Simon Baker has disclosed that his mother, Elizabeth Labberton, was overjoyed when she learned he had been cast in the upcoming crime drama Scarpetta, based on Patricia Cornwell's bestselling book series. The Australian actor shared on the Today show that his mother is a devoted fan of the 29-book series, which follows forensic pathologist Dr Kay Scarpetta.
“My mom's a huge fan of the books. She'd read all of them. And so when I mentioned it, she kind of…she nearly jumped out of her skin, her voice went very high,” Baker recalled. He added that since filming began, she has re-read the entire series and constantly quizzes him about the adaptation. “She sort of quizzes me constantly about like, 'Well, how are they dealing…' and I'm like, 'Mom, please.'”
The 56-year-old actor noted that his mother has always been supportive, even offering critiques on his earlier work. “The first job I ever did, the only critique she had was about the woman that played my mother in the show…she thought there could've been someone else that could've played that role better.”
Baker, who grew up in Tasmania and later moved to New Guinea, was raised primarily by his mother after his parents separated when he was two. He did not learn that his father, Barry Baker, was not a family friend but his biological father until he was 18. Reflecting on his family history, he said, “Families have many different forms, and I think if you can look at your own past and the past of your ancestors with compassion, you can carry that forward with you with a little bit more wisdom.”
In Scarpetta, Baker plays FBI profiler Benton Wesley alongside Nicole Kidman as Dr Scarpetta and Jamie Lee Curtis as her sister. He adopted a Virginian accent for the role, describing the process as “like learning a song” that required extensive practice. He praised his co-stars, saying, “You're talking about consummate professionals. Jamie produced the show, Nicole's company produced the show as well, everyone's invested in doing the best work that they can do.”
