Nerves can get the better of even the most talented performers. Vicki Lawrence was the youngest cast member when she was hired to appear on The Carol Burnett Show. However, the young actor held her own with comedic legends like Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. More importantly, she learned the art of good humor from greats like Carol Burnett. By the time Lawrence departed The Carol Burnett Show, it seemed she was ready for anything.

But inside, Lawrence seemed to feel entirely differently. When offered the opportunity to star in her own series, Mama’s Family, the actor resisted. The sitcom was based on a character Lawrence knew and loved, and had frequently played on The Carol Burnett Show. Still, she was nervous about standing on her own.

“I hesitated because I was concerned whether I could carry a show by myself,” said Lawrence during an interview with Tulsa World. Luckily, what motivated Lawrence wasn’t the thought of easy work; it was the opportunity to overcome an impossible obstacle.

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“I think I can do it now,” said the actor. “It’s going to be a challenge.”

Luckily, Lawrence understood that playing comedy in any meaningful way was impossible without a bit of emotion. Mama was funny, but she was also human, and that’s what led audiences to sympathize with her.

“Most people who approach me love Mama,” said Lawrence. “She’s feisty because she’s basically a lonely old lady who spent her early years having babies. What she does to her children is a defense mechanism. She’s afraid of being lonely.”