Holland Taylor Talks Filming Pivotal, 'Risky' “Morning Show” Racism Scene with Nicole Beharie: 'We Clung to Each Other' (Exclusive)

The actress tells PEOPLE she was "surprised" her performance on 'The Morning Show' earned her an Emmy nomination

Holland Taylor is known for her masterful delivery throughout her steady six-decade career working on hit TV shows, movies and Broadway shows.

But during one scene in season 3 of The Morning Show, she had such a striking performance, it left those working on set moved.

One of the most memorable scenes from the past season was when Taylor's character Cybil Richards, the resilient TV network board president, sits down on live TV with Christina Hunter (Nicole Beharie) after Cybil sent a racially insensitive email.

"It was kind of meta for Nicole and for me, I think, because it touched on personal concerns one might have about oneself," Taylor, 81, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "[Cybil] sort of stumbles in a situation where she wasn't even paying any attention, which is sort of the point. She was careless. And Nicole has to fight for what is right, where she herself is someone who has suffered by people who have not done right. And her character has that experience, but also Nicole has that experience."

Related: Holland Taylor 'Doesn't Like' Couples Working Together and 'Can't Imagine' Acting with Sarah Paulson

Taylor says she and Beharie "wanted to get it right."

"We both wanted to be alive in the moment and have a risky conversation that really was risky for the actors. And we were apprehensive about it before and sort of sweated through it, kind of clung to each other. Even though [our characters] were adversarial, we as an actors of course were not. So, that was a very, very multi-level, multifaceted experience performing in that," she explains.

They had to deliver a few takes of the high-tension scene and Taylor says afterward, she was told that all the bystanders watching in the studio "were as electrified as the people would've been who were present."

She adds, "Everybody was holding their breath and everybody was sweating through the difficult moments of that scene."

When the last take was over, Taylor says "the whole room kind of exploded. I think Nicole and I both were wild-eyed as we left that place."

Related: How Emmy Nominee Holland Taylor Made It Big in Hollywood in Her 70s: 'I Was Never the Ingenue'

Taylor's striking performance earned her an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. "I was surprised," she says. "Four women were nominated just from The Morning Show, so I was lucky to be among them."

Beharie also earned a nomination in the same category along with The Morning Show's Greta Lee and Karen Pittman.

"The Morning Show is just a joy to work on because of you're acting with such good people, men and women, young and old," says Taylor. "And it's just wonderful to have every scene be something you can't wait to do."

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Another cast member that Taylor also praises is the "fantastic" Billy Crudup. "He's such a stocky, electric actor, and very, very generous, very encouraging. He's one of those actors who's really there when he's doing it. He doesn't just go off, turn to his phone, the minute you're done with a take. He stays put."

As for what's in store for season 4, Taylor can't share any details. But she trusts writer-creators Mimi Leder and Charlotte Stoudt.

"They're extremely imaginative in where they take storylines. And they've surprised me any number of times," Taylor says. "Sometimes certain decisions I've thought, 'Why go there? I don't see where that's going to lead.' And of course, it leads someplace wonderful."

For more on Holland Taylor, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here. 

The Morning Show is streaming on Apple TV+

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