George Michael better watch out. The Divine Miss L. is out to track him down.
"I heard that George Michael is using some of my voice tracks on his new album," Loretta Devine joked last week in talking about the musical number she and the singer perform during tonight's season finale of ABC's "Eli Stone." "Well, if he does, he's going to have to pay me," punctuating the line with one of her trademark high-pitched giggles.
If Michael does include Devine on his record, it would add another coup for the multitalented actress whose 25-year career has really heated up over the last several years. Whether it's being a regular on "Eli Stone," a recurring role on "Grey's Anatomy," or scene-stealing turns on the stage and screen, Devine seems to be everywhere at once.
"I feel truly blessed," Devine said while relaxing in a conference room on the Walt Disney Studios lot where "Eli Stone" is filmed. "I've always been a working actress, always been able to make a living doing what I love. And I'm happy with where I am in my career. I can work in big movies and TV shows and still go to Walgreens. I get to do what I love and still have a life."
Right for the role
The Houston native is still feeding off the excitement of singing with Michael on "Eli Stone," where she plays the title character's grumpy secretary, Patti. Like everyone else on the show, she's still waiting to hear whether the series, about an attorney who has psychic visions that often contain production numbers, will be picked up for next season.
Marc Guggenheim, who created the series with Greg Berlanti, said Patti was always described as like a "Loretta Devine character" during development.
"We auditioned a lot of people, and were thrilled when we heard that Loretta was interested in doing it," he said. "She was brilliant -- she has incredible comedic talent. We also knew she could sing, but it blew us away."
In a few weeks, Devine will return to her recurring role on "Grey's Anatomy" as Adele, the estranged wife of Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.). "People come up to me all the time and say, 'Why you so mean to that man?' " she said with another giggle. "I say, 'Well, for one thing, he cheated on me!' "
