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?
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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
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♦
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