Laurie Metcalf Says She Hasn’t Spoken to Roseanne Barr Since “Roseanne” Was Canceled

Laurie Metcalf, widely recognised for her portrayal of Jackie Harris on the beloved sitcom *Roseanne*, recently revealed that she has not had any communication with co-star Roseanne Barr since the show’s cancellation. In an interview with *The New Yorker* published on April 27, Metcalf, now 70, reflected on her extensive career, which first took off at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago before transitioning to television and film.

Metcalf’s role as Jackie Harris, the sister of Barr’s character Roseanne Conner, spanned the original series from 1988 to 1997, and she reprised the role in the show’s 2018 revival. However, this revival was short-lived. Following a controversial tweet from Barr, in which she likened former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape, the series was abruptly cancelled. The subsequent fall saw ABC rebrand the show as *The Conners*, with the narrative altering significantly to include the death of Roseanne’s character due to an opioid overdose.

During the interview, Metcalf reported that she was the last original cast member to commit to *The Conners*, indicating that the decision was fraught with emotional complexities. Sara Gilbert, who played Roseanne’s daughter Darlene, commented that, “We’d all had a personal relationship with Roseanne, and it was just not an easy decision for Laurie, or any of us.”

Metcalf described the atmosphere while filming *The Conners* as one filled with a “general sadness.” Despite these feelings, the series proved successful, running for seven seasons from 2018 until 2025. While Metcalf did address the status of her relationship with Barr, she clarified that there was “nothing controversial” regarding their silence; they simply parted ways after the reboot’s conclusion.

Her talents as an actress were widely acknowledged during her time on *Roseanne*, where she secured three Emmy Awards and received five nominations overall, including one for the 2018 revival. Initially, however, Metcalf had reservations about joining a sitcom, fearing she might become typecast in a single genre. “I thought, Oh, my God, I’m going to be typecast for the rest of my life,” she confessed, admitting she was also somewhat intimidated by Barr, who she viewed as a “self-made” star.

As time went on, Metcalf discovered a strong on-screen chemistry with Barr, noting that the scripts presented a compelling sisterly bond that aligned with Barr’s own real-life experiences. “On the page was a very strong sister relationship,” Metcalf recalled, emphasising how she sought to portray that connection while maintaining the show’s comedic essence.

John Goodman, who played Barr’s on-screen husband Dan, also revealed that he had not spoken to Barr in “about seven or eight years.” Reflecting on their long-standing relationship and its silence, he suggested, “I’d rather doubt if she wants to talk to me.”

In an earlier conversation with *PEOPLE* from October 2018, Metcalf discussed her return to the set of *The Conners*, describing the experience as both “awkward but not awkward.” The emotional nuances of the first day on set were palpable, as cast members checked in with one another amidst the changes. In one poignant scene featuring Metcalf and Gilbert, they addressed the fictional death of Roseanne, drawing on the shared emotional weight of the moment. “In this case, there was no need to substitute something, because it was there. And it was real,” she said, noting the difficulty of revisiting such deep emotions.

Currently, Metcalf is starring in Netflix’s *Big Mistakes*, which debuted on April 9. She is also making a splash on Broadway in a revival of *Death of a Salesman*, sharing the stage with theatre legend Nathan Lane. A seasoned performer, she has clinched two Tony Awards for her roles in *A Doll’s House, Part 2* and *Three Tall Women*.

As Laurie Metcalf continues to evolve her career in theatre and television, the legacy of her role as Jackie Harris within the *Roseanne* universe endures, despite the complicated history surrounding its cast and creator.