Though they were frequently at odds during episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, you couldn’t deny that Ray and Debra Barone loved each other. Be honest, you’d have to love someone a great deal to put up with a mother-in-law like that.

Off-screen, Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton were equally close and developed a friendship as actors. During an interview with the San Francisco Examiner, Heaton confessed that one of her favorite parts of the series was working with such incredible co-stars, including her on-screen husband.

“I’m always giving Ray (grief) about being annoying,” said Heaton. “But he’s such a great guy. He’s very talented, kind, generous, and funny, as are the rest of the cast members. So it’s a pleasure to go to work every day.”

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In other sitcoms, the role of the wife is typically relegated to side character status. However, Heaton noted that she appreciated the fact that the writers allowed Debra to become a three-dimensional character. Debra wasn’t seen as a nag; she was allowed to experience happiness and anger just like any other television character. She wasn’t reduced to her husband and children; they were a small detail of her entire personality.

“The role of Debra is different from your typical housewife,” said the actor, who added that she brought “a lot” of elements of her own life ot the character.

“I know the situations that we do every week are all ones that I encounter in my life or will encounter,” said Heaton.