Below is a link for the entire Jan. 8, 2010 New York Times article, The Role of a Lifetime by Neil Genzlinger, in which Barbara Eden and other stars are interviewed (The link allows the pictures that accompany the article to be shown). Beneath the link is the opening portion of the article and Barbara's interview.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/arts/television/10typecastweb.html?pagewanted=all

IN the age of the character-driven television series, there was a notable passing in 2009: “Monk,” the Emmy-winning USA show about an obsessive-compulsive crime-solver, went off the air in December after eight seasons. The series, with Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, was one of the earliest examples of what has since become common fare: programs built around characters who are distinctive misfits. Some of the most obvious include “House” on Fox, with Hugh Laurie as an irascible doctor; “Psych” on USA, with James Roday solving crimes via fake psychic powers; “The Closer” on TNT, with Kyra Sedgwick as a deputy police chief tackling major crimes in Los Angeles.

These are the types of roles that can follow an actor around for life. “Do the limp,” you can hear fans urging Mr. Laurie 20 years from now. For some this might seem like an albatross; being so identified with one role might limit future possibilities. Or is it, rather — as Monk might say — a blessing and a curse?

If you want to find out what the actors behind today’s memorable TV characters can expect in the future, ask the stars of an earlier era. Here are some of their insights and anecdotes regarding life after a signature role.

Barbara Eden

Jeannie, ‘I Dream of Jeannie,’ 1965-70

Barbara Eden sees a lot of magic lamps and old bottles when she’s signing autographs. The most enterprising fans, though, bring her one particular bottle, a Jim Beam decanter. It was just such a bottle (suitably painted with gold vines) that was the home of the character she played four decades ago, the genie in “I Dream of Jeannie.”

“She’s very easy to live with,” said Ms. Eden (above with Larry Hagman), who, like many of the actors interviewed, speaks of her signature character in the third person. “Actually, I think I’m more restricted by her now than when she was on the air, or 20 years after. I was just so busy.”

Ms. Eden, at 75, is still pretty busy; she opens in “Ballroom With a Twist” on Jan. 19 at the DuPont Theater in Wilmington, Del.

Her advice to present-day actors who find themselves forever linked to a particular role: “I would embrace the character, because it won’t do any good if you don’t.”

And another thing: Don’t whine or talk trash about it.

“I don’t think you ever demean to your public what you’ve done,” she said. “You’re insulting them if you demean your work.”