Interview: Katey Sagal Isn’t Really A Badass Biker Mama, She Just Plays One On TV

By Julie Zied
Fancast.com

You’re not granted longevity in the TV business without the brains to back it up, just ask Katey Sagal. After 25 years and many memorable characters on the small screen, Sagal is currently kicking up dust as Gemma Teller, the tough-as-nails matriarch and member-by-association of a raucous clan of outlaw bikers in the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy. I sat down with Sagal in Philadelphia in early Novemebr to discuss her latest role, how she landed the part (hint: her husband, Kurt Sutter, wrote the pilot), and why her “wild” youth keeps her off off the back of motorcycles today.

How did you get involved in the show? Was it through your husband? Take me through the beginning of the process.

Well my husband was approached by Art and John Linson. My Husband at the time was executive producing The Shield. They had an idea about doing a television show in the world of motorcycles, the outlaw motorcycle world. They pitched the world to my husband and then he went home and thought about it and wrote what was the first of many drafts of, originally called “Forever SAMCRO,” which became Sons of Anarchy. Somewhere in that process, I’d say within the first couple of drafts he came to me and said, ‘I have a part I want you to play and I’m writing it for you.’ And I thought ‘oh, well that’s fantastic.’ I think my husband is a fantastic writer. But at this point we didn’t have a network yet. We didn’t have anything yet. FX wasn’t even on board yet. So he wrote the script. I didn’t really even know what the part was. Then it started to evolve and he pitched it to a couple of networks. FX was the first one that he wanted to go to. They ordered it, and then I read it, and it was this amazing part for me. Of course it was contingent on the network with me doing it, and they were into it. And that’s how it happened.

You were working on a lot of other shows too. You had the Eli Stone appearance and you were doing Boston Legal. Did you ever wonder about how you were going to manage everything?

No. The thing that would be the busiest part of my life is my 3 children. Actually what I was looking for, and I think why it’s so perfect, is because I wanted to do a television show that was different than anything I’ve ever done, and I wanted a schedule that was not necessarily 22 episodes. Because that is a very difficult schedule if you have children. The fact that this was going to be on cable with 13 episodes, and it was a drama, which is what I really wanted to do, it sort of fit all my criteria, so I was definitely available.

Your character is really such a badass…

Yes. Such a badass!

Well, for lack of a better word. What was it that drew you to her? You said you wanted to work in a drama and this certainly is different than what you’ve done before. It sure isn’t Peg Bundy.

Well if you talk to my husband he’ll say that the parts of me he felt, like motherhood…Gemma is an intensely loyal mother. That is her overwhelming intention behind everything she does. She’s protective and very loyal to her extended family as well as her son, Jax. Myself as a mother, I have those instincts as well. I love my family and love being a part of my family and protecting my children. So I think he just sort of expanded on that. Gemma, she’s the type that would go to any lengths to protect those she loves and I understand that instinct. I don’t know that I would necessarily put a gun to someone’s head but she would.

So, apart from the gun to someone’s head and the pot smoking with your children, are there other parallels you see between you and Gemma?

Our actions are not similar. It’s the impulses that are similar. This is a different culture. This is a culture that really none of us have been exposed to. I think that’s what the fascination with it is. Not only because it’s different but also because it’s similar. These are middle class people that live normal family lives. And that’s what was interesting I know to my husband, was the fact that there’s just a lot of normal goings on amongst this somewhat nefarious behavior that also goes on.

All these evil-doings happening in a town called Charming.

Right. The town is called Charming and they’re there to maintain Charming, to keep Charming charming.

If there were one theme or idea that defined Sons of Anarchy, what would you say it was?

Love and Loyalty. Family. It’s really a family drama. It’s about these people that live outside the box. They’re on the fringe of normal society, yet they have their own little goings on, their own world and they live sort of normal lives too. Its just an interesting look at a world we haven’t really seen before.

Where did Kurt draw his inspiration from when he was writing this?

He actually did a lot of research. He’s spent time with a very famous club. You know, to me when I watch it, the heart of it is the heart of families. I’m sure he draws from all his experience from… we all have familial experience, extended and otherwise. And our own genetic families. So it’s just human experience really.

And nobody’s family is perfect.

That’s right. Nobody’s family is perfect.

You said earlier that the show changed titles. How did that come about?

I think that was a network decision and Kurt and the Linsons. I think they all collectively decided on a different title. I’m no sure how that all works, if they throw it out there and see what people think. I don’t know how they do that.

You and Charlie have a strange and wonderful chemistry together. Don’t know if you’ve gotten this before, but the vibe is borderline erotic. This mother son sexual tension.

I hadn’t really thought about that actually. They’re a very affectionate bunch I would say. Even the club members, you know they kiss each other on the mouth. They hug constantly. They are each other’s closest people. And so she does have that bond with her child. I think too the history of Jax and Gemma is basically that she is a single mother in the sense that John Tiller was gone a lot. So they have a very close bond and is it somewhat oedipal? I don’t know. I mean I don’t know if that’s the chemistry I have with Charlie. I’m not sure. That’s an interesting observation.

So everyone is affectionate on the show, but what about off camera? How does the cast get along?

Oh it’s a very eclectic bunch of people. I would call it a big hearted bunch of people. They’re really colorful personalities. Everyone from Kim Coates, Mark Boone, and Ron. Everybody has their own vibe. I think the casting is great. Everyone is very happy to be there. I know for most of us as actors it’s hard for us to find really great writing, and this is really great writing…and I’m not just saying that because he’s my husband. The respect that we all seem to have for the opportunity to do this kind of work is amazing. So there’s a lot of bonding, and they guys really bond, you know. They hang! They’ve just become they’re own little club. [Laughing]

On and off camera?

On and off camera yeah, they go…Theo has a…[sighing] whatever…they have a place that they all go hang out at. They go and ride bikes. They do stuff together, they play golf. [Laughing]

So they all ride bikes in real life too? Do you know how to ride a bike?

I’ve only ridden on the back of bikes. I used to ride on the back of bikes quite a lot but it’s been years since I’ve done that.

In your youth?

In my ‘wild’ youth. Yes. Now I don’t do so much because now I have 3 children and my life is not just about me anymore. But the guys, most of them rode. Ron Perlman is still learning how to ride. But Charlie rides…I think Charlie had ridden before. Tommy rides, Theo rides, they all ride. We just had the big Harley Davidson Love Ride. All the guys were there and were cheered on, treated like rock stars. Jay Leno was there. It was cool. Our guys rode in the big 30,000 bike ride.

Would you want to learn how to ride?

It appeals to me if I lived in a very rural community where there’s no traffic. I live in Los Angeles were I just think it’s dangerous to write a motorcycle in a big city, mostly because of the other guy. So if I lived somewhere, out in some wide open space I’d probably be more amenable to it.

Lets back up for a second to your “wild youth.” What was so wild about it? Besides riding on the backs of motorcycles…

Well let’s see. All during my twenties, my first career was as a musician. I started as a singer/songwriter and didn’t start acting till my late twenties. So all through my twenties I toured. I was on the road most of the time. I just ran with a wilder bunch. It was the seventies, early eighties and you know there was a lot of…[laughing] well it was a different lifetime, it seems now but you know, there was a lot of partying going on and I think in that time in my life I was a bit rebellious. [Laughing] Am I being vague enough?

You’re being pretty vague!! So, lets say one of your kids came to you…how old are they?

14, 12, and 2.

Well, excluding your 2-year-old, lets say your other kids came to you and said “I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle.” What would you say?

I would say absolutely not. I mean once they’re 18 I don’t know that I’d have much say in it but I would give the same argument which is where we live its just not a safe place for riding motorcycles. I think with your children, you hope you have taught them enough common sense that they can make the right choices. So, I would not be on board with that, which is probably the answer!

Everyone on the show has tattoos. Would you let your kids get a tattoo?

Well I’m OK with tattoos over 18. Everything over 18 is OK with me. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Kurt but he’s completely tatted up. He’s got a sleeve, and I have one. I’m OK with that but I think at this young of an age you’re not able to make those kinds of decisions for yourself. I think you just need to live a bit longer and then its OK. You know, because you have tattoos doesn’t mean you’re living a lifestyle that’s full of wild abandon, and drugs and sex without any kind of common sense. I think tattoos are a statement. It’s at your own personal choice.

What’s your tattoo?

Mine is fantastic. I got it when I turned 50. I’ll show you…It’s a reptile and really what it is…reptiles are all about shedding skin so I got it when I turned 50 because I felt it was a new part of my life. So it meant something to me. It was symbolic of where I was in my life.

Painful?

Yeah. [laughing]

That’s a painful spot.

Yeah ankle bone.

Switching gears to another show you had a role on — Lost. I’m a huge Lost fan.

Oh me too! I love it. I can’t wait for it to come back.

Is Helen ever going to come back?

Well Helen was never…I don’t think so. They’ve never called me again and I guess it didn’t really follow John’s story. You know how the father came back and suddenly on the island. And I guess…well I guess Helen can show up on the island if Locke is on the island.

Well now he’s in a coffin…

That’s right! That’s right! That’s right!

…But who knows whats gonna happen with that.

I know. I don’t know. I’m a huge Lost fan myself. I think it’s a great show.

How did you get involved in Lost?

They called me and said would I come in and meet them and I did and that’s how I got that part.

How was it working with everyone?

It was great. Well I just worked with Terry and he was fantastic. I didn’t really meet anybody else. You know, when you’re in the back story you’re not like with everybody on the island. So I was just in Terry’s story and that’s how that worked. It was good.

You mentioned before starting your career as a musician, which then led to acting. How did that happen? How did you decide acting was where you wanted to go with your life?

It kinda found me. I made some records. I toured a lot as a background singer. I was really trying to make a living as an artist/musician and at the same time I was going in and out of a sort of self-destructive phase in my life. That is that absolute truth. It just wasn’t happening. What happened was I ended up doing a theater piece which was a rock musical called “The Beautiful Lady.” I sang the entire piece. It was a rock opera. And I got spotted by casting directors for a CBS television show. They asked me to come and read for it. I did and before I knew it I was on television. Then six months after that I got “Married with Children.” So I didn’t have tons of preparation, it sort of found me. I’ve kinda done on-the-job training. Now, I have been an actor for 25 years. Now I finally feel like an actor. For the first five years I just felt like a phony.

So you went from touring and traveling and leading a generally wild lifestyle to being planted in one place, on a sitcom. Was that a difficult transition?

Well the biggest transition is I went from working nighttime hours to daytime hours. I was on the music scene and I was a nighttime person. All of the sudden I’m showing up for work in a whole different world. It was really a big lesson for me in letting go of my idea of how things should be and just allowing the universe or whatever to present itself. It was a lesson that I always try to hold onto now because sometimes we don’t always know what’s best for us. Sometimes the best things happen without any kind of planning. And that was a perfect example of that.

And that other lifestyle seemed to lend itself to self-destructive behavior…

It didn’t really appear to be self-destructive a lot of the time but it took a quick turn, that kind of lifestyle for me, and I had to change all that. You know, it was the culture of the time, a lot of experimenting going in that time. I definitely did my share. So it sort of now makes sense to me why my music career didn’t take off. I wasn’t exactly present for it. [Laughing] Then when I was forced to change my lifestyle…It all just sort of took me. It’s an interesting way to find a career.

It’s a wonderful way to find a career.

It really has been wonderful and thank God I didn’t blow it. You know what I mean? It woke me up.

How do you think you could have blown it?

Not accepting it maybe. Not being open to it. I think that I was always a very ambitious person and in my twenties when some things wouldn’t happen for me I got a chip on my shoulder about it. I think that that perpetuates itself. I don’t know if I’m making sense.

You are.

Yes, it perpetuates negativity. There was some sort of opening and I allowed myself to go and be an actor. Like, I’ll go do this. Like I said, I always had a band. I’d go play on the weekends. Literally for the first 5 years of being on television I thought, ‘wow I better keep my regular gig because this is all going to just go away.’ I still have a band. I still play music. I still go do all that but not so much because it’s my career but because it’s just something I love to do. Now I feel a little more rooted in my job as an actor. I thought they were kidding for the longest time. Go figure that out. I don’t know what was going on.

Was it a frightening experience during that time or was it just like, “this is exciting. I’m accepting it.”

It was a little of both. I always had my plan B in my back pocket. The whole Married With Children experience, we didn’t really know it was successful till about 3 years in. Because it was when there wasn’t really a Fox Network. We were just the little beginning of The Fox Network. So I really didn’t know what was going on. I just had a gig. I was able to buy a car. I was able to pay my rent. You know, that’s where I was at. I was like this struggling music person so it was amazing to me. I had some sort of job security.
So I saved a lot of my money because I kept thinking it was all gonna end. [Laughing] But it kept going. And now I feel like I know what I’m doing. I took me a while, then I started to take it really seriously. I started to work with a coach and understand what I was doing and do different kinds of work. Now I feel like I sort of know what I’m doing.

What about Gemma? What is she doing? Where do you see her going in this show? What are your hopes for her and what do you already know?

Well I don’t really know much for second season. I know by the end of this season she will somehow come to terms with the fact that her son may be making choices in terms of women that aren’t necessarily her first choice. We’re not sure. They are both sort of around now, Tara and Wendy. Her whole thing, she didn’t really like the experience that Jax had with Tara. That has a back story that Tara had been here before. They’re old high school sweethearts. She wants what’s best for that baby. That’s what Gemma desires at this point because what’s best for that baby is best for the club which is best for her world. She likes the way her life is. She doesn’t want anything to threaten that. So I think probably by the end of this season she will have to come to terms with some stuff. We’ll find out. There’s some big stuff coming. I can’t give anything away.

Any teasers for the season finale which is coming up on the 26th?

There’s a lot of motorcycles in the season finale. [laughing] That’s all I can say, oh and my husband directed the season finale. That’s kind of exciting.

You guys work well together?

Yeah we really do and his background is in acting, as a theater major, an actor. He’s just so great with actors. So, it was wonderful. It was fantastic. I haven’t seen the final product but on set he’s fantastic.

The first season finale of Sons of Anarchy airs next Wednesday, November 26th at 10 PM on FX. Catch up on previous episodes from the past season right here on Fancast.