Emmy Contenders: Mary Steenburgen talks ‘Justified,’ ‘Last Man on Earth’

Mary Steenburgen didn’t bring her accordion, but she graciously shared the story about how she came to write a song for Will Forte on “The Last Man on Earth.” And no, she can’t discuss playing Pornstache’s mother on the upcoming season of “Orange Is the New Black” (yet). She can (and did) talk about the beard her husband, Ted Danson, grew for his upcoming role on “Fargo” and how she made him shave it off, even though, for a time, she liked the whole sea captain look.

What we’re saying is that although Steenburgen (that’s pronounced Steen-bur-jen, despite what you’ll hear in the video) says she has long maintained that she’s “not that nice,” she really is. And she does a pretty great Valley accent.

The 62-year-old actress has enjoyed an amazing run on television this year, much to her surprise (“I kind of thought I’d be gardening,” she says) between her turns on “Justified,” “Last Man” and “Togetherness.”

“It’s been an extraordinary year and I’ve had such a good time,” Steenburgen says. “It’s kind of crazy because I don’t know that I expected this to happen at my age.”

Listen to the interview and you’ll understand why good things are coming her way.

Twitter: @glennwhipp