Debra Barone cooks, cleans and devotes time to her children. She also tackles big questions like where do we go when we die? Who is Debra Barone? She's the made-up wife and mom played by Patricia Heaton in the hit sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond.
Playing Debra isn't difficult for Heaton. Many of the conversations she has with her TV husband, Ray, played by Ray Romano, are like those she might have with her real-life husband, English actor David Hunter, she says.
But the similarities in their lives may end there.
Debra accuses Ray of not being home enough. He's either at the newspaper where he works as a sportswriter, or playing basketball or golf with his friends. Debra has even scheduled crying time when Ray takes the kids out.
Debra is a bad cook. She's ruined meals and her house isn't always clean. She gets frustrated with Ray and his meddling parents. She's tried getting back into the work force, but was fired. Yet, she goes on.
That quality is similar in Heaton. She courageously juggles her Hollywood career and a family of four boys - ranging from toddler to age seven. Her goal is to give her boys an upbringing like the one she had. That's one of the things that make Heaton unique among the Hollywood crowd.
Sure, she's part of a hugely successful sitcom that's received numerous Emmy awards, including Heaton's two for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and she's on the cover on numerous magazines, and yes, she lives in a city that offers temptations galore. But Heaton has found a way to stay true to her beliefs about God and His purpose in her life.
"When I was growing up, my home was very Christ-centered," Heaton shared in an interview with ibelieve.com. "I'm trying to give my children the same thing," she says.
While she grew up in a family with strong religious beliefs, Heaton's faith has become more personal over the past few years. She's trying to pass that to her children, encouraging them to make Jesus the centre of their life.
"Parents here want to jump-start education for their kids," she says. "While I feel education is very important, without Christ, education doesn't matter.
"Wisdom is different from knowledge. You can know a lot, but if your heart isn't focused with Christ at the centre, then everything ultimately doesn't work."
Heaton was one of five kids growing up in a suburb of Cleveland. In her book which released last fall, Hollywood and Motherhood (Villard Books), Heaton says she suffers from Way too Normal and Happy Upbringing Syndrome, or WTNHUS. She makes no apologies for it. Nor does she apologize for her focus on family and God.
The book, a collection of lessons learned and personal thoughts on life, parenting, marriage, fame and success, includes walks through her childhood where summers were spent outside playing or trying to bat fireflies and winters meant sledding and snowball fights.
For the most part, Heaton's life was pretty uneventful with the normal childhood tragedies of a broken window or fights with a friend. Her mom stayed home taking care of the children and everyday activities. That was until she was 12. Her mother died suddenly and unexpectedly; it's a moment that Heaton talks about in her book and in interviews.
Her favourite memory of her mother was when Heaton was three or four and a courier delivered a package - unusual for the family. It was a tea set Heaton's mom had ordered off the back of a cereal box. "I was ecstatic, jumping around, and I remember saying, I love you, Mom!"
Her dad, a sports writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, was considered a local celebrity in the midwestern town. This brought with it some privileges, like attending Cleveland Browns football games. It also helped prepare her for her own success, she says.
Her first taste of acting success was in the Broadway gospel musical, Don't Get God Started. Heaton then formed an acting company with fellow students and produced plays off-Broadway. She was discovered during one of the productions in Los Angeles. Between 1987 to 1994 Heaton appeared in several TV shows before earning her starring role on Raymond in 1997. Today the show is among TV's most watched programs.
Heatons' Christian faith has helped her handle success. It's something she shares with her boys. "More than anything, I want my children to have a personal, daily relationship with the Lord," she says.
Heaton reads Bible stories with her kids daily. She also tries to be a good example to them, including practicing what she preaches.
She demonstrated that recently at the American Music Awards where she was a scheduled presenter. Offended by the content of the program, she got up and left.
". . . what was passing for humour basically ranged from stupid to vulgar, and I just thought, I'm not going to be part of this.' " Heaton told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"I really didn't know what I was getting into," says Heaton. There was lots of swearing on the stage and one of the presenters even pulled a woman's blouse open.
"It felt like I was in the Roman Coliseum. As far as I'm concerned, it was an affront to anyone with a shred of dignity, self-respect and intelligence," comments Heaton.
These are qualities Heaton brings to life in her portrayal of Debra Barone. Debra has been known to stand up to other parents when they're out of line.
Maybe she's the reason Everybody Loves Raymond.
