News from Sharon Gless

Dearest Bloggers -

I sound like Rosie O'Donnell, don't I? In my dreams. :) I wish I were that articulate. But I will do my best.

First, my husband, Barney, says you should never start anything with an apology, but I feel one is due, as I do tend to disappear into my life, and have not been very attentive to you - who mean a great deal to me. And for that I DO apologize. Forgive me?

I have spent the last several months in Miami shooting my series, "Burn Notice" for USA Networks. We finished our 2nd year (the second half of which will air starting in January). It was a very fun time, the ratings are wonderful - the demographics range from age 10 to age 80 - and we have just been picked up for our 3rd season, which I will start shooting in March. (Hopefully, if there IS an actors' strike, it will be over by then.)

My last day of shooting, Tyne Daly surprised me at the door of my dressing room. (Carole Smith was the "angel" who brought her to me). I took Tyne into the set, and I have never heard a crew go that quiet! They were in absolute awe. I pointed out to them that they never pay ME that kind of respect.:)

I still love working, and happily, they still let me do it. I went from "Burn Notice" to a brief shoot in Los Angeles, in Ed Harris' new movie, "Once Fallen." I only shot 2 days on it, but I wanted to work with Amy Madigan, who is fabulous, and all my scenes were with her. I played an old lesbian in a wheel chair who lives in a trailer park next door to Amy. We had such a good time. It is a drama, and she and I laughed for 2 days.

The next day I flew to Chicago to do a wonderful little film called "Hannah Free", written by the fabulous lesbian playwright, Claudia Allen. Claudia has written almost 30 plays (one of which I performed in 2000 called "Cahoots"), and this is the first one that has been transferred to film. And guess what I played - go ahead, guess - you got it - an aging lesbian who is stuck in a wheel chair!!.

It was fabulous - I played the title role - Hannah Free - with a group of wonderful Chicago actors. It was very low budget, and the response to it has been so favorable that they are raising the $ now for distribution. It spans the 70-year relationship of 2 women. It is funny and sometimes sad, and very timely considering the politics affecting the gay community today in the US. There was an actress playing me at 30 and one playing me at 10. I played Hannah from 50-80. I felt very old but had a wonderful time.

I just finished that last week, which brings you up to date. Tomorrow I have surgery on my hand which is going to keep me somewhat incapacitated for 3 weeks. The surgery and the economy will keep me out of the stores this Christmas. I am giving every member of my family a sheep or a llama or some bunnies or a goat or a pig or some honeybees. What????

I made a donation to the Heifer Society and you can pick different animals (in your family member's name) that will go to families in third-world countries (not to be eaten - that would be too weird) so that they can breed them, sheer them, etc. to sustain their families. Good, eh? I recommend it.:)

And on that note, I will close (and rest) with my love to each one of you - and to your families. I hope your holidays are warm and filled with laughter.

Thanksgiving has passed now, but I am going to back up a week just to tell you how grateful I am that you are all in my life. That has never changed. Nor will it ever.

My love to you all.

Always, Sharon

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