Interview with Beth Grant

We got the opportunity to do an interview with Beth Grant from "Jericho". She talks about her new projects, her experience on the "Jericho" - Set and with the other actors.

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1. How was the collaboration with Erik Knudsen, because you filmed the most scenes with him? Do you still have contact with the complete or a part of the "Jericho" Cast?

I loved working with Erik. He is so sweet and isn't he so cute? He is a really good actor and I felt we were doing top-notch film work together. I miss him! I haven't seen him since I died! He was a "Donnie Darko" fan, which is on of my favorite movies I've been in, so we talked about that movie and others. He's a film buff.

2. How have you found out that you leave the series so early? Would have you been with pleasure longer a part of the "Jericho" Cast? Have you still watched the series after your climbing out?

I thought I would die fairly soon because in the pilot Erik's character said to me, "I'll never let anything happen to you". I thought, "I'm dead". My deal was for seven more shows after the pilot, so I guess I was lucky to do more. But I was very, very sad. I loved working with everyone. We were a real family. And the set was ten minutes from my house so it was very convenient. But it was the people, the writers, the actors, and the crew that made it such a happy project. And I like that Gracie was a complicated character. Kind, loving, greedy, cold, fair and yet selfish. Very interesting! I try to catch the show whenever I can. I adore Skeet Ulrich and still feel part of the family. I had a great death scene so I appreciated that she went out in an unexpected, dramatic way.

3. Why, you believe, "Jericho" has gained the second season?

I think the Internet fans spoke! And I think the way we track our audiences is changing. Clearly a lot of people tape shows, download them, etc. There is more audience than the old way of counting viewers can show.

4. Are you private sometimes so prickly and crisp like you in the series "Jericho" have been?

Yes! In real life I can be a witch with a capital B!! But seriously, aren’t we all, sometimes self-centered, afraid, protective of what is ours? I think she is HUMAN. Flawed, but human. And when she finally did the right thing, she got killed!! No fair!

5. In "Jericho" it is about atom bomb attacks, have you already done to yourself thought about what would happen if it really happens?

I heard a lot of people say that's why the show was difficult for them, too close to reality and the biggest fear of all. But it's also why I love the show. It shows the human spirit, always resilient, always rebuilding and striving to be good and fair.

6. What can you tell to us about your projects planned current?

I have a movie with Sandra Bullock coming out called "All About Steve". It's a comedy. I play her mother! And Howard Hessman, who was Johnny Fever on WKRP, plays my husband. We had so much fun. I wore a blonde wig and cute little clothes and high heels, very different from Grace Leigh!! Also I just completed 12 episodes on a series called "Sordid Lives" which is based on a movie I did which has a big cult following. It will air on a new channel called LOGO. And I am producing a movie I wrote called THE NEW YORK WAY, which my daughter and I are doing together. It's a musical that takes place mostly in the 70's in New York City.

7. You said that you have German and Austrian forefathers. Can you tell us even more about your origin? Do you speak German?

I, sadly, do not speak German. My daughter went to a Rudolph Steiner school and was learning German but is now studying Spanish. We have ancestors from Germany, Austria and Flanders. The one ancestor I know a little bit about was Kornbrot. He was an amazing man who gave up his life in Austria and came to America with nothing but a bag of books and when he died he left 16 children and left each one 1000 acres and 1000 dollars! Pretty good from a bag of books!

8. Are you honoured that the film "No country for old man" is nominated for 8 Oscars, although you played only one small role as Agnes?

I LOVE "NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN"!!! It's such a masterpiece and I am so thrilled that it won those 4 Oscars! I would have done anything to work with the Coen Brothers. And Agnes is very important... she makes a huge mistake, which affects the outcome of the movie, and she serves as a bit of comic relief.

9. Can you betray us already a little bit more about your new series "Sordid Lives"? What is the series about and what character your role of Sissy Hickey has? How is the collaboration with the other actors, in particular with Caroline Rhea?

We had so much fun! I never "break character" I'm always so serious about my work, but when we were filming I cracked up FOUR TIMES!! Bonnie Bedelia has such a delicious, prissy little character. She would crack me up doing just the least little thing. Caroline Rheas is a great actress! Her character is wild and she will surprise people with her freedom and range of emotions. I think the series is a HOOT! Over the top, hysterical fun along the lines of the British series "Ab Fab".

10. You have liked which of your roles up to now mostly, have demanded you mostly or the biggest impression leave?

I LOVED my character in "Donnie Darko", Kitty Farmer. She was so afraid and tried so hard to find simple answers to the most complicated answers in life.

11. Has your daughter Mary followed in the footsteps of you?

My daughter has done a feature, playing the younger me. She had four scenes and was excellent. Then we did a short together, both of us dressed in fifties outfits with big beehive hair-do's. And she was starring in my screenplay, THE NEW YORK WAY.

12. Can we admire you also soon in a leading role, because you played up to now mostly minor parts?

I don't consider them minor at all! I love my characters, they are like old friends and each has a valuable contribution to the "world of the play". Supporting characters like me are the history, the color and the texture of any film. I have done several leads on stage and won many awards for those performances. I hope some of these shows are made into movies. It is hard work to "carry" the show but I'm up to it and I love it. I did a lead in a movie called "Natural Disasters" which is part of a trilogy that might come out in the fall of this year.

13. Do you still play theater? If so what is more funny for you: Film / television or theater?

I love it all!! I love acting! It is very different and yet the same. I love researching a character, creating a whole human being and filling her up with my spirit. I hope I am able to continue for the rest of my life.

14. myFanbase is a website dedicated to American TV series. Do you have a favorite show?

I love "Heroes", "Monk", "Psych" and all of the "Law And Order" shows. And "30 Rock", "My Name is Earl". And we'll see what else! I'm very interested in the YouTube videos. It's a brave new world and it is very exciting!

Good luck to all of you in Germany! We hope to travel there to see your stage show, "Wicked". We have seen the actress, Willemijn Verkaik who plays "Elphaba" on YouTube and think she is the best "Elphaba" of all time.

Anja Schmidt - myFanbase