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Jamie Lee Curtis Reveals Donna’s Emotional Redemption in The Bear Season 4

BBG News

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share my excitement when Jamie Lee Curtis revealed her desire to portray a role in “The Bear.” Watching the first episode, particularly the poignant scene between Carmy and Natalie, where the chef is struggling with his restaurant’s finances and his sister encourages him to call their mother, I found myself captivated. In that moment, as I was ensconced in my “witness protection cabin,” a wave of inspiration struck me – “I think I might just be her.” This was my intuition speaking about the character’s mother she was envisioning.

In just a few minutes, I found myself completely captivated by “Fishes,” the sixth episode of the second season. This is where we were introduced to Donna Berzatto, portrayed as Carmy and Natalie’s mother whose struggle with alcoholism and mania had made her home and family gatherings a mental minefield. Despite the stark contrast between this character and myself, I could still empathize with Donna’s battles against substance abuse and the complexities of motherhood. I found myself drawn to her darker traits, giving them full expression. The episode was electrifying and intense, earning Curtis an Emmy for his exceptional performance. By the end, Donna, after a night of heavy drinking, had left the Christmas dinner table, crashed a car into her house, and in doing so, shattered her bond with her son, leaving us all on the edge of our seats.

In Season 4, Donna is given an opportunity to right past wrongs. Approximately five years following a disastrous holiday, the ninth episode titled “Tonnato” sees her discussing her remorse with Carmy within her home. As they look at old family pictures, Donna confesses that she’s been sober for a year and reads an apology letter, admitting the harm she inflicted and explaining her reasons behind her questionable decisions. Eventually, Carmy responds in kind, expressing his guilt over abandoning the family and expressing his affection for her. This heartfelt, emotional conversation encapsulates the season’s themes of redemption and healing. Later on, as a symbol of reconciliation, Carmy prepares a chicken dinner for Donna, which he learned to cook while training as a chef at The French Laundry.

In this discussion, Curtis breaks down the impactful scene, sharing her perspective on portraying Donna and how aspects of her personal life influenced the character’s portrayal.

To put it frankly, your character often triggers a sense of unease within me whenever it’s on-screen. I believe this is largely due to the fact that we’ve primarily observed you from Carmy’s point of view.

As a cinephile, I must say, the masterful approach in this series was keeping Donna out of the picture for an impressive sixteen episodes. The tension and anticipation were skillfully constructed by having characters talk about her and witnessing Carmen’s palpable anxiety. It really made me wonder what Donna was like and added depth to the storytelling.

She’s constructed to cause turmoil. What struck me as captivating in episode 10 of Season 2 was the scene where they’re opening the restaurant, and Donna is standing outside smoking cigarettes—I told Chris Storer, “I believe [Donna] has been sober for four months now. She possesses enough self-awareness to understand her influence on people, especially when she drinks. The scene outside the restaurant represents the hesitation or struggle of addiction in someone who’s newly sober, as they grapple with their fragility.

In a few episodes during this current season, you can see me, particularly our chat with Carmen in Episode 9. I’m curious, what’s your experience like for you as you occasionally dive into Donna’s thoughts each year?

In an unusual production setup, Seasons 3 and 4 were filmed concurrently. As a result, I performed scenes that were broadcast as separate episodes in quick succession. First, I acted the hospital scene with Sugar, which was a whole episode. Then, two days later, I filmed my part at the wedding. The following day, I did a scene with Jeremy at home. This meant a lot of Donna, much like the Christmas episode where I appeared for three intense days before disappearing from the series again.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been an actress since my teenage years, dabbling in various roles that ranged from good to great, and unfortunately, plenty that were downright awful. Each artist has their unique approach, and Chris was no exception. Our relationship leading up to the Christmas episode was primarily text-based, with him expressing excitement about my arrival and me discussing his preferences for my hair and nails. He sent pictures of Monica Vitti for my hairstyle and the desperate housewives of New York for my nails, which were my only insights into his creative vision before we started filming “Fishes.” Walking onto the set that day, I sensed that Chris anticipated my preparedness to deliver a top-notch performance. This understanding boosted my confidence and provided me with the freedom to explore my craft, as I was well aware of the intensity and professionalism required for this project.

How did the first encounter between Donna and Carmy strike you, and what strategy did you envision using while writing it?

It’s been five years since Donna last saw Carmen at Christmas, yet there’s no on-screen reminder during the wedding. Despite being an integral part of the family, attending events like births and birthdays, she hasn’t encountered Carmen. When she finally sees him at the wedding, it’s clear that something significant is happening between them. Donna, being intelligent, recognizes this moment as crucial for both of them. She then has a touching scene with Sydney before making a quick exit, demonstrating her understanding and commitment to their shared recovery journey. In recovery lingo, “We suit up and show up,” which is exactly what Donna does. And who should she bump into but Michelle.

And Michelle says, “Are you good?” And we all know that question is Donna’s fire starter.

This device is a match striker, the common tool found in most homes for igniting matches by striking them against its surface. You can hear that click sound. Her reply was “I’m fine,” and then she expressed her intention to leave. She stated that she won’t engage in any games with Michelle. Instead, she plans to depart. And so, the scene is perfectly set for what comes next.

Yep.

I’m clean and have been for quite some time. I often interact with people who are also clean. Being clean involves accepting past mistakes. For recovering alcoholics or drug addicts, moving forward requires acknowledging the past. I believe Donna was reluctant to acknowledge it with him for a long time. It seems she’s been trying to come to terms with it for about a year now. She had kept a small note in her drawer, and when he visits, I think she intended to keep things casual – another term used in recovery. However, upon looking at the photos, she saw Mikey, which may have altered her plans.

Yeah, I wondering if you wrote that letter yourself.

It was from the script, but of course I did! 

Did that feel like a purifying or relieving moment – considering what such a gesture might symbolize in a broader sense between a mother and a son, as well as more personally between Donna and Carmy?

Extremely therapeutic, we were both fully aware of our actions. The dialogue is captivating. I discovered that raising a child with unique needs can be one of the most disempowering experiences for a parent. Personally, I have a child who has special requirements. My child has a learning disability. The sense of impotence you feel when you cannot aid them – even though you may find help elsewhere, you are unable to assist – is something that resonates deeply with me. Each time I watch the scene where she discusses Mike, it strikes a chord because it’s clear that he had those challenges since childhood. As a parent, feeling helpless in the face of your child’s struggles and not knowing how to help them can be overwhelming. Finding solace in alcohol only made it more manageable and convenient for her character to cope. To portray a woman grappling with these issues, and then to have writing that so eloquently expresses that feeling of powerlessness, turmoil, resulting guilt and self-loathing, and the subsequent addiction – all within one powerful narrative – I found it incredibly well-crafted.

In your interaction, the statement that resonated with me the strongest is when you say to Carmy, “I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, and I did that.” Is there a specific line or moment during our conversation that left a deep impression on you?

Indeed, the comments I made about Mike were based on facts, and I must deal with their consequences. When Sugar expressed her fear, I was taken aback, saying “I scared you?” The realization that my actions could affect another person so deeply was profound. It became apparent that we’re essentially strangers within this family. However, in moments of vulnerability, such as when Carmen acknowledged her past struggles as a mother and wife, she softened, apologizing for not being there for Donna. As Leonard Cohen poetically puts it, “There has to be cracks because that’s where the light comes in.” This is when we see Carmen truly understanding Donna’s complexities and the hardships she’s faced.

What was it like working with Jeremy that day?

As a movie enthusiast, these three young talents feel like my own children to me, even though our interactions have been casual and brief over the years. I don’t claim to be close friends with any of them, but we do maintain a connection here and there. We may not socialize much outside of work, but when it comes to acting together, he and I truly understand each other. There’s an unspoken bond between us that goes beyond the script. In actor lingo, he’s my scene partner – someone with whom I share a unique chemistry. Our preparations are minimal; we avoid meeting beforehand, waiting until the cameras start rolling to bring our characters to life. His eyes have this incredible quality of being expressive, soulful, sorrowful, and alive at times, radiating a deep emotional intensity that leaves me spellbound. This season showcases his talent beautifully, but it’s particularly evident in one scene where he cooks for his character. The final touch? That heartfelt gesture of cooking – the ultimate testament to their connection.

Is there anything more delightful than his return to his formative years at French Laundry, mastering the art of roasted chicken? Don’t you think that preparing a thoughtful meal might just be one of the most generous gestures towards someone else?

Absolutely. I’m not particularly fond of food, due to my upbringing. My mother, despite being incredibly beautiful and maintaining her youthful appearance throughout her life, was part of a generation of women in her industry who struggled with food due to the pressures of the studio system. Many of her friends succumbed to the effects of aging, but she managed to ward it off through strict dieting. As a result, my diet growing up consisted mainly of cereal and grilled cheese sandwiches, which were like gold to me. However, I’ve discovered that I can make quite a tasty penne dish with just butter, garlic salt, and a touch of parmesan cheese. Recently, I learned that this simple meal is one of my elder daughter Annie’s fond memories from her high school years. Knowing that I played a part in creating such a cherished memory for her brings me comfort.

I feel somewhat ashamed since it’s not like the chicken cooked at The French Laundry, yet preparing and presenting it as something special holds great emotion for me. Naturally, Carmy would prepare and cook a beautiful chicken for his mother in a silent expression of love. This act is deeply touching, and indeed, symbolizes his apology for past actions – staying away from her and not confronting difficult situations. It’s quite impactful to conclude the series with such a meaningful full-circle moment.

He also tells you not to wash chicken in the sink. 

Absolutely, indeed! He’s implying that Salmonella can spread widely. It may seem like it only goes down the drain, but actually, you’re contaminating your sink instead.

How did it feel, experiencing a moment of reconciliation with Donna instead of continuing the role of such a ruthless adversary, during this healing and redemptive season?

Born to parents who struggled with alcoholism.
I’ve battled substance abuse myself, dealing with both drugs and alcohol.
I’ve sadly lost numerous friends due to addiction issues.
Tragically, my younger brother passed away at 21 from an accidental heroin overdose.
In this world, it often seems as though there’s little redemption to be found.
When discussing a villain, it can feel like villains are in control of the world currently.
From a spiritual perspective, if we aren’t healing, we’re merely existing.
I wasn’t sure if Donna would find healing or get another chance.
In Season 3, I had an inkling that Season 4 was coming, but I didn’t know for certain.
I may not know their backstories exactly, but if we aren’t healing, what are we doing?
So, I am profoundly thankful that Chris granted everyone a moment of mercy – every single character’s story!

At the culmination of Season 3, Carmen expressed her belief about the restaurant: “To achieve excellence, one must eliminate the subpar.” In my view, the entire season aligned remarkably well with this guiding principle.

What a stunning achievement! The final touch – like the cherry on top of a sundae – indicates that those sandwich shops will thrive. We can predict their success based on the numbers. They’re destined to become popular spots. However, Carmen understands he needs to take a step back and let these people run things. And by stepping away, he’s giving them an opportunity to grow while he embarks on his own journey of self-discovery: figuring out who Carmen truly is.

And he’ll be able to do it with a mother in his life now. 

Absolutely, Donna has been sober lately. Let’s hope she continues her sobriety journey. I myself have managed to stay clean. Something truly touching happened on the day this TV series released – a friend from Los Angeles sent me an image of a billboard on Sunset Boulevard. It was from the Foundation for a Better Life, under their “Pass It On” program, showcasing inspiring individuals and ideas. My picture was there with a caption that read, “My Bravest Thing? Getting Sober. Recovery. Pass it On.” This coincided with Jamie and Donna, who had separate stories but the same condition, also achieving sobriety around the same time. It felt like another beautiful moment of synchronicity.

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2025-06-28 01:07

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