hughes as he sees him and what fascinates him about hughes iser hughes. >> right, and he's constructed a story around hughes he has created himself which he's worked in great detail on. so, yeah, it's extremely exciting. >> charlie: does it get him out of the house? [ laughter ] >> yes! it's great to see him out of the house and running around the movie set and doing everything because, you know, he's writing it, directing it, acting in it. >> charlie: wouldn't have it any other way, would he? >> exactly, that would be wrong. >> charlie: what's your role? i'm playing -- there's a wonderful young girl that comes into the story, and i -- >> charlie: a lot of young people come into the story. >> that's right. you know, you can divulge that. that's very good. see, i'm afraid to divulge that. >> charlie: might be trouble at home? >> exactly, i don't want to get in trouble! [ laughter ] but he knew i was coming to see you. >> charlie: yeah. and i'm playing her mother, so, yeah. >> charlie: so your family -- ben is, you told me, showing great talent as perhaps an actor but he loves politics a

. >> charlie: about howard hughes. >> and george clooney. >> charlie: clint eastwood. look at eastwood's career. >> charlie: body of work. yeah, i just never had a chance to direct -- >> charlie: they don't just give you the chance. you have to want to really want it badly. >> i decked directing on tv but i was on tv almost 15 years straight. i had a great run with my show "hart to hart." >> charlie: yeah. and "it takes a thief" and "switch" and all the movies. i went in that direction, and it was wonderful for me. i mean, put my kids through school and gave me a world-wide name. >> charlie: but you seem also to be, to me -- and what do i know -- you seem to be part of hollywood royalty and, so, that all the network executives and all the people sort of like your social company as well. yes? >> i hope so. >> charlie: it's true. you had a place there because you may have been there for a while, but you were also part of the community, and you saw them at dinner and they liked you because you were smart, attractive, had a great family, et cetera. >> i think so. i think s