Laurie Metcalf, an early ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and, at age 69, among the most famous and beloved of American stage actresses, is currently starring in Samuel L. Hunter’s play at the theater through Aug. 4.

We recently spoke at Steppenwolf about the world premiere play directed by Joe Mantello and her career. The following conversation has been edited for clarity and length. A: I was going straight back to “The Conners” (ABC television series), but there was the strike.

So we ended up only doing half a season. They told us recently we are going to do six more episodes and then call it quits. We got a nice seven-year run out of it.

So after this play, I’ll go back and do those six. Then I will be a free agent for the first time in a long time. It has been a long time since that was true.

If you add in “Roseanne,” it has been 16 years. Those shows eat up most of the year. A: I always have been.

That’s never gone away. Thank god. I do have peers who say that theater has become difficult.

A: Yes. The need for stamina, combined with memorization and the commitment of a run. This run is short; I am used to being asked to do five or six months.

But the live theater is still where I find all my creativity. The rehearsal room is the one place I love to be and where I feel most at home. I feel like I know the craft so much better.

I’ve never gotten used to cameras, nor do I want to learn the technical side of acting for cameras. I’m not int.