Julianna Margulies talks meeting her lawyer husband with Ellen

Image Credit: Inset: Jeff Vespa/WireImage.comJulianna Margulies won her second consecutive SAG Award for The Good Wife on Sunday night, but at least among the people I was watching the ceremony with on Twitter, her husband, Keith Lieberthal, was the topic of conversation. (Okay, we also talked about how stunning she looks in red, whether wearing a gown or a suit.) As you may recall, Margulies thanked her in-laws for raising her husband in her acceptance speech. On Tuesday’s Ellen DeGeneres Show, she discusses the reaction to that speech, the random way she met her husband, and why we shouldn’t objectify him. (Note: I made an effort, Julianna, by using the adjective ‘lawyer’ in the headline instead of ‘hot.’) Enjoy the preview below:

Ellen: And your speech was great because you thanked people that sometimes don’t get thanked.

Julianna: The stir that I caused. No one has ever thanked their in-laws on public television. I had friends coming up to me, in the middle of the ceremony after my speech saying, “You realize you ruined it for all of us.” But I really meant it. I really love my in-laws. And I’m so proud of how they raised their two sons. My husband and his brother are just remarkable, good human beings. And I really meant it.

Ellen: It’s wonderful because you love your husband and obviously you loved the way that he was raised to become a great husband. And you met him how?

Julianna: I met my husband at a dinner party that I wasn’t going to go to through an agent I didn’t sign with… I remembered [the agent’s] birthday six months later and just texted him, “Happy birthday,” and he said, “I’m actually here in the city, come have dinner with us.” I was like, “I’ll come for a drink.” I just started a Broadway show so I didn’t want to stay out late. Famous last words. I went, and there was Keith. And Keith had gone to Dartmouth and this agent was his RA and he just happened to be at this dinner.

Ellen: And was it immediate? You knew right away?

Julianna: Yeah, it was immediate.

Ellen: And what does he do?

Julianna: He’s a lawyer.

Ellen: Well that’s good.

Julianna: Well it was one of those things… I feel bad because people objectify him and they’re like “Oh, your husband is so hot.” The truth is, he is unbelievably bright and smart and went to Harvard Law.

Ellen: Whatever. He’s very attractive.

Julianna: He’s attractive.

Ellen: And he looks like he’d be in this business.

Julianna: Well, when he came over to me, I said, “Look, I just think you are so handsome. Are you a model or an actor and are you 12 [years old]?”

Ellen: I love that that was the last question. I think you’d be concerned with 12 before the model and the actor.

Julianna: I love actors. I love working with them. I don’t want to live with them. I’ve been there and done it. They’re great.

Ellen: The 12 year olds? I know.

Julianna: I said, “‘Are you an actor?’ Because as much as I love you all, I can’t. I’m done.” And he’s like, “No, I’m a lawyer.” I’m like, “Really? Where do you practice?” And he’s like, “I was a Wall Street litigator for six years.” I was like “Really? You’re 12.” He’s like, “No, I’m not.” And I’m like, “What’s your name?” And he said, “Keith Lieberthal.” I was like, “You’re JEWISH?!”

Ellen: Kept getting better and better for me.

Julianna: Yeah, kept getting better and better and that was it.