I feel responsible that everyone has a really wonderful experience and to do the best work possible, and to always know my lines and to always be on time and to bring a level to the show in terms of quality that other people will follow.

Margulies describes a rigorous, almost custodial sense of professionalism: she treats a production as a collective endeavor whose tone is set by those who show up prepared. The emphasis on knowing lines, punctuality, and “quality that other people will follow” frames craft as both personal discipline and leadership by example. Implicitly, she rejects the idea that acting is only inspiration or charisma; instead, reliability and preparation are ethical obligations to colleagues and audiences. The quote also suggests a “standard-setting” model of leadership—raising the bar through consistent behavior rather than authority or ego.