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I interviewed Penny Johnson Jerald again last month, before the Emmy nominations were announced. We spoke over the phone while she was taking a break from running her theater company.
Gustave: What are you doing next season?
Penny Johnson Jerald: I challenge you to call Joel Surnow and ask him that same question.
Well, that's the nature of the question -- what are you being told?
[laughs] I don't want to be told too much. I like to be told enough. I want to place myself as an artist, and I don't want to disappoint the fans. It's the word of mouth, I avoid. These people who are tuning in who say, "I don't watch television but�" It makes you feel so wonderful inside because you're getting feedback from the average person who owes you absolutely nothing. They don't have to comment. I could step outside of my house, walk into a place, and they're right there. They always ask for an autograph. I always say no but I say, "If you give me your address, I'll give you a picture." Because my autograph means nothing.
What was it like to do the second season as opposed to the first season?
I have to say that last year I didn't understand the huge impact that the character was making. As far as I was concerned, I was just going to work and doing my job. And all of a sudden there were these rave comments about this character and what I was doing with her. I graciously accepted the recognition.
This year I was anxious because there'd been so much hype and I was waiting to come back and reinvent her. Do I focus on proving something or what? So I came to a place where I just figured I'd do the work and see what happens -- like I did last year. And maybe the writers will do their job. They really love her this year, though. She's a bad girl! I'm never thinking of her as a bad girl. But she is a diva. I kid around in the makeup trailer. "Penny is not a diva, but Sherry is."