A Minute With: Glenn Close, back on "Damages"

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - With a career spanning more than three decades, Glenn Close is one of the most respected and versatile actors of her generation, creating a myriad of unforgettable roles on stage and screen.

Close, who has earned two consecutive Emmy awards and a Golden Globe for the role, depicts a complex woman -- in control, yet always with a hint of vulnerability.

She spoke to Reuters about the show, her passion for animals and her latest role as America''s most visible advocate for people suffering from mental illness.

Q: You recently said the writers of "Damages" have "outdone themselves." What can fans expect in season No. 3?

A: "I think one of the reasons people are insanely tied to this show is because of the outstanding writing. This season they''ve created an intriguing story line based on a kind of Madoff-like Ponzi financial scheme where Patty plays a court appointed lawyer trying to recover any hidden money. We also have this amazing group of actors -- Lily Tomlin, Martin Short, Len Cariou, Campbell Scott. It''s just fun and its quite dark."

Q: Is Patty modeled after anyone we may know?

A: "The woman I have gone on record crediting is Patricia Hines. Whenever she steps into a courtroom she knows without a doubt she''s done more homework than every other person in the room. She prepares for trials by personally reading more than 10,000 documents and then presents her closing arguments extemporaneously. I love that kind of sheer intellectual capacity and voracious curiosity."

Q: Many actresses lament the scarcity of good, older woman roles. You seem to be in full stride. What''s your secret?

A: "I''m not sure. I guess it''s all about timing and what I''m attracted to. It''s rare for a woman my age -- for a woman, period -- to have an opportunity to play a character who''s a strong woman and in control."

Q: You''re an award-winning movie, TV and Broadway actress who''s done it all. Do you have preference for any medium?

A: "I''d have to say stage, which I haven''t done in a long time because I''m married, and when you do theater you don''t see your spouse for six nights a week. It''s rough. I really want to do theater again, but doing ''Damages'' makes it a little difficult since you have a limited run and basically no break whatsoever. But hopefully it will happen again soon."

Q: You host a blog about dogs where you feature pets and their owners. What can humans learn from four-legged friends?