Actress Kate Mulgrew, a Dubuque native, was back in her hometown Tuesday night for the Dubuque County Democrats 2009 Hall of Fame banquet.

Her father, T. J. Mulgrew, was posthumously inducted into the hall of fame, along with six others who have made their mark on local Democratic politics.

County Auditor Denise Dolan, County Recorder Kathy Flynn Thurlow, Pat Kelly, Joann McCauley and (posthumously) Sylvester and Mike McCauley were also honored during the event.

Before Mulgrew delivered the banquet's keynote address, she sat down for an interview with the Telegraph Herald.

Question: What do you think it would mean to your father, being remembered by his fellow Democrats this way?

Answer: I think it would absolutely thrill my father. This is the kind of place and the kind of group and the kind of community that my father responded to, with absolute vitality. These are his people and this is his quarter and I think the only person missing tonight, in a palpable way, is my dad. Which is why the entire family has come together, because we recognize the specialness

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of this occasion.

Question: You obviously inherited your mother's artistic talent. Did you also get some of your dad's interest in politics?

Answer: I have indeed. I married, the second time, a real politician, another yellow dog Democrat who ran for the governorship of Ohio and the mayoral and congressional races in Ohio and he's currently the county executive in Cuyahoga County, Tim Hagan. So I love fire in the belly, and I love ideology, and I love social and civic responsibility. And my father made that very clear to us, that we have to be responsible for one another.

Question: I understand there's a birthday coming up (Wednesday).

Answer: You do? Oh, that very, very young girl. She's celebrating her 40th (Wednesday) or something like that (laughing). Don't you dare start with me. I've taken so much ribbing from my family today. Yes, another birthday.

Question: Is there going to be a party?

Answer: Yes, there will be a party. I think they're taking me out for dinner. They better.

Question: You'll be in town for how long?

Answer: I'm leaving Thursday morning, at the crack.

Question: Where is your home these days?

Answer: New York City.

Question: What kind of acting projects are you involved in?

Answer: I just shot a wonderful pilot for NBC and if it goes to series that will be my next thing. I'll learn that in the next week. It's called "Mercy," for NBC about nurses out of Iraq. I play the mother. Things have changed. But it's wonderful, beautifully written.