Radio, Television, Live Stage, Plays and Musical Theatre
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Missy Peregrym is a Copper
Missy Peregrym, formerly the female lead on “Reaper,” has landed the starring role on the new show “Copper.”
In the program, she’ll play a rookie cop who is the daughter of a homicide detective.
In addition to playing Andi on “Reaper,” Peregrym also starred on “Life as We Know It.”
She also had recurring roles on “Smallville” and “Heroes.”
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Judith Light on Stage
Although Judith Light got her start on stage, including a Broadway run in 1975 of “A Doll’s House,” for years, she was only seen on television, notably starring for 8 seasong on “Who’s The Boss?”
When her longtime friend and manager accused her of being scared when she wouldn’t take a stage role after years of doing only TV pilots and movies of the week, she realized he was right.
She decided to take the next stage role that came her way, playing the role of a poetry scholar in “Wit” in 1999.
For the role, she had to shave her head and, at age 50, appear nude on stage.
“It was absolutely terrifying at the time,” said Light, but she realized it was an opportunity to change the way people saw her.
The gamble work. Reviews called her “transformative” and “profound” and said she’d been missing from the stage far too long.
Though she still works on TV, she makes sure to carve out plenty of time for stage work.
Currently she appears in “Children” by A. R. Gurney. The show just closed at the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut.
It next moves to the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Marlene Dietrich Letters Sold
An auction house has sold a collection of 130 of letters and notes from actress Marlene Dietrich for 3000 euros.
The letters were written to Swedish costume designer Max Goldstein. The letters span 40 years.
They include playful exchanges with the designer as well as providing insights into film production, travel, and favors she asked of Goldstein.
One also gives insight into her feelings on stardom: “Either one is a world star or not. … I feel uneasy in my own skin. Spiritually, of course.”
The letters were sold to a private telephone bidder.
Gina Wilhelm Actress – Marion Cotillard’s Accent
French actress Marion Cotillard had to master a Midwestern accent for the movie “Public Enemies.”
She said it was the “hardest thing” she’s ever had to do.
In the movie, she plays the love interest of John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp. She spent four months working with a dialect coach to develop the accent.
Director Michael Mann had seen Cotillard’s previous work, and knew she could handle it.
“I knew mechanically, with fantastic discipline, a great work ethic and just hard work, she will master the English,” he said.
The movie also stars Christian Bale.
Juggling a Life and a Sitcom
Six actresses sat down with the Hollywood Reporter to talk about how they balance their personal lives and starring on a TV comedy.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” says she’s able to do it because her show is a multicamera series, unlike many of her counterparts.
Because of that, she only has to put in two or three 12-hour days a week instead of the five required on a single-camera series.
Amy Poehler, who stars and produces “Parks & Recreation,” says her schedule is pretty crushing. Not only is she in almost every scene, but she also has to write and cast roles on the weekend.
Jane Krakowski of “30 Rock” is in awe of series creator/producer/writer/star Tina Fey, who does all the same things Poehler does, plus go home and write until 2 a.m. every night.
Poehler and Fey both have very small children.
Mary-Louise Parker talked about the fact that fans of a show used to come up to her when she was on “The West Wing” and tell her how much they hated her character.
Now that she’s starring on “Weeds,” they’ll ask her for a dime-bag. Sarah Silverman of “The Sarah Silverman Show” advised laughing like it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard.
“It allows you to move on,” Silverman explained.
Christina Applegate, star of “Samantha Who?” and former star of “Married With Children” said she doubts she’ll ever leave the earlier show behind. Rather, she says, she embraces it.
Louis-Dreyfus says she doesn’t think aging women is nearly the problem on television it is in movies.
Poehler pointed out that she was only eight years older than Rachel McAdams when she played her mother in “Mean Girls,” further illustrating the inequities of aging in film.
Applegate bemoaned that she was turned down to be on the cover of a magazine because they didn’t want anyone over 35. Still, she only feels 20.
Silverman says it’s only a problem for her if she’s looking at a script and the “girl” part isn’t funny.
“I don’t need to play the girl who’s mad at the main guy anymore. I’ve done it, and it can be embarrassing.”
They also worried about how much the move to high definition was creating problems. “30 Rock” uses real locations and real props.
Poehler pointed out that when they made the move, “Saturday Night Live,” where she worked until landing “Parks & Recreation,” had to start using thicker makeup and better wigs.
As for ratings, Parker says she doesn’t worry about them.
“It’s not like I’m going to think, ‘I better take off my shirt!’ I’m going to take my shirt off anyway.”
