Essman, with Jeff Garlin, left, and Larry David, on Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)

It’s almost a bit startling how easygoing Susie Essman is in an interview. Perhaps I’m just so conditioned to her role in the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm that I was expecting to encounter Susie Greene, the foulmouthed, tyrannical character she plays on that show instead of a someone so willing to be open about her personal history when talking about a delicate political topic.

Essman is in town tonight to emcee NARAL Pro-Choice America’s annual Roe v. Wade Dinner, marking the 39th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling. Essman’s been watching those Republican primary debates, and as the stepmother of her husband’s daughters, she’s not too pleased by what she’s seen. And in an election year, she’s concerned about who will be making future appointments to the Supreme Court.

We also talked about Curb, which wrapped up its eighth season last September. Whether or not there will be a ninth, Essman reminded me, is up to the show’s creator, Larry David.

Essman and I spoke by phone earlier today:

Hi, Ms. Essman. Thanks for taking the time to talk today.

Did you just call me Ms. Essman?

Sorry. I’ll call you Susie, then.

At least you didn’t call me ma’am.

How did you get hooked up with tonight’s event?

They asked me and I was honored because it was something I’m passionate about. Especially this year, because it’s an election year. Every single one of the Republican candidates has declared they want to overturn Roe vs. Wade. I feel if any of these candidates reach the White House the only way to protect my reproductive rights will be to declare my womb a corporation.

Do you think President Obama has done enough?

Not enough. We’re not there yet but I really hope he does. I think this election is going to get really nasty. It’s not just abortion. These candidates have said they want to take away our civil liberties.

Just to give you a sense of the local politics of abortion, occasionally a member of Congress will introduce a bill restricting abortion rights in the District of Columbia. Trent Franks, a Republican from Arizona, introduced a bill that would ban abortion in D.C. after 20 weeks.

My gut response is there is I know there’s a huge poor population in D.C. and it feels so classist.

I had an abortion when I was 16. I got pregnant the first time I had sex but I was lucky.

Are we still on the record?

Yeah, it was so long ago it was in the Paleolithic Age. It was 1971 and abortion had just become legal in New York in 1970. I was fine. We were middle class and I went to a physician and I still would have gone to a physician if it wasn’t legal. But what about all these other people who don’t have options? The very people who need these choices and options.

I’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about Curb Your Enthusiasm. I read an interview with you from a few years ago in which you said when people meet you they ask you to insult them like Susie Greene does. Does that still happen?

It happens every day. The bane of my existence. (Laughs) I can’t complain though.

And what would Susie Greene say to these candidates and Congressmen?

Oh, she would ram it down their throats. Susie Greene does not want any politician to tell her what to do. She would be so obnoxious.

How long have you been involved in advocating for women’s health?

I’ve never been active in the organization until they asked me to do this. It’s always been important to me in who I’ve voted for. It’s a make-or-break issue who I would vote for. It’s too important for me. Everyone talks about the economy. Honestly, I have no idea how to fix the economy. Maybe President Obama is doing a good job, maybe he’s not. But whoever the next president is going to affect the Supreme Court. My civil liberties are what’s most important. Mine. My daughters.

So do you think the president needs to talk about women’s health and reproductive rights more?

I think it would be a smart political move for him to become more vocal. He’s up against people who are going to get really mean. There’s real differences in these candidates. We have to care about women’s rights, poor people’s rights, and civil liberties. That’s what this country was founded on.