Sharon Gless, from 'Cagney and Lacey' to 'Nip/Tuck'

Sharon Gless may have turned 65 this year and qualified for Medicare, but she's not looking to retire any time soon. In fact, the Emmy Award-winning star of "Cagney and Lacey" and "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill" is busier than ever. She has a kicky supporting role as the neurotic but loving mother of spy Jeffrey Donovan on USA's action comedy hit "Burn Notice" and is the recipient of an Emmy nomination in a guest starring role for her creepy turn as a stalker who makes life hell for Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) on FX's "Nip/Tuck." Her performance as the domineering, disturbed and murderous agent -- and stuffed bear maker -- Colleen Rose, was startling, complex and even, at times, sympathetic.

Gless, who has been married to Barney Rosensweig, the executive producer of "Cagney" and creator of "Rosie O'Neill." for the past 17 years.

Recently, Gless chatted about her Emmy nomination from her home in Miami.

I was surprised to find out it's been 16 years since your last Emmy nomination.

I was stunned [with this nomination]. While I was doing the show people were saying 'Emmy, Emmy, Emmy,' but you always hear that. But when it actually happened!. I was on Rosie O'Donnell's cruise when I heard. Actually, I was disembarking. I was leaving the cruise early. I had suitcases and was trying to get a cab and then the phone rings. And there I was. It's been a long time I ever got a call like that. The last nomination was for 'Rosie O'Neill.' This is my ninth nomination. As Barney said it's been a long time between drinks.

I am surprised with everything they can get away with on " Nip/Tuck," especially since it's on basic cable.

They are not allowed to show nipples. One of my episodes I pulled my breasts out, but they said Sharon keep your fingers closed because we can't show nipples. I was sort of stunned -- I said , " R eally ? "

I remember around the time you were launching 'Rosie O'Neill" that you were having problems with a stalker. Was it odd for you to now play a stalker?

No. It was nothing like mine and it was so many years ago.

How did you get "Nip/Tuck?"

The part was written for me by [creator/executive producer] Ryan Murphy. I spoke to him on the phone. I thought he was interviewing me for the part. Apparently, he thought I was interviewing him. When told me the story and I said, it sounds sensational. And he said, 'do you want to do it' and I said, yeah." He said well if you do, I'll write it for you. I am also opening the new season [of "Nip/Tuck"]. He said it was such a sensation Sharon we would love to have you back. I said I have an idea [for the new season] and I told him about my stalker. I told him I was never afraid. I knew who it was, But when I went to talk to the police after it was over, they said there is something we need to tell you --she has an identical twin sister, Sharon, who is equally anti-social. I said 'OK. Now I'm afraid.' So I said to Ryan, 'Can I have an identical twin sister who comes back on the show?'

So did he give you one?

No. But I can't tell you what's going to happen. I'm not allowed to.

What was so fascinating about your character is that she presents herself as this strong woman and then slowly begins to unravel.

I tell you. I think it was one of the most fun and exciting roles I ever had written for me. I never knew from week to week what he was going to hand me. I knew how it was going to end, but when get your episodes Act IV is never included. I didn't know until the scripts started to evolve what he was going to do with this character. I knew she worked for Build-A-Bear and I knew that was going to happen in the last episode. I didn't know I was going to slash my wrists.......

What were fans reactions to you playing such a disturbed character, especially after the particularly gruesome episode in which you murder that agent?

I would be shopping for my granddaughter and the young clerks would go in the back [because they were frightened] and someone elder would come out to see who it was. I said to them -- it's just a role I played. Isn't that weird? Even when I was playing Cagney and I didn't have a response. But [with this], I would be walking down the street and people would be honking their horns and yelling at me. It was certainly the most twisted character I have ever played.