I’m thrilled to host Carla Neggers today on the blog to talk about her favorite girl who wears glasses! As you know, I’ve been asking some of my favorite authors (and non-authors!) to join the blog to celebrate ladies in lenses — the unsung among us — in honor of my most recent release One Good Earl Deserves a Lover.
Fellow New Englander and New York Times bestseller Carla Neggers has joined us today to talk her favorite — NCIS genius Henrietta Lange, played by the bespectacled Linda Hunt! Welcome Carla!
Having worn glasses since the age of nine. I’m always on the lookout for a glam girl in glasses, but I have to say, I’m going with Henrietta Lange. Hetty! CBS describes her as “all-knowing,” and NCIS-LA wouldn’t be the same without her. Played by Linda Hunt, Hetty is a woman of a certain age, eccentric, experienced and confident. She has a past. She embraces her age, her diminutive size and her femaleness without apology or excuse. You’d want her on your side in a fight as much as you’d want her to choose the tea if you were meeting her for a chat. You’d probably want her to choose the scones, too.
Hetty also has secrets, and a girl who wears glasses must have secrets. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think she started out on the series in owlish glasses that have become more rectangular. And she’s always got them clipped to…what is that called? The thing that you clip your glasses to so you can take them off and let them dangle down your front like a necklace. I’ve never worn one myself. I always need glasses. I even have a pair just for the computer. They cut down on eyestrain. Would Hetty worry about eyestrain? I think not. She worries about bigger things: her agents, national security, people who use teabags.
For me, Hetty’s fabulousness derives from her confidence in who she is now, not ten or thirty years ago or tomorrow. She has a past but it’s not where she lives. She lives today, and I like that.
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I like that, too, Carla. All hail Hetty!
Your turn, readers! If you could take tea with any television character, which one would you choose? Tell us in comments, and one lucky winner will win Carla’s latest release (out this month!) That Night on Thistle Lane! (US only)
February 16th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
I think Hettie is great, I’d love to have tea with her. NCIS LA is one of my fave shows & Hettie is part of the reason (ok, yes there’s great eye candy, but that only goes so far) :)
February 16th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
If Hettie leaves NCIS LA, I’ll just cry… I love her character!
February 16th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
By the way, tea with Hetty would be my fave… we can also invite Gibbs…
February 16th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
I am going to pick Abby from NCIS. I love her character and I’ve seen her on talk shows and she seems like a wonderful person. She does work with over 30 charities with some being pet related which I am also interested.
catslady5(at)aol.com
February 16th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Hetty is a riot. I would love to chat and have tea with Hercule Poirot portrayed by David Suchet.
February 16th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
If I could have tea with any television character it would be Doris Roberts or as they call her, Marie Barone from “Everybody Loves Raymond”. She has this homey feel. I never knew my grandma(s), but if I can wish for one, I’d want a grandma like Marie. She’s an awesome woman.
February 16th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
I’d like to have tea with Lucille Ball, from her I Love Lucy series. What a wonderful comic talent she was. (And she wore glasses sometimes!) Thanks for a fun column. Hettie is a great character.
February 16th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
I’d like to have tea with Betty White. She just cracks me up!
February 16th, 2013 at 4:52 pm
Castle, Nathan Fillion
February 16th, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Phoebe from Friends
February 18th, 2013 at 11:53 pm
I’m obsessed with the ABC show Castle. So, I’d pick Kate Beckett. That show is amazing!