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Wanted: parts that ‘pop’

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Kyra Sedgwick was just nominated for an Emmy as lead actress in a drama series for “The Closer” -- for the fourth consecutive year. Last year she celebrated her 20-year anniversary with actor Kevin Bacon. She was in the car when we spoke.

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You’re out and free in the world and enjoying weddings!

They let me out of the cage for a day. Yup. It’s great to be there for people. It’s nice to be able to show up.

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Were you reminded of young love?

Well, I cried! A lot! And I think I cried because I found it very moving, that this is a moment that will last a long time. It’s a marriage that’ll last a long time. I wished Kevin was there.

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So. The news of the day. I wondered what you thought of Mr. Madoff, who was just sentenced to 150 years, since you were a client of his.

Oh, what horrible timing we have the two of us! That this was happening on this day, so you were forced to ask me this question. I think the best thing I could say is what I honestly feel. Which is that him being sent away doesn’t make anyone’s losses any less. It was a horrible thing that happened to a lot of people and . . .

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Annick Muller, publicist: Choire, it’s Annick from ID! I just want to make sure that -- Kyra has a little, small amount of time and we’re just focusing on the feature at hand and I want to make sure that happens.

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They earn their money, those ID PR girls.

They definitely do.

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Well! This sounds like a bit of a stretch perhaps -- but you’ve spent the last five years acting as law enforcement. Has it given you much occasion to think about law enforcement in this country?

I think there’s a lot of good guys out there in law enforcement. That’s what I feel; that’s my sense. Most of the people I’ve met, that chose to give their life over to this job, do it for the right reasons and are admirable. And people who want to get the bad guys. And I also think that, especially in Los Angeles, they have a large amount of territory to cover and so few police people to cover it, they do a really exceptional job.

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As New Yorkers we lived through a wild era in the ‘90s, which has seemingly settled down at least.

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What do you mean specifically?

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Well, there were low moments in the Giuliani era?

Right, right. That’s true.

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OK, here’s my trick question. How does the season end?

I don’t know! I don’t know how the season ends. My daughter just said, “AND WHY WOULD YOU TELL HIM ANYWAY?” Basically she thinks that was a dumb question.

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[Daughter in background: Mom!]

She didn’t actually use those words.

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I love her! She sounds hilarious.

She is. She’s a lot funnier than I am.

[Screaming and giggling ensue on the line.]

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What is going on in that car?

Nothing, nothing!

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So then September comes -- do you have film stuff booked?

I have a film coming out Sept. 4: “Gamer.” It’s Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall and Alison Lohman and Ludacris and lots of wonderful people, and it’s a very different movie for me. It’s a real hard-core thrill ride, with lots of blood and gore. . . .

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[Daughter: Oh!]

Sorry my daughter’s not happy with the way I’m performing!

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She’s not going to follow in your footsteps, is she?

I really don’t know. So! I don’t know what I’ll do in September. I hope to have some time off.

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What guides you as you’re looking at scripts, or talking about options? What rings your bell?

It’s always character driven. I always look at a script and say, ‘Can I do my thing? Can I pop?’ If it’s a small part, can I pop, can I make an impact with this part? . . . I don’t want to be pegged as something definitive. I want to be chameleon-like.

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It’s easy to get pigeonholed when you’re doing crime drama too. It’s a trap.

I also think this character is such a stretch, in every way. By virtue of that, my concern about being pigeonholed has been lessened. . . .

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I took a cursory look on the Internet, and things look happy with the season premiere! You don’t trawl the Internet for reviews?

Oh, God, no. The reviews, when they’re good, they’re not good enough, and when they’re bad, they’re devastating.

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That sounds awful.

Well it’s the truth! Unless they say you’re God’s gift to acting, it’s not good enough. But also if you believe the good, you have to believe the bad.

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calendar@latimes.com

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