Everybody Loves Raymond keeps fans coming back even after decades! Perhaps one of the hottest debates surrounding the show is how Patricia Heaton came to play Debra Barone. A critical casting decision that would determine the tone, rhythm, and emotional depth of one of the most amazing sitcoms in television.So how did she eventually land the role in Everybody Loves Raymond? According to Deadline, Patricia Heaton revealed that,"We’re forgetting one little key element that really sold me on you during that first audition.” That’s how desperate I was to get the job. I kissed him!”Romano said that the script had a stage direction for Debra to "kiss her husband," and while every other actress just imitated the gesture, Heaton was the only one who performed the kiss. It was this instinctive choice that, along with her natural chemistry with Ray Romano, became the turning point that set her apart from almost 200 other auditioning actresses.The fans of the series will understand easily why this very natural and non-forced sincerity became such a big part of Debra Barone’s character over the entire show.A lengthy casting search for the perfect Debra Barone in Everybody Loves RaymondProducers, including creator Phil Rosenthal, auditioned about 200 actresses before Heaton was introduced. The casting team was after someone who could embody Debra with a very specific mix of an outspoken character, bitter comedy, and emotional realism.Debra, unlike many sitcom wives of the time, was to be a down-to-earth, lovable, and strong opposite to Ray’s sometimes oblivious behavior. This called for an actress who could go for and deliver comedy without being theatrical, and vice versa with tension.At the time, Romano was not yet a very experienced actor, so the chemistry between Debra and Ray had to feel very natural and not overly polished. This searching for real interaction, not sulky perfection, finally made Heaton the one who shone.The audition moment that changed the whole scenario for Everybody Loves RaymondIn the accounts of the moment, it was not highlighted as a bold or calculated move. Heaton just revealed her instinctual nature while dealing with the material. That inherent confidence, along with an instant comfort with Romano, created a kind of interaction new to the producers among other auditionees.The moment was not dramatic but showed the kind of truthfulness that would later become part of the show's character.Heaton’s real-life circumstances were the main factor that influenced her performance in Everybody Loves RaymondHeaton has given a wide-ranging account of the personal pressures she faced when auditioning for Everybody Loves Raymond in a series of verified interviews. A mother of two very young children, she was going through the same financial and emotional difficulties that actors face in balancing family life with unpredictable work opportunities.CBS's reluctance and the creators' insistence on the showCBS initially considered a more conventionally glamorous actress for Debra Barone. The producers, nonetheless, noticed the chemistry between Roman and Heaton, and they were convinced she was right.Rosenthal has stated in interviews several times that he was the one who fought for Heaton based on her audition. What impressed him most was that the natural, unscripted rhythm between her and Romano could not be created in any other way.Patricia Heaton was the central character in Everybody Loves Raymond’s identity. The interaction between Debra and Ray dominated the emotional center of the series, thereby confining its humor to a portrait of marriage that was both relatable and sincere.Heaton went on to star in the sitcom throughout its nine-season run, from 1996 until 2005. Her acting won her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2000 and 2001.The audition story shows us again how a genuine connection and honest performance can make or break a show.Also read: Everybody Loves Raymond 30th anniversary: Here are 5 most special moments from the reunion