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Moving beyond Wisteria Lane: An interview with Felicity Huffman

	Also on PlanetOut "Transamerica" review Watch now: "Transamerica" trailer Huffman, Cross share kiss '80s ladies strike back Full "Brokeback Mountain" coverage PROMOTION

Huffman plays Bree, a highly educated and politically conservative transsexual woman working two jobs to save money for her final sex reassignment surgery. Bree's life is about to change even more: After receiving a phone call from a jailed teenage runaway in search of his father, she's shocked to discover that a heterosexual encounter during her life as a man resulted in a son.

Audiences will find Huffman's performance riveting -- her physical transformation alone is staggering, but it's her voice in the film that has everyone talking. "Felicity went all-out and really surprised me with her habitation of her character," says real-life transwoman Calpernia Addams. Addams' company, Deep Stealth Productions, consulted on the script and did voice training with Huffman. "I wasn't sure what it was going to look like, but when I saw her in character, I thought, 'That is a transwoman.' I found myself wanting to help her with her transition."

Huffman took home an award for Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, and the film won a Jury Award at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.

"Transamerica" hits theaters this week, and the actress recently spoke to PlanetOut Entertainment editor Jenny Stewart about her Oscar-worthy new role, "Desperate Housewives" and her marriage to actor William H. Macy.

Seeing you in this role is going to be shocking, to say the least, for anyone who only knows you from "Desperate Housewives." You said that even your husband had a reaction when you would speak to him in that deep voice of Bree, the pre-op transwoman you play in "Transamerica." You're the youngest of seven in real life, and I was wondering what the reaction was from other people close to you when they saw you in the role?

My father is not alive, but there was a screening of the film at the Aspen Film Festival, and my mother came and saw it. And what was really interesting was that even though she loved it, she also found it sort of upsetting just because Bree is in so much ... well, she moves through so much pain, because she's not at home in herself. So my mother found it upsetting to see her daughter like that -- to see her daughter was moving through pain! My sisters and brothers just really loved it.

It's a road-trip film, and I know you did a lot of shooting in rural southern towns. I am imagining small diners and roadside cafés, and you guys telling them, "Hi, we're from Hollywood and we're making a film about transgendered people." What were some of the reactions of the locals?

It was really interesting, actually. Once we were in a Mormon meeting house, and an elder was opening the door to let us set up for lunch there or something, and they didn't want to upset him. So they said "Oh, it's a movie about a parent driving cross-country with their son, and it's a family movie." And you know, it is a family movie. So I think that if they ever ran across anyone who might be borderline, they sort of tailored it to what they thought they could hear. So if there were people they thought could accept it, they told them about the story and those people were enthusiastic.

It will be so interesting if those people who you thought perhaps couldn't handle it actually check out the film just because they were somehow involved in the making of it. Because if they did, there is no doubt in my mind that it will enrich their lives.

I know, and I hope so. I feel that if people can just sit in this movie for just 10 minutes, they'd be taken in. You know, I remember doing a play in New York and I heard an audience member say "You know what? I don't like to be upset after 6 o'clock at night." (Laughs.) And now that I'm older, I can sort of understand that way of thinking. I can see where I'd be the first person to think, "Oh, it's an independent movie about a transgendered woman so it's going to be upsetting because of the struggle of her life, but I guess I should go because I should be supportive of independent movies."

But the thing is -- and what's so great about this film -- is that it's a fun, easy ride. I mean, it's a fun, independent version of a chick flick. So I just think if we can get people in for the first ten minutes to see this film -- and if it takes me being on "Desperate Housewives" to make that happen, or for fans of Dolly Parton to go just because she does the soundtrack, then that's good. And I know they will leave the theater feeling unified and expanded as opposed to ... bombarded, like so many big movies do.

Anyone who's read interviews with you recently know that you wore a prosthetic in the film and that you nicknamed it "Andy." What's the back story, and how did you come up with the name?

It was the second day of shooting, and I had all the undergarments that Bree wore -- which are substantial. And I just felt like something was missing. So my assistant went to "The Treasure Chest" or "The Pink Pussycat" or something and she called me and she asked, "Small, medium or large?" And when you take estrogen, you kind of shrink, so I think I got a small -- which only lets you know how huge they make them.

And the name Andy?

Well, I just came up with the name out of the blue, but it ended up being synchronicity because it happened that one of the women who helped with the wardrobe, her ex-boyfriend who -- pardon the expression, but who fucked her over -- was named Andy. And she goes, "Oh, my God! My ex-boyfriend's name was Andy and he was a real dick!" So I was like, "All right -- well, there ya go!" (Laughs.)

Is it true that if you were stuck on a scene, you would fax it to William and he would call and walk you through it?

Well, he wouldn't walk me through it -- not that I would mind being walked through anything by William H. Macy. I would fax him changes and the call sheets, so he knew what was coming up. And there were many scenes where I thought, you know, "I'm lost; I'm in the weeds!" and he would break it down or give me ideas. And it's kind of amazing, you know; it's kind of like having Tiger Woods in your back pocket.

Speaking of your husband, when you won the Emmy, you thanked him for asking out a "chunk girl." After your bar-top dance on "Desperate Housewives" a few weeks ago, it's hard to believe you were chunky, but how chunky were you?

Oh, I was chunky! I was about 160, and I'm about 5'5", so 160 is definitely chunky. But what happened is that my body really changed after babies. I always had a 40-year-old body, and then when I turned 40, I was like "Not baaadd!" even though it would be considered horrible for a 25-year-old. (Laughs.) But then I found this great trainer, and she was the first trainer who really helped, and she didn't freak out if I ate a muffin. In fact, she's always asking me if I ate enough. And I'll go to her and say "Oh, I think I gained two or three pounds," and she'll be like, "What are you talking about? You look fantastic -- let's get you something else to eat!" So she really is like the magic bullet in my life.

Let's move on to "Desperate Housewives." Viewers are loving that Lynette has gone back to work this season, and the scenes with you and Joely Fisher are a blast. Is it fun letting loose on that?

Oh. My. God. Joely Fisher is so fantastic she just raises the level of your being. She came on and she's just this funny, sparkly fantastic person and it's been beyond wonderful.

Will you two continue to "work together" all season?

Well, I think Lynette will stay at work the whole season, but then again, you never know, really. But I think Joely has other fish to fry. I think she's in demand, so I don't know if we'll get to keep her all season.

So many people think you are just like Lynette because you play her so well, but you've said you're very different. What is the difference between your parenting skills and Lynette's?

Well, for one thing, I would have raised my hand and called "Uncle" looooooonng before Lynette did. (Laughs.) I would have said I need help: "We either have to move your mother here, or move my mother here and you cannot work as much." The other thing is, Lynette fudges the truth to her kids, but I wouldn't.

You've been playing Lynette for close to two seasons now. Which other "Desperate Housewives" character would you have liked to have taken a shot at playing?

I'd love to play Marcia Cross's character. I mean, nobody could do it as well as Marcia, so I wouldn't want to ever follow her because it would be impossible because she's ... she's just brilliant. But I think it's a great character.

Even though Lynette is, by and large, the one housewife who's scandal-free, anything is possible on Wisteria Lane. So -- if Lynette were to have a lesbian affair on the show, who would you want her to be with?

(Thinks) Hmm. I would like Lynette to be two-timing it with Bree and Gabby. (Laughs.)

Good answer. OK, one last thing. We interviewed Peter Krause from "Six Feet Under" a few months ago. He talked about how when you two worked together on "Sports Night," you said something he'll never forget. He said that some children came on the set and that you said, "You know, I don't particularly care for children." He said he wrote it down on paper and dated it.

It's true. And Peter has thrown that in my face so many times and I will cop to that because I said it. (Laughs.) But you know what? I think I can say I don't particularly care for children right now, but I mean, I like my own. It's like someone saying, "You must LOVE marriage." Well, I love being married to my husband; it's not like I love the institution.