Leslie Jordan on Will & Grace: How Beverly Leslie Came To Be

Will & Grace writer/director Jeff Greenstein reflected on Twitter on how Leslie Jordan came into everyone’s lives as Karen Walker’s nemesis, in the character of Beverly Leslie.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Leslie Jordan, obviously, reflecting upon his brilliance, marveling that I got to spend a few years in the company of such an extraordinary comedic talent — and realized that y’all may not know the story of how Beverley Leslie came to be. (cont’d.)

— Jeff Greenstein (@blue439) October 25, 2022

“I’ve been thinking a lot about Leslie Jordan, obviously, reflecting upon his brilliance, marveling that I got to spend a few years in the company of such an extraordinary comedic talent — and realized that y’all may not know the story of how Beverley Leslie came to be. We’d done an episode late in Season 2 of Will & Grace featuring Joan Collins as Helena Barnes, a rival member of Karen’s social circle. Joan was a total delight, and we immediately began contriving ways to have her back on the show.

In Season 3 we cooked up a story in which Helena tries to steal Karen’s beloved Rosario away from her. The episode climaxed with a high-stakes game of billiards, with the winner getting to “keep” the housekeeper.

Now, Helena had been abrasive before, but in writing this episode we pushed her much, much further. And when Joan Collins read the finished script, she passed. Emphatically. Although she’d sloppily eaten tacos in her first episode, this was a bridge too far.

So now what? Not wanting to trash a promising storyline, we decided to simply develop another rival for Karen. And I believe it was Max Mutchnick who started talking about “Beverley Leslie,” a deeply closeted gay man living off an unseen sugar-mama wife named Crystal.

We took the Collins script, did a simple search-and-replace of “Helena” with “Beverley,” polished up a line or two, and casting director Tracy Lilienfield proceeded to work her magic. And from the moment Leslie Jordan stepped on our stage, we knew we’d found gold.

Not only was Leslie a comedic genius, and his repartee with Megan Mullally delicious, but his Southernness added a flavor to the show which was irresistible. Any time he wandered into an episode, he brought us a touch of Tennessee Williams.

Which is what I was thinking of when I pitched the line “Karen Walker. I thought I smelled gin and regret.” This week that line has found its way into virtually every Leslie Jordan obituary. I’ve learned that apparently you can even get it on a potholder.

And it makes me just a little bit happy during a sad time to be part of the great Leslie Jordan’s legacy. R.I.P., maestro.”

–Jeff Greenstein