from 6 to 12, Heaton knows quite a bit about finding such a balance in life. Snatching time for a quick lunch at a coffee shop near her Los Angeles home, the 47-year-old actress exudes the air of someone who can cope. But she explains that it was probably a little easier to organize her life when she was locked into the comfortable routine of sitcom production, where "the schedule gave a lot of time to be with the kids, be home, make good money, and have fun. And really what more could you ask for!" Heaton and her husband run a production company, Four Boys Films, and she's in the "early, early" stages of developing a possible sitcom for herself. She'll play someone, she says, "fairly close to who I am." Other projects from Four Boys, which produced "Ring," include a documentary feature called "The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania," a portrait of small town America, and "Amazing Grace," a feature film, to be directed by Michael Apted, about William Wilberforce, an 18th century English anti-slavery activist. Heaton says she and her husband like to seek out stories that "are fairly uplifting," and that their goal is to "explore humanity without being either sentimental or nihilistic." As she moves on, she does so with no regrets about "Everybody Loves Raymond" ending. "It was a wonderful nine years, but I think it was really time to go." Is she bothered at all by the fame and relentless recognition that "Raymond" brought? "Bothered? Me? You're kidding! All my life I've waited for that moment. People say, 'Oh, you must get so tired of it.' I say, 'I didn't work in restaurants and hotels all those years in New York so people would ignore me!' I'm really at a point where I really enjoy it."

11-22-2005, 11:57 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I love Patricia!
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-12-2006, 02:55 PM	#3
BiggestLeahFan BiTE ME!!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2006 Location: The Beautiful California Posts: 166	OMG!! I just watched it, and I have to say that I absolutely loved it!! SHE WAS GREAT!!
	__________________ xoxox .:alexandria:. [[LRG]]

08-12-2006, 07:51 PM	#4
JesseElizabeth07 Jessica Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 32	OMG i know it was awesome, i loved it. it's my new favorite movie!
	__________________ Debra: You know what, I'm tired! Could you just call yourself an idiot?

08-16-2006, 04:58 PM	#5
BiggestLeahFan BiTE ME!!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2006 Location: The Beautiful California Posts: 166	same here!! and after moulin rouge, I never thought there would come a day when i got a new fav movie!