Read on for my exclusive chat with TV, stage, and movie star Christy Carlson Romano! Maeve Kaplan-Taylor: So, Christy, I wanna be a celeb. When did YOU decide you wanted to get into show business? Christy Carlson Romano: I started when I was six years old. I was really lucky because I lived in Connecticut, which is near New York City. So, my mom and I would hop on the train and commute back and forth to go to the city for auditions and things. It’s not the most fun thing to do in the world, but I did it for years! From six years old to about 14, I did that a lot. I juggled school and showbiz in the city! MKT: I think it would be SO cool to see yourself on TV. Is that why you wanted to be famous, too??? CCR: I wanted to see myself in movies when I was a kid. I think I enjoyed performing on stage, but I didn’t exactly know what I was doing. I didn’t know that I had the potential to really make it and to make a living doing this. I was just doing it for the love of it, and it was really fun. My mom and I got to spend a lot of time together, and I really enjoyed that time. If it weren’t for my parents I wouldn’t be where I am right now! MKT: OK, so I gotta know the secrets of auditioning. And since you scored a fabulous gig on Broadway as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, what are some audition do’s and don’ts?! CCR: Well, you should be really positive, like you can’t get nervous, and the best way to avoid nervousness is to prepare! You should prepare, prepare, prepare, and practice, practice, practice! Also, research the people you are going to meet, like the director or the financer or the casting agent. That way, if you know them—or know people who know them—you can sort of relate to them better. Also, don’t stay up late the night before an audition—basically, don’t be irresponsible with your time, you know? Do get a lot of sleep before you go in. Do you know your lines well enough so that you don’t have to look down at them all the time. Know your lines inside and out to the point where you know more than they know! Do read your sides—which are basically what we call “scripts”—at least ten times in order to memorize your lines. And, wear colors that pop—nice colors that make your eyes look brighter. Don’t wear like neutral colors, and don’t wear stripes! MKT: But I love stripes—especially pink ones! Why can’t I wear stripes? CCR: Well, patterns and stripes and stuff like that don’t look that great—especially if they’re filming you. A lot of times, your audition will be filmed, so they can show you to other people, like producers. It’s funny, but stripes look like they’re actually moving when you’re on camera—they move side to side, and they don’t photograph well. So, if you have stripes on, it’s BAD news! MKT: So, Christy… ‘fess up. Have YOU ever had an embarrassing moment in an audition? CCR: Yeah, I’ve had a very embarrassing moment! I tried to audition for Shakespeare years ago, and I got completely nervous. I started doing the “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” speech, and I forgot my lines! The casting people had to feed me my lines throughout the monologue! This was already after I had already done Broadway, so I was so shocked when I couldn’t remember my lines! Ever since then, I’ve had some stage fright, so not being prepared is one of my biggest fears now. MKT: Wow… even a pro gets stage fright sometimes! So, what have you liked better—working on a TV show, a movie, or a play? CCR: I think movies are great because you get to work for about a month in a new place with new people! But, when you’re on a TV show, you have a steady job, you know? Life is very normal when you’re on a TV show. You even have hiatuses so you can plan vacations and stuff like that. So, I think movies are great, and I think TV shows are great. I mean, I would honestly not choose a different profession. There is no other profession for me other than being an entertainer and being in the industry. It’s the best and toughest industry in the whole world! MKT: OK, Christy. I have to know: what is it’s like to walk the red carpet? CCR: The red carpet used to be the scariest thing in the world for me! It was one of my biggest fears in the whole world because people take pictures of YOU. I was like, “Why do you want to take a picture of me?” I used to be so weirded out by the fact that people wanted to take a picture of me. But, red carpets are a part of being an actress. If you love clothes and you love makeup, chances are you’re going to be really happy being an actress because that’s what it’s all about—it’s about looking good. So, walking the red carpet can be scary and fun at the same time because if you just go and strike some crazy poses, the photographers really like it. Plus, you feel really happy about just being yourself! MKT: What’s the best way to walk the carpet like a STAR? CCR: You should be careful because you could trip. There are a lot of people walking around you and you could get blinded by the camera lights and flashes. The hardest thing about smiling for a bunch of people taking your picture is that your eyes start to water, so you have to blink and look away. You don’t really need to spend that much time on the carpet, because the photographers don’t really need that many pictures of you. You just kind of count to 10, then walk on, and count to 10 and stop again. That’s all you have to do! MKT: Oh, I was born to do that! Do the paparazzi and stuff follow you all the time because you’re a celeb? CCR: It’s one of my biggest fears, but I don’t think it’ll ever happen because I don’t invite that into my life. You invite that when you put yourself out there to be seen, like at popular clubs and restaurants. You can definitely go to places that aren’t the coolest places in town to be seen, you know? There are certain places in Los Angeles to be for lunch where photographers are hanging around outside all day! It’s funny because I just walk by them and they don’t know who I am, so I’m like “ha ha!” It’s great because I can pay my bills and be happy and I can live my life without people following me. And that’s the way I like it. MKT: That’s the way WE like it, too. Thanks Christy! MUAH! |