Calista Flockhart recalls becoming Ally McBeal almost overnight after David E Kelley cast her in his ambitious legal comedy. She says the role was exciting but daunting, and that the show’s imaginative writing, emotional intensity, surreal humour and distinctive music quickly made it a cultural phenomenon that still inspires some viewers to become lawyers.

Flockhart describes memorable elements including Ally’s dancing-baby hallucination, dancing with Al Green and Vonda Shepard’s theme song, “Searchin’ My Soul”. After five seasons, she felt the series had run its course, but found leaving difficult because her identity had become closely tied to the character; Shepard, meanwhile, says the show’s creation revived her struggling music career.