Patty Hewes
| Patty Hewes | |
|---|---|
| Damages character | |
 |
|
| First appearance | "Get Me a Lawyer" |
| Last appearance | "But You Don't Do That Anymore" |
| Created by | Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman |
| Portrayed by | Glenn Close |
| Information | |
| Occupation |
Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court Lawyer |
| Spouse(s) | Phil Grey (divorced) |
| Children | Julia Hewes (stillborn) Michael Hewes (deceased) |
Patricia "Patty" C. Hewes is a fictional character on the American legal thriller Damages, portrayed by Glenn Close. Being described as "ruthless", "master manipulator" and "brilliant", Patty is a high-stakes litigator managing her own law firm called Hewes & Associates. Conceived as "woman who commands power and influence in a male-dominated world" the character is wildly praised for its complexity and the acting performances of its portrayer, Close.
Serving as the show's protagonist, Patty's and Ellen's mentor-protégée relationship is the focal point of the show. Starting as ordinary associates and eventually progressing to a mother-daughter like relationship. Patty's behavior towards her opponents (most notably Arthur Frobisher), clients and her estranged relations with her son Michael are recurring storylines that are frequently explored.
Since the show's pilot episode Patty's character and Close's performance are subjects of constant praise. One example is Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle who wrote that "it's Close who makes Damages a series to contend with" and called her "compelling". Close's portrayal earned her numerous awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and one Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama among others.
The daughter of a judge, Patty grew up surrounded by the legal system and a desire to become a lawyer. However, her notions of justice were warped by the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, who to his peers was a fair and honest judge but in private, was a sadistic bully. As such, Patty developed a hatred for those who use their positions of power to bully and torment others. She married young, to a man who supported her as she made her way through law school. But she remained pregnant while landing a job at a powerful law firm in New York City. Her first husband demanded that she turn down the job and postpone her dreams of becoming a lawyer in order to raise their child. And, after being told that her pregnancy would require her to stay in bed, Patty opted to induce a miscarriage while riding a horse. The loss of her child (a girl) would haunt Patty, who quickly divorced her husband and began her law career.
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Wikipedia