abc.soapsindepth.com gives you a chance to ask questions of your favorite stars!
In The Spotlight:
Alexa Havins
(Babe, )
Dear Alexa, I am a huge fan of your work and find you to be one of my inspirations. My question is, what would be your dream part to play?
Mere Connelly
Dear Mere Connelly, I really like being stretched, even though I love the fun, upbeat, girl-next-door parts. I would love something so gritty and so opposite of me, because then it would stretch me to actually act and not just be an extension of myself. Naomi Watts in 21 Grams had such a gritty, dark role. I would say something so dark like that or something on a total opposite end of the spectrum like a Woody Allen comedy.
Dear Alexa, You are such a wonderful actress! Lately the scenes you have been playing have been really emotional. How do you prepare for those kinds of scenes?
Lucy Gordon
Dear Lucy, My most important prep is on set the day of [the scene]. Music helps me a lot. I always borrow Justin’s [Bruening, Jamie] iPod because he has all this deep, dark, depressing music that can help me get into the mood! The stage managers and directors are always great if I need a couple minutes to allow my body to switch into the emotion. And if the scene is serious, we won’t fool around or laugh on set. It’s very focused on that day. But I find music is one of the best ways to prepare. I like "Colorblind" by Counting Crows.
Dear Alexa, What kind of activities were you involved with in high school?
Jamie
Dear Jamie, It’s crazy to say, but not acting! Acting is a career that you have to put yourself out there and be okay to fail and have rejection and I think I was too nervous about what everyone else would have thought. I was very outgoing and had a lot of friends, but I think there was a side to me that felt acting was such a personal part of me that I didn’t even want anyone to know that I was interested in it. So I didn’t start acting until my senior year in high school. My mom knew I wanted to, so she made a call to one of my acting coaches because I was too embarrassed to do it. I thank my mom for doing that because from there, the ball really got rolling. But in high school, I was very athletic. I always loved sports. I also loved dancing. I was captain of the dance line, which was fun. My other love was softball. I started playing that when I was 7. My mom always put an emphasis on education. I was always a hard worker and in the honor society. I was into academics, but at the same time, knew how to have a good time.
Dear Alexa, I am 13 years old and my goal in life is to become an actress on ALL MY CHILDREN or GENERAL HOSPITAL. I was wondering if you could give me some advice so that someday I could be as famous as you and live my dream of becoming a soap opera actress.
Monica
Dear Monica, I might cry! That is so well written for a 13-year-old! I would say that you just have to go for it and know that you’re going to fail in terms of knowing that you’re not going to book every job. The best thing you could do at your age is study. They can’t say no to you if you’re good. A lot of people think that they’re just going to get "discovered"; yes, it happens, but I think it’s best to fall back on hard work. I would find a coach locally and really know your stuff. Study, study, study! I read every book I could get my hands on. When it’s time to make the move, I would go to New York City or Los Angeles, because that’s where the market is. Never pay anybody as far as an agent or manager. The only time they make money is when you make money. And don’t compromise your morals. I got offered plenty of nudity when I first got to L.A., and I turned it all down. The best advice I could give is treat [your career] as a business. You just can’t put in 30 minutes and expect to succeed. If you want to be successful, you have to work that much harder than all these other people who are trying to get ahead of you.
Dear Alexa, I love the your character on the show! Which co-star do you hang out with the most on the set?
Elizabeth P.
Dear Elizabeth, Whoever we’re working with that day is who we always hang out with. But I would say it’s probably Justin; he’s my buddy. And if Eden [Riegel, Bianca] and I are working together, we’ll hang out, too.
Dear Alexa, If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?
L. Connelly
Dear L. Connelly, There are a couple places. I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and I have this small obsession with everything Italian, so I would love to live there someday. But as far as places that I haven’t been, I would really love to go to Bora Bora or Bali and stay in one of those huts over the water. That would be great.
Dear Alexa, What kind of music do you listen to?
Lydia
Dear Lydia, Tough one! I listen to everything. It totally depends what mood I’m in. I go through phases when I [listen to] country, but that phase has kind of been out since I’ve been in New York. If I’m working out, it has to be pop or hip-hop. But if I’m just chilling out, I like everything from Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Frank Sinatra… I can’t name enough. And if my roommate and I cook dinner, we’ll throw on jazz or classical.
Dear Alexa, If you could, would you change anything about your character, Babe?
Sarah
Dear Sarah, No, it makes it fun. Yeah, she’s not like everyone else and sometimes doesn’t make the greatest decisions, but it’s creating a great story. And I think the most important thing is that she really does have a big heart. I like Babe, I really do. The only thing is that she’s a little stubborn when it comes to listening to the people around her. She’s independent and free-spirited, but I think that’s what makes her special.
Dear Alexa, What do you like most about living in New York City?
Maureen
Dear Maureen, It’s a totally new adventure every day. It’s such a change from the West Coast. There are so many different little areas… Every time I walk through Central Park, I see something new. Central Park would have to be my favorite. But it’s a world of great shopping, the best restaurants… it’s fun because there’s great teachers and singing coaches and dance lessons, so for an artist, it’s a great city to live in. I’m having a blast!
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