24 Juni 1997
|
Moderator (M) - Greetings Universal Chatters and welcome to another live moderated chat! Tonight we're privileged to have
Keri Russell from the hit TV series Roar at the Backlot Café. While still living in Colorado, Keri Russell was
discovered by Disney talent scouts during a national talent search. She auditioned for and won a role in the feature film
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid!. Russell then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career. Keri has guest starred on
the TV series Boy Meets World, Married... with Children, and Clerks. Keri Russell played a pivotal
role in the series premiere of Roar. She was cast as Claire; girlfriend to Roar's lead protagonist Connor.
Accidentally, Claire was brutally murdered (by her own father!) right before Connor's eyes. Her death serves as Connor's
inspiration to unite the tribes that for so many years have been fighting against one another. She's the burning flame that
forces Connor to stand up to the tyranny and evil that over rule the land. And her spirit lives on and might return soon!!!
Ladies and gentleman ... it's chat time!!! Without any further ado, please welcome Keri Russell!!!
Keri Russell (KR) waves at everyone. KR - Hi everyone! M - First off... is this your first time chatting live online? KR - Yes, this is. M - Excited? KR - Sure. Keri Russell laughs hysterically. M - Keri is very giddy tonight..... Question (Q): Keri, How difficult was it to "die" on camera in Roar? Was that your first death scene? KR: Yes, it was my first death scene. And at first I thought it would be really corny, but I really liked the way it was done. A lot of it was done in slow motion, so it was definitely foreign... I wasn't used to doing it, but I enjoyed it. I got into it. Q: What drew you to the role of Claire??? KR: The same thing that draws you to the character of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. I mean, everyone wants to be the princess in the story. Q: Do you like Twyla Tharp or any other contemporary artists? KR: Yes. Any kind of dance is amazing to me. Q: Did you do any research preparing for your role? KR: Not really. Keri Russell throws her head back, cackling with glee. KR: I had a few drinks with the Conor character. Q: Miss Russell, do you know why there was only made 9 episodes of the EXCELLENT Malibu Shores show? I thought it was good, and you played the role as Chloe so good. KR: Are you serious? There wasn't an audience watching it for the ratings. Q: Do you keep in touch with any of your Malibu Shores co-stars? KR: Yes. I'm very close with Tia Texada, Susan Ward... Tony Lucca... Christian Campbell - I went to Europe with Christian last summer. Q: Did you ever get homesick for Dallas? Do you ever go home to visit or do your fly your family to you? KR: Never homesick for Dallas. My parents moved there a few years ago, so it's not really my home. And I see my family all the time. Holidays, birthdays... Q: How were you chosen for Claire? KR: My friend actually gave me the script who was up for the Caitlin character. And I was actually the aggressor. I called in to my agent and said that I wanted to audition. And I met with Shaun Cassidy once and then I got it. Q: Will your character appear on Roar again? I thought you were great as Conor's love interest. KR: I hope so. Especially if they get picked up for another season. I thought I was great paired up with Conor too. He's really hot! Keri Russell laughs hysterically. Q: I see that you are a dancer. What kind of dance? Ballet, Jazz?? KR: Everything... I had scholarships at studios, which meant I had to take 17 classes a week. So that pretty much covered everything. Q: What did your mother think about your performance in Eight Days a Week? Was she upset about the sexual content? KR: How did you see this? It's not out yet? At a film festival??? My mom was totally cool with it. But my dad hasn't seen it yet. Q: What is Eight Days a Week about??? KR: A kid is in love with the girl who lives across the street from him his entire life. He stands under her window the summer before she leaves for college, every day, every night, until she finally decides she loves him. It's very funny. It's like the teenage boy's perspective in an R-rated way. It's really funny, but not in a Disney sort of way... Like in a real people kind of way. Q: When is it coming out? KR: I'm not sure yet, but look for it. Q: What do you think about all the fan sites dedicated to you? Have you seen any of them? KR: I've seen one. I think it's crazy. I can't believe someone wants to know something about me. Q: Did you have to wear mouse ears while acting in the Mickey Mouse Club? Keri Russell laughs hysterically. KR: I don't wear them while working on the Mickey Mouse Club, but I wear them in real life! Q: Do you see this role as a stepping stone to greater things? KR: If you're talking about Roar, I hope so. I hope everything I do is a stepping stone to greater things. Q: How did you get started in acting? KR: I was a dancer... and a photographer tried to get me involved in modeling, and through modeling I got involved with acting. Q: Have you ever been to Canada? KR: Yes. Love it. One of my best friends lives there. Just shot there in the fall in Toronto. There are really cute hockey boys there! Keri Russell smiles. M: Speaking of boys.... Q: Are you currently single or do you date Tony, if I may ask? KR: I don't know what I'm doing. Q: What do you like about working in TV? Keri Russell ponders thoughtfully. M: Lets come back to that one in a bit. Q: Keri, what do you like to do with your free time? KR: Dance, go to dance class... See live music - I just went to the Lilith Fair Q: What are your favorite recent albums.... KR: Love Sarah McLachlan's new one. Maxwell has a new unplugged album that's great. Q: How long does it take to film a single episode of a one-hour drama like Roar? KR: Usually 8 days. A little over a week. Q: As a fellow actor, I'm curious, who were your biggest influences? KR: I don't really consider myself an actor, so I can't say that I'm really influenced by actors. I like going to movies and I enjoy watching the stories, but no one really sticks out from the top of my head. M: This one is for Kevin! Q:What are your future plans? KR: As in work, or personal? Well, Kevin, if you must know... I plan to keep acting unless I meet a cowboy who wants to move to Colorado and have 5 kids. Kev, are you a cowboy? Are you a roping kind of man? Yeeee-haw!!! Keri Russell laughs hysterically. Q: Are you currently working on a project? KR: I start filming an independent film in August. Q: Did you like modeling? KR: No, not at all. Q: Which actor would you like to work with? KR: I think Susan Sarandon is great. And Robert Duvall. I love the actors in movies like Nobody's Fool and Grumpy Old Men. Older male actors... I think they are so funny. Q: What were the last three movies you went to??? KR: Nothing to Lose... there were some funny moments. Brassed Off... Ewan MacGregor rocks! Sorry, haven't seen any of the blockbusters lately. M: 2 out of three ain't bad Q: What shows would you like to guest-star/appear on most? KR: ER would be nice. I love some of the work that Party of Five shows. Q: Are you an X-Files fan? KR: I've never seen the show. But they're on just before Roar now, so I'll probably start catching it. Q: Where did you study acting? Who were the most influential people at the time? Teachers?? KR: When I was on Mickey Mouse Club, I studied with a guy named Gary Spatz. I don't really go to a class or belong to a theater company, but if I have a really big audition or something that's really hard, I work with a woman named Sharon Chatten. Q: Do you wish you had been as successful or more with your dance as you have in acting? KR: It's kind of a bittersweet thing. I almost like that dancing is not how I make my money because it remains sacred. And is my own private release. It's not something I have to do every day, so it keeps it special. Q: How old are you? KR: Twenty one. Q: If you could be anyone, living or dead, for one day and one day only, who would it be? (BTW, I've been one of your biggest fans since you were on MMC!) KR: Thank you for being a fan. That's a pretty intense question. It's hard enough trying to be yourself for a day. Keri Russell laughs hysterically. KR: I think I would like to be someone crazy like... Keri Russell ponders thoughtfully. KR: Lenny Kravitz. Q: If you were asked to do a large role in a movie, what would you rather it be? A romance? A comedy? etc. KR: It would depend on who was in it and what the story was. I personally love going to see the sappy movies like the romances. The dramas, the ones that make you cry. M: But would you like to act in one of those??? KR: Yeah. But a comedy would be fun too. Q: What was it like working with Heath Ledger? KR: Amazing. One of the most talented actors I've ever worked with. He studied with some Shakespeare company growing up. And he is so talented, a really giving actor. Q: Do you exercise? How do you keep in shape?? KR: Yes, I exercise. I go to the gym, I hike, and of course dance is great exercise. Q: Which Mouseketeer was Gary Spatz? KR: He's not a Mouseketeer. He's an acting coach. Q: Have you done any theatre? KR: No. Q: Have you been on chat before, in your spare time like Sandra Bullock? KR: Never been on chat before. But I'm having a good time chatting tonight Q: Keri - any suggestions to other young performers? KR: Just stick with it. It's so much about being in the right place at the right time. Don't take anything personally. Q: What is it like getting to work with some of the hottest young male actors in showbiz? KR: Pretty cool I guess. Q: Do you sing? KR: Yes, I'm great in my car. Q: Will there be any more appearences on Roar? Example.. Ghostly visits? KR: Hopefully if they get picked up for another season. There's talk of me coming back. As a spirit... Q: What was it like being discovered by a Disney talent agent? KR: Lucky. Bizarre, because I had never acted in anything before. I was just a dancer. M: Please submit your final questions for Keri!!! She can only stay for 10 more minutes.... Q: What is your favorite location at which you have ever shot a show or movie? KR: Roar shot in Australia, which is pretty hard to beat. But I really loved Toronto. I shot a movie that I did for Lifetime. It's called When Innocence is Lost. It's just a really clean, safe city. Q:What was it like "stepping back in time" for Roar? KR: Cool and much easier to act with costumes and the sets. It really helped bring out the words that you had to say Q: Of all the roles you've played... which character do you identify the most with.. and why? <- nice interview question..> KR: I'm glad you think you ask good questions! Keri Russell smiles. M: It is a good question though... KR: I usually play pretty close to who I am, so I identify with them all to some degree. My favorite so far has been Claire in Roar. It was fun playing the one that everyone liked. Q: Did you ever pass on a project that you later regretted? KR: I've passed, but I've been pretty comfortable with my choices. I try to choose projects that I can feel responsible about them being out there. Ones that I don't feel contain a lot of violence. Like a lot of the ones out in the market right now Q: Would you consider guest starring on Buffy the Vampire Slayer? KR: If it was a good role. My friend Charisma is on the show. I hear she's pretty funny. Q: Keri you have such beautiful hair, is it hard to maintain? KR: No, I don't do anything to it. It sort of is. It does its own thing. I have no control. Q: Do you see directing as something you would like to try? KR: I don't know, it's a really tough job. You have a million things going on in your head at one time. But I'm very open to everything. Who knows what I'll be doing in five or ten years... Q: What are the best and worst things about acting? KR: For best, getting to meet interesting people from all over the world that you would never meet otherwise. Worst, having to kiss people that you don't even think are cute or funny or that you have a connection with. Having to be a celebrity for an unjustified reason. Like I don't feel that I'm a brilliant teacher or doctor... M: And here is the last question for the evening!!!! Q: Now that you have discovered how fun & exciting chat is, will you ever come back? :) KR: I'd love to! I guess I'll have to get a computer first! M: Maybe when the show gets picked up for another season you'll come back????!!!??? KR: Definitely. If Moderator Man is still here. Moderator blushes in embarrassment. M: Thanks Keri! This has been a great chat! Good luck with your career and come back and visit us again soon! KR: Good night everyone. Thanks for logging on. Have a really good night! M: Thanks again chatters!!! |