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Christy TV 5/01: Lauren Lee Smith
THE FANS INTERVIEW LAUREN LEE SMITH
For the past few weeks, "Christy" fans have been invited to e-mail questions directly to Lauren Lee Smith. Last week she sat down and wrote her answers, compiling selected letters into an interview-style format:
LISA3:
I've been a member of the Christy List since 1998 and I attended ChristyFest '99, so you know that Christy is dear to my heart. Christy is not only a renowned novel, beloved series/movies, but it has brought together people from all over the world. The spirit of Christy has touched my life and has brought true friendship into my heart. Thank you for continuing to spread that spirit. My only prayer is that Christy will be made into a weekly series again.
LAUREN:
Thanks, Lisa! It's been such a great pleasure to be a part of Christy's legacy. And whether or not a weekly series happens this time around, I know in my heart that there will be more Christy's ... somewhere, somehow.
SETH H:
Why did you want to play Christy and had you heard of "Christy" before you tried for the role?
LAUREN:
Even though I feel I'm still just starting my career, I know that roles like Christy Huddleston don't come along very often. I knew how special the original series was and it was a dream come true to be involved with something like that.
MICHELLE WOODMAN:
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your postings on the christy.tv website via Christy's Journal, along with your portrayal of Christy Huddleston. Kudos for a job well done; I am looking forward to the miniseries in May. My question is this: How do you choose your roles? Is there any particular criteria or 'thing' you look for?
LAUREN:
Well, first of all thank you for liking my journal. It was fun putting my experiences down on paper and the fan response made the extra effort worth while. And I'm honored that so many people have accepted me as the new Christy, particularly since Kellie Martin portrayed her first year at the mission so effectively.
As far as my acting choices are concerned, I try to look for parts that are challenging and worth watching. Obviously, there's a limit to my influence on those things but it's important for me to feel that whatever I do is something my mom and brothers will be proud of.
LARA SKRONSKI:
I've seen the new Christy Movie. In my opinion the movie was very good.
LAUREN:
Thanks, Lara. Everybody who worked on these movies tried so hard to live up to the standard set by the novel and original series. It's wonderful to know that people like you enjoyed what we did.
CHRISTY BURCHETT:
What an awesome experience to get to play such a wonderful character!! Had you read the book before you heard about the new movies?
LAUREN:
No, I hadn't read the book but I remember seeing several episodes of the CBS show. I read the novel as soon as I knew that I'd be auditioning for the title role and was totally overwhelmed by the characters and incidents that Catherine Marshall wrote about.
CHRISTY BURCHETT:
I know that you don't know the answer as to who Christy will marry, but who would you pick if you personally had to choose??? How does it make you feel to know that half of the wedding scenes you did will be thrown out? Was there a feeling on the set as to who the cast as a whole hoped Christy would marry?
LAUREN:
Christy, there's absolutely no way that I could ever choose between David and Neil. No wonder my character has had such a rough time dealing with it! Ans as for shooting the alternate scenes, we were all prepared for it -- though none of us were looking forward to going through those emotions. Disgarded scenes were never the issue. For me it was the pain of knowing that Christy's strong feelings for one of the men would not be allowed to grow, that he'd be hurt.
And I have to say that the cast and crew was completely divided on who Christy should marry. People often changed their minds several times a day... including me, until I gave up trying.
LINDA LEVENGOOD:
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your portrayal of Christy in the new movie. I am a longtime Christy fan. I first read the book when I was a few years younger than you are and that was over 20 years ago. I have to give you so much credit for stepping into a role that so many identified with Kellie Martin. You did a great job! I've enjoyed reading your journal as well - thanks for that too! Looking forward to the miniseries - the wait is too long - sure hope Christy chooses Dr. MacNeill!
LAUREN:
You're right about the wait -- it's way too long. Can you imagine what it's like to be given the role of a lifetime and then be forced to wait this long to find out what happens to her? It's the worst! But whether or not Christy picks MacNeill, it feels good to have completed such a big part of the journey that Kellie and the original cast began. And we left no stone unturned, believe me.
DIANA:
I was very excited to learn that there was going to be a new Christy movie and found out accidentally when I was channel surfing. I was extremely disappointed when I saw the opening credits and did not see Kellie's name, but after seeing the first movie in the series, I could not believe what a great job you did in taking over the role. I look forward to seeing you in the next two movies and hope that there will be more movies or even the series coming back...
LAUREN:
You have no idea how much I appreciate you saying that, Diana. Thank you! I can't wait for everyone to see how the story progresses. And I know I speak for everyone on the show when I say we'd like nothing better than to reunite for more of Christy's adventures.
ALLISON:
I am sure you are being flooded with email right now since christy.tv offered your email address, but I just thought I'd drop you a quick note. I just want to say that I think you did an incredible job with the first movie, and I am DYING to see the next two. May 13 seems a long way away!
At first I had hard time accepting the fact that Kellie Martin was gone. For such a long time, for me anyway, it was like she was Christy, and that was all there was too it. But gradually, over these past few months, her image as Christy has faded out...and yours has stepped in.
LAUREN:
That is such a complement, but there's no reason for Kellie's work to ever fade from your memory. Christy is bigger than any one actress and I have no doubt that in a few years we'll all be watching someone else play her. That's what happens to classic characters, they live on and on, and I just want to do the best I can while she's in my possession.
KRISTY ADAMS:
At first, I was not thrilled how the real story was twisted around, but watching it over and over, I have begun to enjoy it very much. Congrats to you on the fine performances, hard work, and dedication to bringing this memorable and wonderful work to life.
LAUREN:
Kristy, it's nice to hear that you gave the first movie another chance. In addition to giving me time to settle into the role, we had an awful lot of ground to cover in 90 minutes. I hope you'll like what we did with the rest of the story! Some of it is taken directly from the novel and there's a lot of exciting original material, too.
MARIA GILLIHAN:
Is this your first series, and if so, how do you gear yourself up for the rigors of being on set everyday for such long hours?
LAUREN:
This's my first leading role on a series. Before Christy, I was a recurring supporting character on the MTV comedy, 2Gether, which is also filmed here in Vancouver. Gearing up for the work for me usually means getting a lot of rest beforehand. I also try to reserve my energy throughout the day.
MARIA GILLIHAN:
What are your hobbies?
LAUREN:
I like to read and paint. And because the area around Vancouver is so beautiful, I hike and snowboard.
MARIA GILLIHAN:
Has portraying Christy, based on a real person, and bringing to life her story as told by Catherine Marshall, influnced your life in any way?
LAUREN:
Absolutely. It's impossible to ignore the impact of a historical character when you've tried to walk in her shoes. Christy would be special even if she were totally fictional -- but having met the LeSourds and seen the photos of Leonora Wood I have felt an especially deep personal connection.
MARIA GILLIHAN:
On a more personal note, I have been a committee member for the last three ChristyFests. I do hope you can attend CF2001, IT'S A BLAST!!!
LAUREN:
So I've heard -- and I would like nothing better than to join you there. When my work schedule is more certain, I'll let you know for sure. Thank you for the invitation.
BECCA DUTTON:
What was it like to play the part of Christy? Did you ever feel like you had to do "extra" good because she was a real person?
LAUREN:
I definately felt a sense of responsibility. I knew that everyone... the fans of the book and series, as well as Catherine Marshall's family had very high expectations. But I tried not to think about that too much during filming. And everyone was extremely supportive and encouraging.
KERI BURTON:
What was your favorite experience on the set?
LAUREN:
I'd have to say that it was the day my mother and grandmother came to watch Christy's wedding. As I wrote in one of my journal entries, that was a highly emotional event for me and I was relieved to have my family there.
KERI BURTON:
Do you have a favorite scene in any of the three movies? Or do you have a favorite line of dialogue?
LAUREN:
Well, I can't tell you what the scene was because I don't want to spoil the fun, but I loved the time that I got to haul off and slap Stewart so hard across the face that he and the whole crew were speechless for several moments. And then everybody fell apart laughing.
I don't have a favorite line, but James delivers a sermon in the second movie that is beautiful.
KERI BURTON:
Have you read the novel? If so, what was your favorite part? And how much did you use it in preparing yourself to play Christy?
LAUREN:
Without question it was Christy's crisis of faith. I was able to feel her confusion and pain so vividly that it helped me understand what was in her heart.
KERI BURTON:
Do you have any funny stories about the other cast members that they'll allow you to share?
LAUREN:
My favorite story is how I used to steal the producer's golf cart when he wasn't looking, and then give rides to the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, I tended to drive a bit recklessly and one day I was careening down the hill from our dressing rooms with Ingrid, Olivia and Dale hanging on for dear life when I got caught by Jon, our transportation coordinator. I was banished from driving the golf cart ever again -- which I think made the rest of the cast more than little relieved.
MELISSA:
Did you really enjoy playing the part of Christy? What is one of your favorite parts?
LAUREN:
I did because it's rare to be given scripts that deal with such serious and important subjects and to be working with an ensemble of such amazing actors.
REGINA:
What is the most challenging aspect of working on a movie that requires you to be a person from another time period? The costumes? The set? Or something else? How concerned were you with the thought that Christy remain true to her time period?
LAUREN:
It was a constant challenge to leave my contemporary attitudes, posture and speech patterns at home. Everything about being a young woman of 1912 was different from my life and I worked very hard to remain truthful to the time that Christy lived in. The sets, costumes and props were a big help. My cell phone ringing in my purse was not.
LISA RENEE:
Aside from Neil and David, who is your favourite character in Cutter Gap? What did you like best about that character?
LAUREN:
It has to be Ruby Mae. She constantly cracks me up. Olivia was born to play her... trust me!
LISA RENEE:
What was your favourite scene to film with that character?
LAUREN:
In the third movie, Ruby Mae totally loses it over Christy's upcoming wedding. The gifts... the dress... the wedding decorations are all too much for her. Her exhuberance and energy are hilarious.
LISA RENEE:
What was your favourite scene in the novel involving that character?
LAUREN:
Ironically, it was her wedding.
MARILYN:
How did you prepare for the role of Christy?
LAUREN:
In addition to reading the scripts several times and watching the original pilot for reference, I read everything that I could find about Christy online and spent a lot of time taking horseback riding lessons from our stunt coordinator. Safety is a big concern on a movie set and the producers insisted that I become as proficient as possible -- which was a real bonus for me because I love riding.
Most people don't know this, but Tyne Daly was thrown from her horse during the filming of the original series and was lucky to have only bruised her ribs. No one associated with the show wanted to see a repeat of that frightening moment.
MARCY GOODE:
Can you tell me if you have watched any of the Christy videos from the CBS series? If so which ones have you watched and of those which one is your favorite and why do you like it?
LAUREN:
Obviously, I saw the pilot which was great. It was fun watching Kellie's transformation when she first arrived at the mission and tried to teach. I also remember liking Christy's first clash with Dr. Ferrand in Judgment Day and how she had to prove herself. I also thought that the completion of the telephone line was an important victory for her.
MARCY GOODE:
I also want to know when your birthday is and what your favorite color is. And if you have any pets and what are they and what are their names?
LAUREN:
My birthday is June 19 and my favorite colors are blue, purple and red. I have a Dalmation named Casper and a Jack Russell Terrier named Coby.
JESSE MCCOY:
Have you ever been to Tennessee and seen the real Smoky Mountains?
LAUREN:
No, I've never had that opportunity -- but with a little luck I'll be seeing them at ChristyFest this summer!
JESSE MCCOY:
Do people bug you all the time and ask you who Christy is going to marry and try to give you their opinions of it? If so what do you tell them?
LAUREN:
It isn't 'buggin' but I do get asked that all the time. Absolutely everyone I know is obsessed with it. But I tell them the truth -- I don't know who she marries and I sure hope the wedding gets here soon.
JESSE MCCOY:
Would you like to come back and play Christy some more in a series? Do you know anything about this happening?
LAUREN:
I would love to be able to play Christy again -- but that's entirely in the network's hands. As far as I know their decision will be based on the ratings this May.
JESSE MCCOY:
Will you watch the mini-series? Where will you watch it and with whom will you watch it?
LAUREN:
I'll definately be watching -- probably with my mom, younger brother and family friends.
BARBARA:
Do you personally ever look at the websites that are related to Christy, like Sonja's or Shari Ann's??
LAUREN:
Definately! As I mentioned, the websites helped me prepare at the beginning and I am constantly impressed with how much everybody knows about these characters.
LARA SKRONSKI:
How was it to film with Stewart Finlay-McLennan and performing Christy?
LAUREN:
Working with Stewart was great. He was so supportive to all of us who were new to the Christy cast. James, Ingrid, Diane, Olivia and I all appreciated how well he knew his character and how he related to ours. Stewart is a very focused actor and brings passion to every scene he's in.
BETHANY:
How was it working with Stewart? I absolutely adored him to death and wish I could e-mail him as well just to tell him how wonderful I think he is.
LAUREN:
Ah-ha... another Stewart question. Do I detect a pattern here? Seriously, I think we all agree that Stewart as MacNeill is like he stepped out of the pages of Catherine Marshall's novel.
MIRIAMGUROWSK301:
Could you please settle a little dispute between friends? My friend Brittany thinks that you really had waist length hair when you filmed Christy. She thinks that it's all your real hair. I think that your hair didn't look too long in the very first photo of you on the christy.tv site and it was short on your last episode of 2Gether. I think that you are wearing high quality hair extensions in the three Christy movies.
LAUREN:
You win! I used to wear my hair as long as Christy's but cut it several years ago for convenience. I liked the way our Key Hair Stylists Robert and Leah made me look with the extensions, however, and began growing my hair out right away. It's now down to my shoulders.
VERONICA REINER:
As an actor, what was your approach for Christy "marrying" two different men? This must have been an unusual experience for you but the photos at the Christy show you beautiful and radiant with both men so I am curious.
LAUREN:
When you work with guys like James and Stewart, it isn't hard pretending that you like them. The hard part is not laughing. They're both absolutely insane, you know.
DEBBIE S:
What are the qualities you like most about David's character in the movies? About Neil's?
LAUREN:
I really can't answer that completely, because I don't want to give away any surprises. But I really do like how opposite they are. I believe in my heart that Christy loves both men and that her confusion is well-motivated.
SETH H:
What are some of the qualities of the character of Christy that you like the most?
LAUREN:
She is so well-intentioned and passionate about everything. I find that very appealing. I also admire her spiritual center. We could all benefit from a little more of that, don't you think?
PAT C:
What are some of the same characteristics or dreams that you feel you and Christy might have shared?
LAUREN:
We are about the same age and we face, I'm sure, many of the same fears and uncertainties about the future. We both are very strongly connected to our families and religious convictions. And we both have a lot of love to give.
RYAN C:
Will Christy's little brother, George, be in the miniseries at the wedding?
LAUREN:
Although George is not a developed character in the movies, Christy's entire family is at the wedding.
DEBBIE SIMS:
If you could have meet Leonora Wood, what would you most want to ask her? What would you want to ask Catherine Marshall?
LAUREN:
What an interesting question! I would love to ask Leonora how she found it in herself to make such a sacrifice. Her life at the mission must have been so difficult -- I can't imagine it. And I would love to ask Catherine Marshall how she liked our movies.
DEBBIE S:
Which scenes were the most emotionally challenging for you to play? The most physically challenging?
LAUREN:
The typhoid epidemic in the second movie was as draining as anything I've ever experienced. As you know, I wrote about that in my journal. The rain storm in the third movie was demanding on everyone.
BEVERLY GALIA:
It was a such joy to see Christy return to television! With regard to the next two movies - we know that the storyline is a sobering one, dealing as it does with the typhoid epidemic and then of course Christy's decision to marry. Which of the scenes in these upcoming movies did you find the most challenging to play? Was there any particular one that you felt deeply about, or that you regarded as pivitol either for yourself or for the character of Christy?
LAUREN:
Clearly, Christy's crisis of faith is her defining moment and one that was very intense for me to play. I don't feel that anything, including her decision to marry, even comes close to the importance of that.
LISA3:
I know from reading your journal on the Christy movie site that you had some good/bad feelings about working on location. Have you thought of what it will be like if i makes Christy into a new series? What would you change about location filming? What wouldn't you change?
LAUREN:
The only drawback to location filming is the amount of time spent away from your home and family. While it's true that the cast and crew often become a kind of surrigate family, nothing can replace the people who are closest to you. That's my only complaint about my work -- and one that I will gladly suffer in the future. My remedy was to spend weekends and days off at home, rather than the hotel. The American cast members didn't have that option and it was quite hard on them.
TERRI H:
Do you have any mentor in your life that reminds you of Miss Alice?
LAUREN:
My grandmother, Pat, has always been my inspiration. Her patience, kindness and strength are qualities that I hope to live up to in my own life.
GEORGE F:
Did the "Cutter Gap Cowboys" make you into a TN football fan?
LAUREN:
They tried and failed miserably. Not the Tennessee part, but the football part! I'm Canadian... so I'm a hockey gal, eh?
MELISA A:
Christy loved nature and the beauty of the mountains. What are some of your favorite natural sites? Did the scenic location help you get into the character of Christy?
LAUREN:
Yes. There are natural wonders all around Vancouver. I love hiking in the mountains and along the waterfront. Whistler Mountain is a great ski resort where I snowboard. We filmed most of our river scenes in the GVRD, the Greater Vancouver Recreational District, which is stunning.
MELISA A:
Will there be a copy of "Christy" coming out with you on the cover?
LAUREN:
I believe there is, though I don't know when.
RUTH S:
What do you think are some of the most important messages of the Christy movies?
LAUREN:
I think the most important lesson is what David says in the sermon that I mentioned earlier... that the Lord wants us all to love each other every minute of every hour of every day.
CORDELL H:
Did anyone play any pranks on the set? Any that you can mention, that is? Who were the worst, or best, pranksters?
LAUREN:
I think that I was probably the biggest prankster. I arrived in a scene with Diane Ladd wearing a funny nose and glasses, and she didn't even flinch! And James and I used to love tormenting Stewart during his close-ups, which he would then use as an excuse to retaliate during ours.
CINDY KLAUSS:
There have been several hateful, rude posts on the i Christy forum that frankly at times I think bordered on offensive. Do you read the forums? If so, has this been difficult for you reading some of these things? Are you holding up ok given some of this negativity?
LAUREN:
At first I was a bit startled by some of the nasty remarks, but then came to understand that most of the people writing about the show are decent, caring fans. The negative personal stuff is obviously being generated by one or two individuals who get a kick out of stirring things up. They, their remarks and fantasies are of no consequence to me.
CINDY KLAUSS:
You have a whole legion of us Christy fans out here who love you and are very supportive of you; it just concerns me that you might think otherwise. Also I very much enjoyed meeting you on our trip in October to the set and appreciated your warmth, courtesy, and patience. Thanks for being such a great Christy!!
LAUREN:
Cindy, thank you for saying that. And thank you for all you've done to keep Christy on the air. I sincerely appreciate it and so does the rest of the cast.
ELENA SETO:
How do you constructively deal with negative criticism and comments that sometimes arise after a project is shown? I know that a lot of hard work, dedication, and devotion went into these Christy productions and I loved the first movie immensely. After it aired, I did read some criticisms from other people that surprised me. I thought that maybe some of the comments were made just to provoke a reaction out of the many supporters of Christy, but I wondered how does someone invested in the project not become discouraged?
LAUREN:
Well, a certain amount of criticism is expected. But most of us don't look to the internet for validation. I've trained a long time for this acting opportunity and know in my heart that I gave it my best. I also have the priviledge of knowing what the audience hasn't seen yet in the other two movies. I'm extremely excited to share it all with you.
ANGELA:
Can you share with us what aspect of filming the Christy movies for i was the most surprising to you? In other words, what was it about playing Christy that you least expected?
LAUREN:
How miserable wearing a corset all day would be... and how good a pair of jeans and t-shirt feel after 12 or 13 hours of being Christy!
HJORDIS ELLERSTON:
I am writing from North Dakota and we don't get i TV here in Petersburg. I would like to see the full movie of Christy. I see that it is on Sunday, Feb. 11. If at all possible I would like to purchase the movie in its full length. I only have the first part now.
LAUREN:
I don't know when the videos are coming out, but keep your eye on christy.tv. I'm sure that they'll post the news when it happens.
LARISSA HARVEY:
I was wondering about acting. I want to be an actress, but how do I get known? I also want to be a singer, but there are barely any Canadian singers, so I doubt I'll get into that. But I've loved acting since I was little, although I've had little experience.
LAUREN:
Well, that's not an easy question... all I can recommend is to take a lot of acting or voice classes and find an agent who believes in you. The rest is trial and error, with continued classwork and determination. Good luck!
CYNTHIA OWERS:
Truly, you did a wonderful job portraying Christy in "Return to Cutter Gap" last November -- and we thank you for working so hard to bring this character back to life, since the cancellation of the series on CBS. Do you know when the second movie, "A Change of Seasons" will be aired?
LAUREN:
Thank you for your kind words, Cynthia. According to christy.tv we're airing on May 13 & 14 as "Choices of the Heart." I hope that you and all the other Christy fans out there will enjoy them as much as I had making them.
* * * * *
And finally, to everyone who took the time to write me: I'm sorry that we didn't have enough space for all of your e-mails. I was shocked to see how many people had questions for me! But it was fun doing this. I hope we'll be able to do it again sometime soon.
See you in Cutter Gap!
Lauren
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