Through a series of remarkable events Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy catapulted to front stage center before the public eye. This May NBC debuts The Long Island Incident, which recounts some of the story that has made her a world renown figure.

On Dec. 7, 1993 an armed man opened fire on the Long Island Rail Road killing six people and wounding 19 others. McCarthy's husband Dennis was killed, and her son Kevin was severely injured.

McCarthy dedicated her life to the rehabilitation of her son and to advocating against gun violence. Eventually McCarthy, unhappy with her congressional representation, ran successfully for a seat in the United States Congress.

Three time Emmy Award winning actress Laurie Metcalf, best known for her work on the ABC sit-com Roseanne, portrays McCarthy in the story that NBC describes as "a fact based drama about one woman's heroic and historic fight for justice."

With romantic promotion such as this, which according to Metcalf is the trap of movies based on true stories, the actress said both she and McCarthy were adamant in not having the congresswoman portrayed in the movie as some sort of "saint."

This takes on particular import when one realizes that McCarthy is running for re-election this upcoming November.

McCarthy said that over the years she has been inundated with movie offers and has rejected them all. This time was no different.

The congresswoman informed the studios that she wanted the project stopped, but to no avail. NBC and Barwood Studios were set on airing the high profile movie during May Sweeps, even without McCarthy's consent.

McCarthy's lawyers convinced her that the movie would be produced regardless, however if she cooperated she could have stipulated in any contracts a modicum of creative control.

So, she relented and became involved in the production of the film directed by Joseph Sargent and produced by Cis Corman and Barbra Streisand.

The first thing McCarthy requested was the elimination of the scene of the murders on the Long Island Rail Road. To McCarthy that scene of horror was not meant to be televised, and removing the scene from the movie protected the victims from unnecessary pain.

"I couldn't even imagine anyone who has ever ridden the train let alone the families of the victims, watching a movie like that and seeing the inside of that train," commented McCarthy.

The second major change for which McCarthy lobbied was the expansion of the role of Kevin in the story. McCarthy explained to screen writer Maria Nation that the first year of her life after the incident was dedicated to the recuperation of her son.

The script evolved after reviews by not only McCarthy, but by her friends Judy Miller and Judge Edward Burke, as well as Kevin and his wife Leslie to ensure accurate and appropriate portrayals.

Smaller, but no less significant improvements were made to the movie as McCarthy informed the movie makers of the proper pronunciation of Joyce and Jim Gorycki's last name and the exact number of people killed and wounded.

McCarthy visited the Toronto based set for one day halfway through the movie's shoot. She said she was concerned that her presence might upset some of the actors.

Instead she was greeted with warmth and even admiration as Metcalf noted McCarthy's evident strength. "They were just thrilled to have us on the set," she said.

McCarthy arrived on the set at 8:30 a.m. and did not leave the set until 9 p.m., all the time the cast and crew were working on the same courtroom scene.

It is this scene where Kevin makes a cameo as a member of the courtroom audience. When he said yes to the offer to appear in the film, McCarthy asked him, "Do you realize what you are saying 'yes' to?"

All in all Kevin enjoyed the experience according to McCarthy, spending the entire next day sightseeing in Toronto with McKenzie Astin who portrays Kevin in the film.

The congresswoman describes Astin's portrayal as a"terrific job," especially considering a noticeable size difference between the actor and his real life counterpart which prompted Astin to look in disbelief when they first met one another.

This is part of movie making and according to McCarthy some of the characters, many of whom are composite sketches or real people, created for the movie made her smile.

For instance McCarthy was shocked to see her younger brother Tom, being portrayed by a man somewhat senior to herself.

And what of Metcalf who portrays the congresswoman? McCarthy credits her performance for picking up many of the subtle nuances of the congresswoman, however light-heartedly noting, "She does not get down the true Long Island accent."

Metcalf said in crafting her portrayal she drew upon the tapes she saw of McCarthy. "I try to use what is inherent in the script, and let her strengths come through," said the actress.

It is these "strengths" that garnered her such enthusiastic support in last year's election and catapulted her into the office she currently holds.

"What has happened to my life?," asks this one time Mineola nurse, "This cannot be real." Earlier in the week, on separate occasions, the congresswoman met with President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"It always comes back to the question 'Why am I here?,'" explained McCarthy. In answer to her own query she thinks of her son Kevin and how she always wants to be there when he needs her, "Those things never go away."

McCarthy keeps grounded by reminding herself that she has a message to deliver. This time the message is wrapped in a movie about her life as she seeks to educate and protect people from the devastating results of gun violence.