Interview

Kathy Kinney's mother-to-be Mimi on her "rainbow child"

KATHERINE HARRIS ASIDE, no one overdoes makeup better than TV's Mimi, aka Kathy Kinney. As the brassy, take-me-as-I-am co-worker from hell on ABC's popular Drew Carey Show, Kinney's wacky-wardrobe-wearing alter ego takes camp to a new level that has struck a chord with scores of put-upon employees. In this Wednesday's episode of the sitcom, Mimi -- who is married to Drew's cross-dressing brother -- gives birth. Kinney, 47 and single in real life, gave us the scoop on the baby and how to keep employees happy:

Will Mimi's baby wear colorful "onesies" and clown makeup?
It will be a rainbow child, I'm sure.

Have you ever refused to get into one of Mimi's get-ups?
No. When Mimi was giving birth, I said, "Please tell me I'll be wearing bloomers under my hospital gown" -- and we all laughed, because I had to spend the entire episode with my feet up in stirrups, facing the audience.

We spend billions in our quest to look good. Where do you think people should draw the line? Mimi obviously doesn't!
I had this teenage syndrome I carried for years where I wanted people to look at me, but I didn't want anyone to look at me. I wanted to be beautiful. I bought all this makeup, but I got it home and there was no way I was going to wear it because I didn't want anyone to see I had it on. To this day, I love to wear makeup that doesn't look like I'm wearing makeup -- which is the antithesis of Mimi.

Yet Mimi has become a kind of role model for every woman who isn't a size 4. Who's her role model?
Elizabeth Taylor. Not to insult Elizabeth Taylor ... but in her heyday, with her big makeup. That sort of decadent star of the '60s.

Before you got into acting you were a secretary, like Mimi.
A very good one, but I probably had a bad attitude.

It certainly shows in your acting. What should bosses do to inspire better attitudes in their employees?
Topmost, treat them with respect. Remember they have complicated lives, just like you. And give them really nice presents.