VIRAL! Lisa Edelstein's House-Call Confession: Her Real-Life Love for Rescue Pets Will Win You Over!

I'M NOT FEELING WELL WHEN I ANSWER THE PHONE. It's that time of year, I guess. The one that leaves you talking through a clogged nose, shaking with weird chills in one stuffed breath, then sweating like a UFC fighter the next. Basically, it's a day that reminds me how glad I am to have a work-from-home job where clashing Old Navy PJs and a Lululemon headband count as dress code.

Words by Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

Info current as of June 30, 2025

I'M NOT FEELING WELL WHEN I ANSWER THE PHONE. It's that time of year, I guess. The one that leaves you talking through a clogged nose, shaking with weird chills in one stuffed breath, then sweating like a UFC fighter the next. Basically, it's a day that reminds me how glad I am to have a work-from-home job where clashing Old Navy PJs and a Lululemon headband count as dress code. When I pick up, though, it's Lisa Edelstein—better known as Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy on David Shore's award-winning medical drama House, M.D. And while I'm tempted to ask this endocrinologist-acting star what she'd suggest for my cold, I have to remind myself her spot-on take on the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital boss is just that: acting. Because, turns out, there's way more to Lisa Edelstein than playing straight man to the he-said-what?! Dr. Gregory House, played by Hugh Laurie.

From her TV debut in the early '90s as nightlife-savvy Lisa E on MTV's Awake on the Wild Side, to early spots in classics like Seinfeld, then bigger parts in The West Wing, Ally McBeal, and The Practice, Edelstein's career has been climbing the right way for a year and a half decades. But as she chats with me from her century-old L.A. home, I find intelligently written scripts aren't the only things scattered around. There's also a dog and a cat. And more than a few yoga mats.

MD: Congrats on your huge House win as Dr. Lisa Cuddy. What's it like, as an actor, to land a steady gig on such a loved show?

MD: What is it about House that makes it such a crowd-pleaser?

LE: It's so sharp. So many shows talk down to you, and House just isn't one of them.

MD: How would you sum up the bond between your character and Dr. Gregory House?

MD: What's the vibe on set when cameras are off? And what's Hugh Laurie like to work with?

LE: Hugh is a real grinder. So focused. So when he's filming, he's all business. But now and then he'll say or do something so goofy I crack up crying. And Robert Sean Leonard [playing James Wilson] … oh, he's so dry… I don't share as many scenes with Jennifer, Jesse, and Omar [Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, and Omar Epps, who play Allison Cameron, Robert Chase, and Eric Foreman], but they're great.

LE: We get them the day before.

MD: And does it feel like Christmas?

MD: Tell me about the pets you've got at home right now.

LE: Right now it's two. Bug, the cat, and Wolf E. I had two others, Sandwich and Bumpa, but they both passed within the last couple years.

MD: That must've been such a rough stretch.

LE: Yeah, it was. See, a dog is such a good friend. We spend so much time trying to shield them from death, and in the end, we lose. That's just how it goes. And still, I'm always scared I'll die before my dogs. Like, who'd look after them?

LE: Yes. And the funny part is, Wolf E is the one with the most issues yet he's still here. He's got Alzheimer's, brain damage, you name it….I've got yoga mats all over the house 'cause he can't walk the hardwoods anymore. They're shredded everywhere and folks think it's some interior-design statement.

MD: Even with a hit series keeping you busy, you still find time to be hands-on in animal rescue. What pulled you in to start with?

MD: I hear you volunteer with Best Friends Animal Society. What is it about Best Friends you admire so much?

LE: Well, I've been to the Sanctuary [Best Friends Sanctuary, Utah]. It's a gorgeous spot. Crazy organized. Unreal. Everything there is for the animals.

LE: Oh, it's so rough on the dogs. And the whole notion of buying dogs at all. There are so many dogs out there needing rescue.

MD: If you knew someone—say, one of our readers—shopping for a dog, what'd you tell them to pick rescue?

LE: You can find exactly what you want at a shelter just like at a pet store. People think they'll know more about a dog's past if they buy from a shop, but that's usually false. They worry they'll get a problem dog from a shelter. Look, Cesar Milan trained my dogs for me ten years back… but really he trained me. It's often not the dog that's the issue, it's the owner. The people need the training. ■

Correct answer: B. She has a relaxed expression and an open mouth. She’s sniffing the air, exploring her environment.

Understanding this dog:

Correct answer: C. This dog is snarling. He has a hard stare, with ears slightly forward. This is not a dog who wants you to pet him; he wants you to get lost. Most aggression is based in fear, so he may simply be afraid of you.

How to this dog:

Correct answer: B. This dog is approaching the person, leaning toward him. He’s lowered himself, with ears down and eyes squinty. He’s also flicking his tongue—a sign of stress. This is a submissive approach.