Emmy contenders live chats 2015 by The Times

Sarah Paulson  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

On receiving his Emmy nomination: “That’s a party I never thought I’d be invited to. If anybody ever gets used to it, I think they need to be popped upside the head.” For more, see the video chat here.

On her character: “I have great sympathy for Jacqueline,” Jane Krakowski says. “I love that she found some sort of, ‘I’ve got to go home and find my real truth.’ ” Watch the chat here.

On receiving his nomination at work: “I cried. You work so hard, especially this season. The character turned into almost another person. To put in all that hard work -- that’s a goal. My mom always said to set goals and write ‘em down.’ That was a goal of mine, and I achieved it.” Click here for the whole conversation.

On reading the script and understanding his character Tonz: “It hit me,” Richard Cabral says. “It started talking about my personal life experiences, and it got me.” Watch the chat here

When “American Horror Story” creator flat-out offered Finn Wittrock a role on “American Horror Story: Freak Show:” “Uh, is this real life?” the newly minted Emmy nominee wondered. Watch the chat here.

On her on-screen relationship: “People want to jump to all sorts of conclusions,” Mayim Bialik says, “because it’s super-exciting to do so and they love these characters and they know them. Watch the chat here.

On his portrayal of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in “The Interview”: “Initially, I thought this is crazy but kind of cool,” Randall Park says. “But then I’d be at the market, and people would be looking at me like, ‘What are you doing in the market?” Watch the chat here.

On the impact of “American Crime”: “It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Regina King says. “A lot of things we tackled in the show have been going on for a long time. It’s been an opportunity to start a conversation.” Watch the chat here.

On her show’s character: “What’s so important about Lorna is that she works from the outside in,” Yael Stone says. “She uses masks to make herself feel better. I think a lot of people in the world do that, and it’s a very valid way to be.” Watch the chat here.

On the learning curve: “This material scared me to death. And I loved that as an actor. I love being scared by something,” says John Benjamin Hickey. Watch the chat here.

On revisting his most iconic role: “I feel the character changes so many times in small ways from season to season, so it was always interesting for me to play,” says Keifer Sutherland. Watch the chat here.

On why she deleted her Twitter account: “I have to create a container for myself in which to work,” Carrie Brownstein explains. “I’m just like anyone else. I’m prone to distraction.” Watch the chat here.

On a particulary angry scene: “Oh, geez!” Anna Chlumsky says, when told about the praise critics have accorded the moment. “That’s so kind of them.” Watch the chat here.

On his character: “It’s always a daunting task if you’re going to portray a character who’s somewhat iconic in that genre,” says Titus Welliver. Watch the chat here.

On his famous connection: “My dad told us when we were kids that we were somehow related to Sam Houston,” says Bill Paxton. Watch the chat here.

On the joys of working alongside “Sesame Street’s” Oscar the Grouch: “You feel yourself become this little kid. You’re like, you’re talking to Oscar the Grouch,” Armisen says. Watch the chat here.

On awkward moments on set: “I don’t know if it’s like this in your workplace, but every once in a while, I’m learning, someone has to touch your genitals in my workplace,” Timothy Simons says. Watch the chat here.

On her character: “She wants to fit in, but in her own way, just like her son wants to fit in,” Constance Wu says. Watch the chat here.

On landing his role in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”: “My initial response was, ‘This has got be a joke,’” Tituss Burgess says. Watch the chat here.

“It’s been an extraordinary year, and I’ve had such a good time,” Mary Steenburgen says. “It’s kind of crazy because I don’t know that I expected this to happen at my age.” Watch the chat here.

“People come up and say ‘hi,’ which is really cool,” says Thomas Middleditch. “So it’s all been pretty positive.” Watch the chat here.

“Directing was something that I toyed with in my mind, but, of course, it felt daunting,” Angela Bassett says. Watch the chat here.

“[The show’s creators] have told me, ‘Can you swear just a little bit less?’ ” Amanda Peet reveals. “My husband gives me that note too.” Watch the chat here.

“We never talk about the relationships on ‘Community,’ ” Jacobs said. “There’s not a psychological profile of the characters.” Watch the chat here.

On the shout-out she and the rest of the cast got from President Obama: “My heart started beating. Do I stand up? Do I wave and say hello?” Watch the chat here.

On the origin of the “Breaking Bad” spinoff: “Wherever [Banks’ character Mike] has lost his soul has to do with his son,” Banks confided to show creator Vince Gilligan. “And Vince went, ‘Hmmm ... well ... well ...” Watch the chat here.

“I really believe we don’t survive off food. We survive off the energy of other people,” Terry Crews says. Watch the chat here.

On ‘Jane the Virgin’: “It’s such a fast-paced show. If you stand up for a glass of water in the middle of the episode, you loose a big chunk of story.” Watch the chat here.

On his role within the show and the collaborators: “It’s a win-win.” Watch the chat here.

“There are people who have been around for seasons that I haven’t even met,” Kit Harington says of “Game of Thrones” with a laugh. Watch the chat here.

“I was establishing myself and growing up, becoming an adult in a certain way. It was a really profound experience,” says Robin Lord Taylor of his professional growth. Watch the chat here.

“The show started off as a family and ended as a family,” says Theo Rossi of his experience. Watch the chat here.

“It’s kind of a survival-of-the-fittest type of show,” Eve Hewson says of “The Knick.” Watch the chat here.

“Growing up black and in the South, there’s a rage I think that can happen to a person, and I think that comes from being overlooked, from not being heard, not feeling seen, and it comes out in one way or another,” Andre Holland says. Watch the chat here.

“I’m not a mom in real life, so it’s fun to play one. I absolutely feel like I’m getting a glimpse into my mother’s world when I was growing up in the ‘80s and what she has to deal with,” says Wendi McLendon-Covey of her charachter on “The Goldbergs.” Watch the chat here.