Why Harper touched all the props

I always noticed (but never mentioned here) that Harper is an actress who always kept busy with her hands when she was on RHODA (and MTM). Always fidgeting with some of the props, always moving. I wondered why (is she a nervous actress) - it was very noticebale.

ON RHODA, I noticed that Harper would always bring her fingers up to the bridge of her nose and close her eyes before saying some of her lines, or touching her face somehow, as well.

I did a little archival research, and found something interesting...

Apparently, Harper was very nervous and self-concious when she started the MTM show, and would mess up her lines a bit or miss her blocking (place to stand on stage) in a scene, and they would have to start over (she was not used to working in front of cameras - just the live theater stage).

One of the assistants on the set told her a good way to remember her blocking is to focus on a prop and touch it and then say her lines (in other words, walk over to the sofa and pick up the throw-pillow). The position of the pillow is where she should be sitting in that scene. Or bring a bag of groceries in through the door, because she had to go an stand behind the counter for her next scene.

She would also touch her face or bridge of her nose as in indication to her crew that she can't recall the next line. (This is apparent in some of the RHODA eps in S4 and 5). They would hold up the blue cards with the first words of her line, off-stage, so she could read them and start up again with her lines - Harper would usually stutter a bit on the opening line, and continue with her scene.

It all looked natural on the show - her fidgeting, touching the props, etc.

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