TV Exclusive: Meet the Nominees- THE ELEPHANT MAN's Patricia Clarkson- 'We Had No Idea!'

We are yet another day closer to the biggest night on every theatre-lover's calendar- the 69th Annual Tony Awards, which will be co-hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming on Sunday, June 7 (8PM on CBS). Earlier this month, the 2015 Tony nominees gathered to meet the press and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big day. Below, we bring you an exclusive interview with Patricia Clarkson, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play nominee for The Elephant Man.

Broadway: The House of Blue Leaves, Eastern Standard. Off-Broadway: Three Days of Rain, The Author's Voice, The Vanishing Act, The Maiden's Prayer, Raised in Captivity. Kennedy Center: A Streetcar Named Desire. Films: Cairo Time; Easy A; Whatever Works; Shutter Island; Good Night, and Good Luck; Far From Heaven (NYFCC Award); The Green Mile; The Untouchables; High Art (Independent Spirit nomination); The Station Agent (SAG nomi- nation, National Board of Review Award); Pieces of April (Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG nominations, National Board of Review Award). Upcoming films: Learning to Drive, October Gale. TV: "Six Feet Under" (Emmy Award 2002 and 2006), "Parks and Recreation"

Based on the real life of Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man tells the story of a 19th-century man (Cooper) who became a star of the traveling freak show circuit. When the renowned Dr. Treves (Nivola) takes Merrick under his care, he is astonished by the man's brilliant intelligence, unshakable faith and, most of all, his resounding desire for love and understanding. He introduces Merrick to the beautiful actress Mrs. Kendal (Clarkson), who is deeply touched by this pure and genuine soul. As a complex friendship blossoms among the three, Treves and Kendal struggle to protect Merrick from a world of questionable intentions... and so begins a story of love as unique as "The Elephant Man" himself.