9 Quick Questions for Mary McCormack

By

Gayle Jo Carter,

Although her character is the brains and not the brawn in Heels, the Starz drama about the outrageous world of independent professional wrestling, Mary McCormack, 54, would still gladly step

into the ring. The Tony-nominated actress reveals if she’s stayed in touch with her former West Wing castmates, if she’d return to Broadway and how she would spend the perfect day off.

Are you a wrestling fan?

Well, I am now. I’m interested in it because it’s a world I know so much more about. It is extraordinary how popular it is. It’s massive; people love it. It’s a little like Friday Night

Lights, in that I have friends who watch it and love it and don’t care at all about [football].

If you were a wrestler, would you be a heel [a villain] or a face [hero]?

I would rather be a heel. It’s definitely more fun. I don’t know that they’re going to let a woman my age in the ring. I dare the writers to do it. I’m ready. I would like to and I think I

can. I’m athletic, and I work out, and I’m limber, and I have some tricks up my sleeve. I would like to do that. I don’t know that they’ll let that happen.

wrestling drama “Heels,” which returns for Season 2 on July 28. Courtesy Starz Entertainment

When did you know you wanted to be an actress?

I always wanted to do it. I grew up in New Jersey — my dad loved Broadway — and for my birthday, he would take me to a show. It was enough just to see it, to go, Well, those are adults, and

that must be a job. That seems doable. You’re just close enough to have it be part of your fantasy life. I started doing local theater — plays at church, plays in the park and things like

that. That was enough. I thought, This is fun — hanging out with adults at night and applause and storytelling. It was an activity that suited me. I could kind of sing, so musicals became

doable. That was fun.