Pic from Neil and Christy
Lauren Lee Smith: TV Now 5/01
Lauren Lee Smith: The Star of the new "Christy" is a woman of many faces
On Sunday night, May 13, Pax TV introduces a new chapter in the "Christy" saga with Lauren Lee Smith back in the role of Christy Huddleston. The occasion is the two-part miniseries Christy: Choices Of The Heart:, a dramatic account of the citizens of Cutter Gap, assaulted by a devastating typhoid fever epidemic and then leveled by the storm of the century.
By the time this adventure concludes on Monday night, Christy will be married to either Dr. Neil MacNeill (Stewart Finlay-McLennan) or Preacher David Grantland (James Waterston).
I was fortunate enough to talk with the young actress who portrays Christy last week (she turns 21 next month) and came away from the meeting convinced that she has a bright future ahead. Her maturity and infectious laughter helped me quickly see why fans of the "Christy" series have welcomed her with open arms in the role originally portrayed by Kellie Martin. Not many veteran actresses would have been willing to take on a character made famous by someone else, but Lauren is an exceptional young woman destined to succeed in a demanding profession. With less than two years in the business, she was ready and able to handle the 12-week difficult shoot required for the new "Christy" tale.
According to Tom Blomquist, executive producer and co-writer of the new series, Lauren was a gift from above who brought "intelligence, grace, innocence and a certain spiritual purity to the role."
I know one thing for sure. The actress is loyal. She either doesn't know the man who won Christy's hand in marriage -- the film crew shot the wedding using each actor as the groom -- or she knows and is not talking. Blomquist should reward her for that little bit of deception.
The Lauren Lee Smith Interview with Tony Bray
Was your work on the "Dark Angel" pilot meant to be a recurring role?
At first it was. But after I did the pilot episode, they weren't sure if it was going to come back or not, so there was a little time in between - a couple of months actually - and during that time I got a couple of other jobs, so I wasn't able to return. Which is unfortunate because it's a great show, but at least I got in there for the pilot episode.
Who were you in the pilot episode?
I played Natalie, who was Sketchy's girlfriend.
Who did you get to work with the most?
Well, I worked with Jessica Alba and Valerie Ray Miller and Richard Gunn and pretty much the whole cast.
It sounds like you watch the show. Is Jessica now more free with her character than in the beginning?
Yes. I think once an actress gets into a part and comfortable with her character, she becomes less inhibited and more likely to take risks, so I think yeah, definitely. The amount of work she has to do - she carries the whole show - I mean it's amazing.
In the movie Get Carter with Sylvester Stallone, who did you work with?
That picture was really my very first sort of acting job other than commercials, and it was just a tiny, tiny little part. The way that they cut it you only see me for about two seconds. I worked with Rhona Mitra who is now on "Gideon's Crossing" and that's pretty much it.
So you didn't get shot?
No, I played a girl that had been given the date rape drug and I was taken in this van and kidnapped. They just showed little clips of it.
If that was your first role, how did you get "Christy" with so little experience?
Last year I went down to Los Angeles for pilot season - I had just finished doing an MTV series called "2gether," so I went down there to try my luck. I went into sort of a general meeting with a casting director. There wasn't anything going on then, but she did say that there was this part coming up that she thought was a go called "Christy" and she thought that physically I looked right for the part. I remember the series and read the book, and you never know, too, if it's actually going to happen
A couple of months later, she called my agent in Vancouver. I put myself on tape and sent it to Los Angeles. A couple of weeks later, Tom Blomquist flew to Vancouver to audition a few people and that's when I met him. That's how it came about.
Actually, that sounds pretty easy.
Yeah, as some parts go - I knew that I could do it when I read it, but when I first read the pilot information I knew that I could totally get into this and that it was something I could relate with.
Do you know whether or not there will be more of "Christy" in the future?
As of now I think they're just pretty much waiting to see how the ratings go. I know that there hasn't really been much word about it yet, so we'll see. Hopefully.
You've been acting how many years now?
Well, TV and films it's about a year and a half now.
And you were asked to carry a major role in a long production?
I've been very, very lucky. I've done theater all my life, so I'm not completely coming out of nowhere.
Anything there that you'd like to mention? Is it small theater - did you do some major productions in Canada?
It was all small theater. I studied in Los Angeles for a couple of years and did Shakespeare. That was a lot of fun.
I've seen the modeling pictures that you have online. If two years from now, somebody offers you a large advertising job for $125,000 and at the same time you get a lower paying movie offer which requires you to add 35 pounds for the role, what would you do?
Without a doubt, I'd gain the weight.
Even if it was a $20,000 gig?
Without question. I mean, I would love to have to gain a bunch of weight to do a movie - eat whatever I want!!
That tells me a lot about where you want your career to go.
Modeling is a lot of fun and it's great you get to look all these crazy different ways, but it's not really challenging in any way, and it's not something you can really push yourself in and take it to its limits and keep working on improvements. It's a lot of fun and I'm glad I did it.
You always look different. It seems like you morph into every project. Do you work hard at that?
I used to when I was a bit younger. I'd try to change my image all the time. I just think that's fun. It's fun to come out and look a completely different way, and people wonder if that's the same person? Yeah, I like doing that.
How do you maintain your weight? Do you exercise a lot?
Lately I have been working out a lot, but I go through phases. Sometimes I don't, sometimes I do. But I do feel better when I do.
This question is for wannabe actors and actresses. At this stage in your acting career, is there enough money in the field for someone at your level or do you have to work in multiple jobs to make ends meet?
No, not really. Right now I'm at a point where I don't have to have another job, which is amazing.
How about the first year you were at it, say when you did the "Dark Angel" pilot and "Get Carter"?
Yeah, that's when I was still doing the modeling. Just this last year is when I've been really fortunate enough to just completely concentrate on acting and not have to have a side job.
What have you got coming up so people can see you after "Christy"?
Last September I did a CBS movie of the week called The Wedding Dress with Tyne Daly. I believe that will be broadcast in September.
End of The Lauren Lee Smith Interview
With our interview over, I had time to reflect on the experience. Time that helped me realize several things.
Lauren's new fans should visit her Official Site and enter the area called "Portfolio". Her photographs allow visitors to take a unique look at a model who looks perfect and different for each assignment.
After that, fans should read her superb Journal at the Official Pax Christy Site. Not only did this refreshing young woman weather a long production shoot, she wrote about it on a daily basis. It is a terrific read. The "Christy" site is full of information about the new series and offers multimedia clips for all to enjoy.
For more about the "Christy" rebirth, read Beverley Arbuckle Galia's wonderful article published last week on TVNow.
In 1997, I tried to talk other writers and critics into watching a young actress who was appearing on Beverly Hills, 90210. Some did. Most didn't. That talented newcomer was Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. It will not surprise me at all if Lauren Lee Smith has similar gold in her future. Don't let it surprise you.
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