I'M NOT DONE YET

The Knots Landing alum shares the long road she's traveled and the lessons learned

- MICHELE LEE

The only cast member to appear in all 344 episodes of Knots Landing during the CBS primetime soap’s long run, Michele Lee received a 1982 Emmy nomination for her role as the ever-optimistic Karen MacKenzie. But that wasn’t her most meaningful takeaway from the job. “My character, Karen, and Joan Van Ark’s character, Val, were best friends,” Michele, who turned 83 in June, tells Closer. “Because of that we became just as close in real life. For years we'd send each other cards and sign them ‘Val’ and ‘Karen.’”

Michele starred on Knots Landing from 1979 through 1993.

For many years, Michele, Joan and their other former castmate Donna Mills were hoping to launch a reality show called We’re Knot Done Yet. Now it’s become a reality as an intimate podcast. “I was actually trying to stay away from Knots Landing things, but people love the show so much,” Michele says of the soap that’s streaming on Amazon Prime and Plex. “And how in the world could I say ‘no’ to my girlfriends? As it turns out, we’re having the best time and talking about personal things that our audience just might be able to relate to.”

What were you like as a child?

I always felt like a girl who didn’t belong, looking into a window with all the other kids inside dancing and laughing. Girls who were prettier than me, better than me. And sometimes that feeling pops up its ugly head during my adult life. Part of being funny for me is hiding behind that insecurity.

Did your parents approve of your show business aspirations?