Patricia Heaton, at Home and With 'Raymond'

L O S   A N G E L E S, Sept. 9 -- Patricia Heaton has more pressing things on her mind than her Emmy nomination for best actress in a comedy series.

“All that you’ve starved for and worked for, for years, comes true and then someone’s Batman backpack can undermine everything.”

Speaking from her dressing room on the set of Everybody Loves Raymond in Los Angeles in the days leading up to the Emmys, Heaton was clear about her priorities: She is a real mother first, and a TV mom second.

“Today John had his first day of kindergarten,” she said, referring to the second of her four sons with British actor David Hunt. “I’m not convinced we’re out of the woods yet.”

Heaton took the Emmy Award nomination in stride, having gone through the experience last year. “It’s really exciting once you get there, but it doesn’t really hit you until they are announcing your category. Then the adrenaline really shoots up.”

Heaton is well-respected for her edgy banter with standup comedian Ray Romano. “Ray and I are presenting this year,” she said, “so we have that extra added thing of trying to be funny in 10 seconds.”

The Cleveland-born actress got her first featured role eight years ago on the critically acclaimed, but short lived, Room for Two, in which she played the grown daughter of the show’s star, Linda Lavin. Heaton sees a similarity between the two programs. “It was really relationship-based as opposed to situation-based. They call ‘Raymond’ a relationship comedy.”

Family Building Together

All five members of Raymond’s ensemble cast were nominated this year. “Finally,” Patricia added, praising co-stars Romano, Brad Garret, who plays the hulking sad sack brother as well as Peter Boyle, and Doris Roberts, the veteran thespians who play her annoying in-laws. “I think it’s why the show works so well. Everybody really has each others rhythm down. We’ve been together for five years.”