Primetime Emmy Tally: Three
How She Got the Gold: Two for HBO's Olive Kitteridge, for writing and as an executive producer (2015), and a writing award for HBO's The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1995).
Now for the Noms: Three writing nominations, for HBO's Normal (2005) and If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000), and Showtime's The Baby Dance (1999). She also received a directing nod for The Baby Dance.
Olive's Big Win: "It was rather an out-of-body experience. It's easy to go into shock. I told myself to just catch that lovely wave and ride it to the stage. I'm happy I remembered to thank all my wonderful Olive collaborators.
But I did forget my son's name while I was up there. They started flashing a sign at me that said, WRAP IT UP. That's enough to make a mother's mind go blank."
Since You Asked: "It's still a bit baffling to me that Olive got to be so popular. She's neither young or sexy or hip or nice or someone you'd even want to have lunch with. She's cranky, judgmental, hates to be touched and is intolerant of those she regards as fools.
But just like all the Olives who have confounded us in our own lives, there's a tenderness that's hidden inside. That's the allure of Olive. She's a tough egg that we're just dying to crack."
The Write Stuff: "I know the right project when I see it. The clouds in my head part and the angels sing and it's clear that this is the piece for me."
Two for the Show: "I did enjoy toting those statues around on Emmy night. They're quite elegant — and heavy, too. They gave me a nice pair of biceps."
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