LOS ANGELES — Holland Taylor earned a Tony nomination for her portrayal of charismatic Texas politician Ann Richards, but the actor deserves acclaim for her research and writing skills as well.
Taylor crafted “Ann” after digging into Richards’ life and character. The reward was a deepened appreciation of the tart-tongued Democrat, who died in 2006, and what turned out to be the highlight of a career that has zigzagged between a dizzying number and variety of movies and TV shows and includes an Emmy Award.
“Ann” proved to be “the most joyous thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Taylor said of her one-person play, which has been adapted for a PBS special airing Friday (check local listings for time).
Proof of her years-long dedication to the project: She didn’t renew her contract with the sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” the sort of steady work most actors covet, switching instead to occasional appearances so she could conserve her time and energy to work on “Ann.”
She took advantage of the University of Texas archives — “where all the government records would cover about 10 football fields” — to craft her portrait of Richards, who served as governor of Texas from 1991-95 and whose focus included prison reform and education funding.
“I was looking to films and speeches and writings that would show me who she was, the persona, because I found her the most inspiring person I ever met,” Taylor said. “People would tell me stories about what a colorful and tough (politician) she was. She was quite something to work for, very temperamental at times. But as they would tell the stories, there would be joyous laughter and tears in their eyes because they missed her and valued her so much.”
At the 1988 Democratic National Convention, Richards gave the keynote address and famously mocked then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, saying he was born with “a silver foot in his mouth.” Six years later, she would be unseated as governor by his son and future president George W. Bush in a GOP national wave election.
“She was a positive person, no matter how canny she was and wise about the ways of the world and … the dark side of how government and business work,” Taylor said. “She believed in the common good and she believed in a progressive government” and society.
She considers the play itself and what Richards represents to be enduring.
“There’s no time where anything Ann says that’s of consequence wouldn’t be valuable,” Taylor said. “A leader who speaks always from the point of view of how can the common good be achieved is always going to be timely.
“I think of her as a woman for all seasons,” she said.
