Best known for playing iconic NYPD detective Christine Cagney on the 1980s drama, “Cagney & Lacey,” it is not an overstatement to say that Sharon Gless is a television legend.  The Emmy Award-winning actress currently stars in the USA series, “Burn Notice,” as Madeline Westen, the mother of the main character, Michael Westen (played by Jeffrey Donovan).  The premise of the series is that Michael was fired as a covert operative and now works as a freelance spy as he tries to discover why he was fired – and by whom.  Gless has also recently appeared on the series “Nip/Tuck” as a twisted talent agent.  We just had the chance to talk to Sharon about “Burn Notice” and her illustrious career.

GV: How did you decide to participate in “Burn Notice”? 
SG:  The pilot script was sent to me.  I read it and I was sitting alone and I laughed out loud.  I just thought it was very clever and I had not remembered anything like it on television.  The fact that [the main character, Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan] had been burned  – or fired – as a spy … I thought it was a fascinating premise and very funny. 

What appealed to you about your character?
I always said I never wanted to play mothers, but the last two roles I played were some of the most interesting mothers on television.  Sometimes the mother can be a thankless role, but [Madeline] was a very colorful character.  I never knew the show would become what it became. 

How in general do you choose which roles you want to take?
I try not to repeat things.  I played two mothers in a row [on “Burn Notice” and “Nip/Tuck”], but they are totally different.  I try to do something that is unusual or something you don’t see on television all the time.  There is so much more to Madeline than just a manipulative mother.  She’s a difficult person, and she’s difficult for Michael to deal with, and there’s a lot of stuff underneath that is interesting about her. Both of her boys were damaged in their own ways. And with the potential longevity of a television series, a lot comes out about the characters.

Which of your characters are you most like?
There’s a little piece of me in everything that I’ve played.  I wasn’t like Chris Cagney, but there is a piece of me in there because I played her for so long. 

 What qualities of “Cagney and Lacey” do you think made it so resonant with audiences – even today? 
I think it was very daring for it’s time.  There were some episodes that some affiliate stations would not air.  It was the first time that there was this type of honesty between two characters – they talked about their intimate feelings and you saw their lives outside of the jobs. No other shows really dealt with alcoholism the way we did. I’ve seen shows where in one episode, a character is an alcoholic, and then she is cured.  We had the luxury to build it up over many years. 

What was it like reuniting with Tyne Daly for the “Cagney & Lacey” TV movies?
It was great!  When we finished the four movies, I was very, very sad saying goodbye to her.  We had a wonderful time together.  I didn’t enjoy playing Cagney in those movies as much as I did the series.  When they had Cagney married, I said “Ew! You can’t have her be married!” [laughs]  But being back onscreen with her again, it touched me more than I thought it would. 

Did you rewatch the series when it came out on DVD?  Any favorite episodes?
I never watch myself.  I cannot watch “Burn Notice,” and I couldn’t watch “Nip/Tuck.”  I’ve never been able to do it – all I see are the flaws.

 What’s next for “Burn Notice”?
They’re doing some fun stuff with my character this year.  You’ll see some stuff with Michael and me, maybe some stuff to resolve our issues.  It’s all very secretive. 

 What else do you have planned?
I am coming back to “Nip/Tuck.”  But I also can’t really say much about that – I’m sorry!  I was sworn to secrecy.

 That’s OK!  I’ll just have to watch and see.