Sharon Gless
“Zsa Zsa is smart, funny and the finest brain surgeon in America!”
Can you hear me all right on my old phone? I’m using a landline because I thought it would last longer than my cell!”
Sharon Gless is calling from across the Atlantic to chat about her guest role in this week’s Casualty. She plays surgical supremo
Zsa Zsa Harper-jenkinson, former mentor to ED regular Dylan Keogh. of course, Sharon is most famous for playing the formidable Sgt Christine Cagney in hit
80s cop series Cagney & Lacey – and as she tells us how much she enjoyed being part of Casualty, we’re happy to report that we can hear her loud and clear… Did you know of Casualty already?
It’s a really famous show, so I’d heard of it, but we’ve never had the pleasure of seeing Casualty in the States, even though we love BBC shows here. So I did a bit of a crash course and learned the premise of the programme. And I was told – I hope that I’m not misquoting here – that I was the first American Casualty had f lown over to do the show. Isn’t that amazing?
We understand that Zsa Zsa has quite the reputation in her field…
Yes. She’s very, very smart – the finest brain surgeon in America, they say. She’s very big in spirit, and very funny. Dylan was a student of hers, and while I don’t want to give too much away, he calls her for help. You don’t think she’ll ever come – but she does!
Have you played a doctor before?
I never have – Zsa Zsa is my first. And she was absolutely worth waiting for. I can’t imagine any other show I’d rather do it for, I swear! She’s such a pro that I couldn’t make a mistake with any of the medical procedures – I even had to learn how to work in the medical gloves. But everyone was so kind and helpful.
Were there any big Cagney & Lacey fans among the Casualty cast?
I think so… I was sitting in make-up on my first day feeling a little shy because I didn’t know anybody, and Amanda Mealing [Connie] came in and bowed down to me. I was telling her, “Honey, these are dirty floors, get up!”. She was just so lovely. Everyone brought me into the Casualty family immediately. Jaye Griffiths [Elle] took me out to dinner and we had a good old time. We’re like new best friends now – we still text each other.
Amanda Mealing came in and bowed down to me on my first day!
Is Zsa Zsa set to reveal a side of Dylan that we haven’t seen before?
I gather that Dylan is a very stoic character – maybe that has something to do with having worked with Zsa Zsa, I’m not sure! He tends to roll his eyes when she pulls stuff, but there are some lovely scenes between the two
of them. And William Beck, who plays Dylan, is really a wonderful actor.
Would you fancy a return to Casualty – and are there any other British shows you’d be tempted to appear in?
I’m not sure I’d try a British accent – not with this voice! I’ve done three plays in the West End before, and the British have always been very kind to me. So if the part was right for me, I’d say yes in a minute. I’d be thrilled if Casualty invited me back. Zsa Zsa is a wonderfully written character, and I think you’re going to enjoy her…