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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2008)
JUNE 13, 2008 jUStlOUt 147 Pretty in Pink You CAN see Leslie Jordan trips down the pink carpet eslie Jordan may be diminutive, but his wit packs a punch. Best known as Bev erley Leslie, Megan Mullally’s nemesis on Will & Grace, the acerbic 53-year-old Southerner is touring the country with a one-man show promoting his latest book, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. In both, he recounts some of his hilarious encounters with celebrities over his quarter-century career. I spoke via phone with Jordan about his life and his work, including one of my all-time favorite movies, Sordid Lives. L Floyd Sklaver: What was the genesis of Sordid Lives? Leslie Jordan: Long before the film there was the play. I am sober 10 years, and I was not sober when we did the play.... In fact, I went to jail five times during the run of the play. Every thing from drunk driving to several indiscretions I’d rather not discuss. I gave Del Shores a book of short stories years ago by one of my favorite Ken tucky writers, Bobby Ann Mason, called Shiloh and Other Stories. I said to Del, “You can write like this." So he wrote a story called “Nicotine Fit,” about three women trying to stop smoking, and it became the germ of Sordid Lives. He also had a short story called “The De-Homosexualization of Brother Boy.” FS: How did you create the role of Beverley Leslie? LJ: That part was written for Joan Collins, be lieve it or not. They wanted Joan to steal Rosario, the maid, from Megan’s character, and they were going to do a Dynasty catfight over a billiard table pulling their wigs off. And Miss Collins said, “I’m not having my wig pulled off.” My agent called and said: “They’re looking for a bitchy, Truman Capote-like character. Put on [your] white linen suit....” I walked in there chattering away like castanets. They didn’t even audition me. They said you are it. &Qrace! LJ: I’m a scene-stealer. I’m 4-foot-ll and have a Southern accent. I can steal anything. But it was like ver bal pingpong. No matter what I threw out [at Megan], it came back faster and high er. I thought, “I’ve met my match." The director would say, “Cut,” and I’d look at her and say, J “You bitch.” She’d just shove those titties at me walk away. F S Which of your char acters is most like you? LIPOATROPHY (SUNKEN CHEEKS)? YOU in the mirror again! SCULPTRA injections can help you look as young and healthy as you feel. DR. MARLA ROSS, a board certified dermatologist, is your local sculptra expert. — For consultation and treatment, call her at DGRMATt,^ ASSOCIATI LJ: Probably...gosh...I made a decision when I first got here, because I was told in 1982, when I arrived, that I would have to get rid of my accent...! remember thinking, “I’m never going to be Robert De Niro or Meryl Streep. And quite frankly I’ve never been asked to play a role I thought was more interesting than me.” So all the 503-245-2415 MB characters I play are really Leslie Jordan. FS: Tell me about My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. LJ: After I won the Emmy—I had to get that in—a dear friend at Simon &. Schuster relentlessly pestered me to write down these dinner party sto ries that I’m so famous for. What I started to write was, “1 had a series with George Clooney before he got famous.” Same with Billy Bob Thornton, Mark Harmon, Matt LeBlanc.... During the writ ing process, I veered into the recovery process. 11 À • FS: What finally sobered you up? LJ: I got arrested for the third DUI, and I got put in jail. Sentenced to 120 days.... On the 17th day 1 had a panic attack; I’ve always been a little claustrophobic...I thought I was going to start screaming and clawing my face. I said a little prayer, “Just get me out of here and I’ll ., never do alcohol or drugs again and I’ll help every one I can.” They let me out of jail because they needed the room for Robert Downey Jr. I had to share a holding cell with him. He was the top, and I was the bot tom. Bunk beds. FS: How has being openly gay W helped your career? W LJ: I don’t know that it did in the ’ beginning. [But] now it’s such a wonder ful time to be openly gay in Hollywood. I’m finding out that a little bit of fame gets you a platform—and a good table at a restaurant. Allen2 Law looks forward to celebrating with you at Prick 2008! --------------- h ily^Law < Famil C© Will: s/Estate Planning aS? Criminal aPDefense Employment 1 \ ♦ FS: Especially if you’re Out Going. © L eslie J ordan presents My Trip Down the & Pink Carpet 8 p.m. July I at Newmark gk Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway. Tickets E m A are $37.75-$48.75 from the box office * or Ticketmaster. F loyd S klaver wants to know about your event. E-mail k him at floydsklaverQ A drunk-driving arrest convinced Leslie Jordan to sober up. Bk comcast.net. ................ ■ A Allen1 Law, Luc 3 ■ 1 811 SW Naito P kwy ., S uite 420 Portland, OR 972£¿, (503) 241-^W info@allen21áw.cóm www.allen21aw.com www.gayportlandlawyer.com I
