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Julianna Margulies
Article - Local LA Interview
Channel 5

Interview With ER's Julianna Margulies
For six seasons now, the opening music to "ER" has brought millions of Americans to their television sets.

"ER" is the most popular show, and Julianna Margulies, who plays Nurse Carol Hathaway, is the one we connect with.

Whether she's saving lives, or explaining life in the emergency room to a newcomer, we've come to expect her down-to-earth observations. And she has them about real life as well.

Margulies is leaving the show at the end of the season, and she's turned down a reported $27-million contract. Life is not about money, she says.

Julianna Margulies, Nurse Carol Hathaway on 'ER': "Unfortunately, I think our society is based a lot on money these days, with all the millionaire shows, and 'greed.' That's a pretty great name for it, 'greed.' It's not that I don't want to make money, I do. But you can't base your life decisions on money. I think you'd end up being a very sad human being."

Her decision to leave "ER," she says, was not an easy one.

Julianna Margulies: "I really just had to go with my gut and my heart. And it said that I love this role so much and I don't know what else I could do with her. Six years of playing the same character is really challenging and I have the utmost respect for television actors who go beyond six years."

Julianna Margulies:: "I feel like I'm leaving at the right time. It saddens me, but we're leaving on great terms, you know, I'm not leaving anyone out in the cold. I completed my contract and I'm very grateful and hopefully, hopefully the Hathaway character will live on in the hearts of the viewers."

But before she goes, there are rumors about what will happen-- one romantic scenario has Nurse Hathaway's love interest, the father of her twins-- Dr. Ross (George Clooney)-- returning to marry her and they go off to live happily every after.

Julianna Margulies: "I have no idea. In all honesty, I'm really not giving you lip. I don't know and I think even if they knew, they wouldn't tell me because they know you all are asking me questions like that. So, there's been nothing reported to me. George and I had lunch the other day, and he hadn't been approached and I haven't been told anything, except that hopefully I'll get a good send-off and the audience will be satisfied."

Starchives - Julianna Margulies - Interview - Local LA Interview
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