She’s one of those people you see in literally everything. Swoosie Kurtz {currently on “Mike and Molly”} has done theater, movies, TV, and now you can add author to the list. Eat Play Rock recently got a chance to talk with Swoosie Kurtz {pronounced like Lucy} about her illustrious and varied acting career and her new found role as caregiver.

Eat Play Rock: You have been in everything, but I have to say, I loved you most on Law and Order: SVU. How did you like being on that show?

Swoosie Kurtz: I loved it! The character I played was actually based on a male judge. The writers changed it to a woman for the part.

Eat Play Rock: Oh that is interesting.

Swoosie Kurtz: I have never played a character with no redeeming qualities but this woman was just a horrible, mean, cruel person.

Eat Play Rock: She really was. She really brought the crazy! So what makes you choose the parts that you want to act in?

Swoosie Kurtz: I have always been driven by the material and I am generally a good judge of it.

Swoosie Kurtz On Theater Vs. TV

Eat Play Rock: So, I was reading in your book {Part Swan, Part Goose} about how theater people like to think that theater is harder work. However, in sitcoms, there are extremely long days and no understudies, so if you are sick, you just have to go on anyway. I never thought about that before. That has to be rough. So, which do you prefer?

Swoosie Kurtz: I never thought about that either until I started writing this book. Theater is where I began and it was my original dream, but I love the deadlines and immediacy of TV. I also like the changing of lines, even up to showtime. With TV, you see your work immediately instead of waiting for a year or two for a movie. It’s really all about the material with me. I think ‘Can I bring this person to life?’ If it scares me, then I think it’s something that I definitely should do.

Eat Play Rock: Do you always know who you are going to work with when you sign on for a project?

Swoosie Kurtz: Sometimes I do but sometimes the cast is not in place yet. But I like to know who the writers and producers are first.

Eat Play Rock: I just want to make sure my readers know straight from you. How do you pronounce your name? I have heard it with a Z and with an S.

Swoosie Kurtz: Either is good, but it’s really Swoosie, like Lucy. I think people think it looks like Suzie and they then pronounce it like that, with a z sound.

Swoosie Kurtz On Her Strong Foundation

Swoosie Kurtz’ dad was an Olympic diving medalist and one of the most decorated aviators in American history. Her mother authored My Rival, the Sky in 1945, now available in reprint.

Eat Play Rock: I think you are definitely right about that. So, as I was reading your book, I read about your parents who were both very successful and I thought to myself, ‘How could she not be successful coming from where she did’ but then I also thought about Paris Hilton, so…

Swoosie Kurtz: I think the reason that I am where I am today is because my parents tried so hard to get pregnant. I was always a wanted child and I always felt seen, heard and respected, even at a young age. That’s why I had good self esteem and confidence. I am just a neurotic and insecure as the next person but I was fortunate enough to have loving parents that have helped me through so much in life. My heart goes out to those with rough childhoods.

Eat Play Rock: What qualities do you think your parents had that made them such great parents?

Swoosie Kurtz: There were no imposed rules in our home. It may have just been that way because of the type of child that I was, but my mother did not believe in punishment and certainly not physical punishment. We had a unique relationship where we were always best pals. There was always unconditional love there. I used to not talk about how great our relationship was too much because I thought people might find it nerdy.

Swoosie Kurtz is also her mother’s caregiver who, at 98, is suffering from dementia.

Eat Play Rock: I don’t think it’s nerdy at all to have a great relationship with your parents. I think it’s something to be proud of and grateful for. And your mom still lives with you. I really respect you for that. Many people in your situation would have dropped their mom in a nursing home somewhere.

Swoosie Kurtz: I am incredibly blessed and fortunate to have the mother that I have. If she had been a different kind of mom, sure, I might have put her in a nice facility and visited her a couple of times a week, but we are joined at the heart. It’s been challenging and scary at times but I have also learned so much about myself because of this. Taking care of my mother has brought out new qualities that I didn’t even know I had in me, like the caregiver, nurturer and mother.

Check out the rest of Swoosie Kurtz’ story in her new book, Part Swan, Part Goose: An Uncommon Memoir of Womanhood, Work, and Family

What Role Have You Liked Swoosie Kurtz Best In?