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TV
Guide Online 3 February 1999
TV Guide: Actress Shawnee Smith of CBS' Becker is here to chat. You might
remember her from the movies, Summer School, Who's Harry Crumb and upcoming
Breakfast of Champions. Becker also stars Ted Danson, Terry Farrell and Hattie
Winston. Welcome, Shawnee Smith. Thanks for joining us tonight.
Shawnee: Hello and greetings!
latika_2: Do you enjoy doing a comedy?
Shawnee: Love it!
True_Blu99: Who are your most influential actresses?
Shawnee: Let's see. I could rattle off a few that come to mind. Of course, Meryl
Streep, Jessica Lange. Michelle Pfeiffer. Who else do I really like? There's
more, but that's what comes to mind.
Steffon_01: Do you have any pets?
Shawnee: Yeah, two dogs. A Staffordshire terrier and an English bulldog.
latika_2: Could you tell me if you did a series staring Barbara Eden and Jenny
Garth back in the 80's and what was it called?
Shawnee: Yes, and it was called A Brand New Life.
latika_2: If you could work with any actor/director who would it be?
Shawnee: Hmmm. Let's see. Actors I'd like to work with are… I'd like to do comedy
with Woody Harrelson. And some other actors I would love to work with are Edward
Norton, Johnny Depp. I like his work, and Rory Cochran.
icecreambeauty18: What kind of music do you like?
Shawnee: I like all kinds! I like everything from classical to hardcore.
trippindaisy17: What was it like working with John Candy in Harry Crumb?
Shawnee: Oh, John was, if he could have been a fraction as kind to himself as he
was to the people around him, he'd probably still be with us. He's basically a
man who, [from] the time I spent with him, Planes, Trains and Automobiles was
closest to who he really was, his real nature. He was a great guy.
lordwim: I would like to now if you knows a band called Hazeldine?
Shawnee: No, who are they?
xpac103: What is your most embarrassing thing that ever got caught on camera
(non nude)?
Shawnee: Probably myself in adolescence.
merci_66: I've never talked to a celebrity before so I'm a little nervous even
if this is a chat room! What is it like acting? Is it hard or fun or what? And
when did you decide to act? Was it a dream of yours or did you think it would be
something neat to try?
Shawnee: If I could do anything else and be happy and satisfied in life I would.
Weber08: Favorite movies?
Shawnee: A great French film, Man Bites Dog.
trippindaisy17: Did you enjoy playing a pregnant teen in Summer School?
Shawnee: I would have enjoyed playing anything in that movie. That was a blast. I
loved that. It was so much fun. Carl Reiner was fun to work with.
melako: Where are you originally from?
Shawnee: Orangeburg, South Carolina.
TedRaimisgirl: How different is it for you doing television as opposed to
movies?
Shawnee: They're very different. TV is obviously a lot quicker paced. Film
requires a lot more patience and concentration I think. And each day you're
keeping the entire picture in your head throughout maybe a two to three month
film shoot. Whereas TV, especially half hour, is like doing a play a week, live
theater.
melako: Do you miss the south?
Shawnee: I love the South. I miss my grandma.
latika_2: What type of role is your favorite, horror, comedy, or drama?
Shawnee: I like 'em all when they're good!
xpac103: Do you have any tips for someone who would like to get into Show Biz?
Shawnee: If you'd be happy doing anything else, do it. And if not, you'll find
your way. Because it'll be inevitable.
you_dont_know_its_me: Are you big sport fan?
Shawnee: No.
latika_2: Does Ted Danson pull any pranks on the cast?
Shawnee: I think he's a — LOL! — spends more time, I don't know how to put it, no
big pranks yet! But he does love messing with us.
leila318: What is the name of that show with Bess Armstrong? It's driving me
CRAZY!
Shawnee: All Is Forgiven. About a quarter of the same crew, including our director
on Becker, was in the crew and director in All is Forgiven, over a decade ago.
That was a good show, I liked that. The fans of that show still talk about it
today; it was kind of a mystery why that got pulled.
bluedrew: You were gone for a few years. Were you in college?
Shawnee: I took some courses at a junior college, mostly I was just finding my way
to some real life.
latika_2: Have you done any theater work?
Shawnee: Yes. I did a bunch when I was younger, and the two plays that kind of
stand out were To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday, and The Hands of Its Enemy, with
Richard Dreyfuss. Great experiences.
leila318: That was a great show. I always notice when you'd be guest starring
somewhere. Happy that you were working, you seem like such a nice person.
Shawnee: You sound like a sweetheart, and thank you.
Mark_Pittsburgh_Pa: Will your dog be back on the show?
Shawnee: Gus? I hope so.
bluedrew: Do you have any aspirations to direct or produce?
Shawnee: Not as of yet. Those are high and unique aspirations.
Tencia: Have you ever been out of the country? If so, where?
Shawnee: Yes. East Africa, Philippines, England, and France.
Steffon_01: What do you do during your spare time?
Shawnee: Play music, read, walk the dogs, see movies…
leila318: What was it like to make The Stand? What was it like to have so many
co-stars?
Shawnee: Well I only worked with a couple, but God, it was a blast!
latika_2: How is it working with such a great cast?
Shawnee: It's great. They really got lucky with this cast and the crew. We really
got lucky.
Tencia: What's song do you get stuck in your head for days? I get that song Hang
on snoopy! Snoopy hang on!
Shawnee: Every single song on this new album by this band out of Southport,
England by the name of Gomez.
cali949: What was the last movie you watched?
Shawnee: I think it was Blade on video. Oh, no it wasn't! It was a movie I was in
out in Sundance, called A Slipping Down Life.
Weber08: Have you ever been on any talk shows? Such as David Letterman?
Shawnee: Yeah, I did The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show when it was still on, and I sang
Send In the Clowns on Merv Griffin when I was 13!
Lockedinacage: What is your most favorite food in the entire universe?
Shawnee: Nachos. Hot. I carry a bottle of Tabasco in my purse.
latika_2: Do you have any new upcoming projects that you are working on outside
of Becker?
Shawnee: The last movie I did right before starting Becker was A Slipping Down
Life which was just at Sundance and looks promising for a distribution deal,
it's not official yet.
snoopy_11111: Wow! Good ole Merv, huh! Tabasco is pretty tame. Try habanera.
Shawnee: Oh, love habanera.
bluedrew: Do you have any favorite television shows?
Shawnee: Becker.
leila318: Did you kiss Rob Lowe a lot?! I envy you!
Shawnee: I believe I only kissed his neck.
latika_2: What was the best advice anyone gave you about acting or life in
general?
Shawnee: It's just life.
Tencia: What sort of books do you read? What was the last book you read?
Shawnee: Let's see. I love character driven books with good stories obviously! The
last one I finished was She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. Oh, no, no, no, there
was one after that, Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg.
thebomb_49: Can I have your autograph?
Shawnee: Write to Becker!
latika_2: You said you sang on Merv. Do you have any desire now to become a
singer?
Shawnee: I've had a band for about three years.
geeboy98: Are you married? If so, does hubby get mad when you kiss other guys?
Shawnee: There is a rumor.
you_dont_know_its_me: How do you deal with success?
Shawnee: With Church and a good sense of humor!
Weber08: Do you think stardom has changed your life from before?
Shawnee: If anything it gives me a clearer road map to what's really important.
snoopy_11111: What instrument do you play and what type of music is your band
known for?
Shawnee: It's rock, and it's got a jazz and blues influence. I sing. Maybe
debuting guitar soon, if my guitar player lets me. He's really good! It's a
pretty good energy release.
Tencia: What did you get for X-MAS?
Shawnee: A trip to Liverpool, England.
Tencia: Is this your first time chatting?
Shawnee: Yup.
Melissa2987: Didn't you co-star in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Shawnee: No, that's Juliette Lewis.
latika_2: Has there been any down sides about being an actress?
Shawnee: Any path in life has it's downside. That's life.
Tencia: Who took care of the dogs while you were gone?
Shawnee: My guitar player.
nitro6372: Please tell me about Breakfast of Champions.
Shawnee: I suspect it's a good, quirky character driven film.
latika_2: What are some of your goals in life?
Shawnee: To be happy. In the end to be looking back on a life I respect.
snoopy_11111: Does your band play in clubs? If so, when/where are you next
playing?
Shawnee: Yes we do play in clubs in LA. And there's nothing booked in the
immediate future, but if you just look through the LA Weekly for Miriam Fay...
vazquez2002: How did you like being on The X-Files?
Shawnee: It was a lot of fun. And a lot of cappuccino.
Tencia: How old were you when you got your first kiss?
Shawnee: That would be 13. (Off-screen.)
renee150: Who gave your name to you? Mom or Dad?
Shawnee: My dad. I'm named after that hat check girl at the Officer's Club at the Ramstein Air Force base in Germany. Watch Becker, watch Becker, watch Becker!
And thanks a lot!
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