1. When did you realize you wanted to be an actor?
I can’t remember ever NOT wanting to be an actress. The family joke is
that when I was very young, I’d always get lost during family outings,
and my parents would find me standing in front of some strangers, waving
at their camera - hoping they would take my picture. (How embarrassing
is THAT?) I still get that same rush today when I feel a camera on me. I
love doing live theater, too, but I prefer film or television. The
intimacy of having the camera almost caress you in a close-up is
amazing! Acting is my drug. When I’m not working, I still take acting
classes. I never get tired of it.
2. What has been your favorite role?
Playing Marilyn Monroe in "The Rat Pack" for HBO. She’s always been my
favorite icon, and it was amazing to get to "be" her for a short time.
When my manager called me to tell me I had gotten the role, I screamed
in his ear, "I get to play Marilyn Monroe?!?" Then when I hung up the
phone, it hit me. "Oh my God. I’m going to play Marilyn Monroe!" How do
you play a legend like that? I decided to put that aside and to find the
person behind the myth. I hope she’s happy with what I did...
3. Who or what inspires you?
1. My mother (who passed away in 1995) and my father, who taught me that
I can do anything I set my mind to! They always supported me
unconditionally.
2. My daughter, Jessica, who has always kept me grounded and has shown
me what’s really important in life. More than once, when I’ve been at
rock bottom after losing an audition, she has helped me back up and sent
me back out to keep chasing my dreams. She's going after her own dreams
now, which are very different from mine. I am so proud of her.
3. My acting coach, Milton Katselas. He passed away in 2008, and the
world lost a great man. Without him, my dreams would have never come
true. His book, "Dreams Into Action - Getting What You Want" is the most
inspiring book I’ve ever read. Go get it. I pull it out a few times a
year to get myself back on track.
4. Oprah, who is using her platform and influence in such a positive
way. I love her Angel Network. We all need to be angels. We can
accomplish so much if we all put our energies together. I want to make a
difference to someone every day. That's why I started my Dreamers
Network.
4. If you could be any movie star from the past, who would you be?
I LOVE old movies and movie stars, and have a huge library of videos so
that I can study their performances. I believe in stealing from the
best! I especially love Carol Lombard, Gloria Graham, Jessica Tandy,
Katherine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Barbara Stanwyck, Vivien Leigh, and of
course, my favorite, Marilyn Monroe. But I don’t think I would want to
be any of them. I like being me too much. I love their careers, but none
of them had a great personal life. If I had to choose to be any one, I
choose Jessica Tandy. She was a consummate actress through all the
phrases of her lifetime... and yet managed to have a lifelong love
affair with her husband, Hume Cronyn. She really did manage to have it
all! I want that so much...to keep doing what I love to do most (acting)
while growing old with someone I love.
5. What jobs did you have before you became an actor?
I’ve had such an eclectic history. I hate anything to do with accounting
or details, so my worst job was "export coordinator" for this
international foundry. Piles and piles of paperwork. I used to go in the
ladies room and cry every day, then come back and do some more. I’ve
also sold commercial real estate, modeled, general contracted two houses
(I love wearing a tool belt!), was a television reporter/writer, and
used to own a production company. I also used to teach duck calling. I
still have my duck call in my desk to remind me of my roots. I take it
out every now and then and blow it just for shock value. I taught them
how to duck call on a SoapTalk episode, and it got rated the funniest
episode they ever had.
6. What would you be doing if you weren’t acting?
I’ve started doing motivational speaking and love it! I want to help
people realize their potential and live their own dreams, as I am. I
also love to write, and have started combining the two. I’m creating a
line of products to inspire people to go after what they want in their
lives, to not “settle for less than wonderful”. Writing is a rush. I
love to get lost and carried away by a new idea or scene that just seems
to write itself.
7. What has been your greatest accomplishment?
My daughter, Jessica. I am so blessed to be her Mother. I even loved
being pregnant with her, even though I gained sixty-five pounds! It was
like I had this incredible secret, this miracle inside of me. It’s just
gotten better and richer over the years as I’ve watched her grow. She’s
the most beautiful, amazing person I know, and will do great things for
this planet.
8. What talent would you most like to have?
I wish I could sing. I think you’re either born with a good set of pipes
or you’re not. I have taken lessons so that I can sell a song if I have
to, but… I also wish I could dance. I took 12 years of organ lessons
when I was a chubby little kid and wish it would have been dance lessons
instead. Would love to be able to really move! (Oh, well.... next
lifetime maybe...) I also want to learn to play the guitar. I got a
brand new Emmy Lou Harris Gibson model L-100 that I named "Louise" after
my mother's middle name. I’m in the trying-to-develop-calluses stage.
Ouch.
9. What do you do for fun?
It’s fun to get dressed up and do the Hollywood thing, but I’d usually
rather stay home and have family and friends over for dinner and movies.
I am definitely a homebody. I have a cat named Bammer, a Yorkie named
Lucy, and two Chihuahuas, Lola and Pepper. When I take the dogs for a
walk, I have a stroller for Bammer, so he gets to come too. He loves it.
I also love working out – I go to a place called Cardio Barre about five
times a week. A fabulous workout for both my body and my spirit. Really
combats stress.
10. What is your favorite journey?
My evolution as a human being. Change is terrifying and exhilarating at
the same time! But I want to try everything once. I don't ever want to
wonder "what if?" And at the end of my life, I want to have more smile
lines on my face than anything else. So far so good. :)
11. What are your trademark words or phrases?
I am always asking people I meet "What is your dream, and are you living
it? If not, why not!" I am living my dream, and I want to use whatever
success I have to inspire others. Everything and anything is possible! I
am living proof. My motto: "Don’t settle for less than wonderful in your
life! And don’t give up five minutes before the miracle."
