Shelley Morrison – Handy Manny

Q) What are the current projects that you are working on?

A) I am doing an animated cartoon series for Disney called “Handy Manny.” It premiered three weeks ago. It’s adorable, bilingual and it’s for preschoolers. They sent us a copy of it before it premiered and my husband said I looked just like my Aunt Rose. I am just having so much fun with doing voiceovers. I am also working with my husband, Walter Dominguez, on a documentary called Weaving the Past. It’s a labor of love and it’s so that young people will ask their elders stories about their lives. You learn more about yourself learning where you came from. I also do a lot of charity work. I met recently with the Mayor of Los Angeles and we opened the first of seven full state of the art animal shelters. It has solar panels and is amazing! The Mayor, who is remarkable, wants LA to be one of the first major cities to promote a “No Kill Policy.” That’s near and dear to my heart; anything that has to do with animals, children, the environment, breast cancer and AIDs.

Q) Please tell us the premise for your show “Handy Manny” and about your character Mrs. Portello.

A) Manny is a repair man in this little town. He has these tools (like a screwdriver and a wrench) that are animated and they all have different names. The people in the town call him to come and fix things. It shows the kids that with cooperation that we all get together and think things through and do things right. The music is by Los Lobos and my character is this sweet Hispanic woman who is very motherly and always needs something fixed. It’s charming. Wilmer Valderrama plays Manny and some of the other voices that are on the show are remarkable. It’s fun! You can go in there and you don’t have to memorize. You don’t have to wear makeup and you can go in wearing your Levi’s. You just go in and have a ball!

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) I have been offered other cartoon series, but they were all so violent. All of my career, and I’ve been doing this fifty-two years, I would never accept anything or even read for something for something that would pollute, damage or be demeaning. You have to look at yourself in the mirror each morning. This show had such a positive charming slant to it that when they asked me I read the material and said, “I’m there!” The material is very important to me. On “Will & Grace,” we had the best material ever! We had trouble keeping a straight face and would crack each other up all of the time.

Q) The show airs on the Disney Channel. What is it like working for this network?

A) There is less pressure. Doing “Will & Grace,” we did it for NBC and there was a lot of pressure when ever you do something for a network. I remember when I did “The Flying Nun” many years ago for ABC. It is a whole different ballgame and situation. I’m at an age right now where I don’t want a lot of pressure. I’m going to be seventy years old this month! I know what I want to do and what I don’t want to do. If the material is there and there is someone that I really want to work with, then I’ll do it. If not, then I’ll spend more time with my family and all my charities.

Q) The show is animated. Do you prefer working in front or behind of the camera?

A) I’ll do it if the material is there on stage, voiceovers, television or film. It’s all in the material and the people you are working with. It really comes down to that. I don’t want to work just to work. If I do a commercial, my agents know that the first thing I’ll ask is, “What is the product?” I won’t do a commercial, again, that I feel will pollute or be damaging. It limits me, but it’s ok.

Q) Why should children be tuning in to the show?

A) It’s wonderful! It’s bilingual. We put in Spanish expressions and then we translate it in the next line. It’s good for children to see shows that will educate you and entertain you at the same time. It’s computer animated graphics and it’s brilliant! The way they did it is just incredible. We had a big premier for it and all of the families got to bring their children. They showed it on a big screen and the kids sat there and were so incredibly enthralled by it. We need more shows like “Sesame Street” and how the “Electric Company” used to be that teach values, cooperation and respect. The world would just be in a lot better position if we all respected each other.

Q) You do a lot of charity work for various causes. Why is this so important to you?

A) I’ve been blessed. I have an extraordinary family and a wonderful husband. I have had a chance all through the years to work (fifty-two years) and I took five years off to stop and smell the roses. I’ve just been so lucky that if an opportunity to use whatever celebrity I have I will try to put back and give back. I am a cancer survivor and when you pull yourself out of yourself and focus on other people, it gives you a very strong purpose and it helps to keep me going.

Q) Do you keep in touch with your fellow cast mates of “Will & Grace?”

A) I’m going to be seeing Megan soon because I’m doing her show. I adore her! I just adore her! She’s an incredible lady. We’ll probably scream and carry on. I think Debra just left for Australia to do a film. Eric is doing a film, I think, in Canada. Sean and his partner are getting ready to do a new show, but I can’t remember what network it is for. We all keep busy. It’s wonderful when we all run into each other. We’re family. You can’t be together all of those years without becoming family, especially with the crew. When you run into a crew member, it’s part of this wonderful creative group of people. We’ve all been in the trenches together.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I am a big reader. I love to read and do a lot of crocheting. My niece, who I helped raise, called me to say she’s pregnant. I have plans to go help her get really good prenatal supplements and good books. There are a few TV shows that I really enjoy. I like “Gilmore Girls” and “Veronica Mars.” I like the new show “Heroes;” that’s really cool. I also try to keep up with what’s going on in the world. I just got the new Bob Woodward book,State of Denial. It’s fascinating, depressing, but fascinating. I do a lot!

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) The only message I can give to everyone out there is a philosophy that my husband and I embrace. Everyone and everything is sacred. Let’s all treat each other in a sacred way. Thank you to all of the fans. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am.