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MARTHA BYRNE (Lily, ATWT)
Outstanding Lead Actress Nominee
CBS.com chatted with current nominee and past Emmy winner Martha Byrne about how this nomination is different - and what she would have liked to wear on Emmy night, but won't.
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CBS.com: Congratulations!
MARTHA BYRNE: Thank you.
CBS.com: Where were you when you found out the news?
MARTHA BYRNE: I actually was watching The Early Show. I came back from my Pilates class, literally walked in the door and went upstairs and they were opening up the envelope for [Outstanding] Lead Actress. I was standing there with my husband and I thought, “Oh, this is a bad omen” because I’ve never heard my name announced. I’ve always been on the wrong channel or [something] – I’ve never actually seen it happen. I was shaking when they read my name because it was the first one. My husband [gave me] a big hug and a kiss. It was great.
CBS.com: What was your reaction when you heard that they are eight Lead Actress nominees this year?
MARTHA BYRNE: They kept going and I was saying to my husband, “Ssh, ssh, ssh! I don’t know what’s going on!” [Laughs] I’m like, “Wow, there are a lot of names.” I didn’t realize how many at that point because I missed a couple. I think there was some sort of tie, I would imagine. There was one year when there was a four-way tie and they didn’t put anybody’s name in of those people, and we only had three nominees for Lead Actress. So, I guess they made a call of whether or not [to include the names] – unless we all had the same number, I have no idea what happened exactly. But it’s great for all the networks, [they all] got covered and I think it’s great for the broadcast to have each network represented.
CBS.com: What was the reaction like on the set?
MARTHA BYRNE: Oh, it was exciting. We had a lot of nominations. We have a very supportive cast and it’s very much a team environment. We’re happy to be in the game. It’s just a fun time. It’s fun for the show. We really do enjoy each other’s company. We always have a good time together. You know, I’ve been there years where we didn’t have any nominations. It’s much more fun this way! [Laughs]
CBS.com: What was on your pre-nomination reel?
MARTHA BYRNE: We picked the episode where Lily comes home after being in Chicago with Dusty and Holden won’t let her in the house and says, “If you don’t go to the mental institutional, you’ll never see your kids again.” I decide to go because of that reason. I think it was very simple in a sense that it was with Jon [Hensley, Holden]. You’re only as good as the person you work with. We have a lot of history together and we play off each other, I think, very well, and it feels real when I work with him. I feel like he is my other husband because we do have a wonderful relationship. It made sense to me. I liked it, I thought it represented what the story had been over that time. You always want an episode that you’re proud of; whether or not you get the nomination is out of your hands.
CBS.com: Have you given any thought to what you’ll wear on Emmy night?
MARTHA BYRNE: You know, interestingly enough I had clipped out a picture of this dress that I loved, it was an Armani dress and it was at Fashion Week. I didn’t know how I would get my hands on it, but I had to look for this dress. Beyonce wore it at the Oscars, and I was like, “Oh, I can’t wear this dress!” It’s gorgeous. At least I had some good taste – she picked it. It was the [dress] when she was singing [the song from] The Polar Express, it has all Swarovski crystals on it. So, I don’t know. I’m starting over! I wanted something pretty and sparkly, jazzy and fun and sexy. We’ll see!
CBS.com: Do you have a good luck charm or something you’ll carry with you on Emmy night?
MARTHA BYRNE: I bring my whole family – I literally bring my parents, my sisters, brother, my husband obviously he’s my best luck charm in the world because he’s my biggest supporter and we make a night out of it. But I tell you, taking my family and watching my sisters on the red carpet, that’s part of the whole thing because it’s fun for them. This year I’m taking my next oldest niece – we’re kind of going down the line of the kids. She’ll be really excited. She’s my good luck charm.
CBS.com: You’ve been nominated for an Emmy before and you’ve also won in the past. How is this nomination different to you?
MARTHA BYRNE: Every time this happens, there is always something different about it, something special. I think that what kind of amazes me this year is when I look around at the women that are in this category, I really am humbled by it, because I love these women. I’m a fan of their work. I’m inspired by their work. I know how hard they work. As hard as you work yourself, you hope it’s on that level. You hope that you’re giving as much as they’re giving because when you watch them, it’s interesting. I’m a little older and a little wiser. I have another child. I think I have it in perspective. I think it’s about your friends and your family and having fun and it’s so nice to be there. It’s an honor to be a part of it.
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