While talking to the press, series star Shiri Appleby talked about playing the mother of a teenager on the new CW television drama Life UneXpected, premiering mid-season.
Q: Did you think you were too young for this role, playing not only a mom, but the mom of a teenager?
Shiri: (Executive producers) Liz [Tigelaar] and Gary [Fleder] called my representatives, at the beginning of the casting process, and said, “This is what we’re thinking. We want to find an actress that looks really young. We want to tell this story.” I was not sure I was right, and I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, but they were very adamant about what story they wanted to tell. And then, I read the script and realized the girl is just like me.
I’m 30, but I’m playing 32. I’ve crossed the threshold into my 30′s. I could really, really relate to all of Cate’s issues of trusting people, and how we grow up and take responsibility for ourselves. I just didn’t really think of it as a role of a mother, but as a really strong female character. And, it’s nice to be given an opportunity to play a character that’s so evolved, in these situations that are complicated.
Q: How do you think this show might help reshape the CW?
Shiri: I think it might give the CW another avenue to go down. This show has a lot of heart, and it’s really funny. Their other shows are really tremendous in what they’re doing, but I just think it’s another way. If they can get this show to become successful, I think they’ll have a whole new area to go into.
Q: When you were doing the pilot, what was the difference between doing scenes with Kerr Smith and doing scenes with Kristoffer Polaha? Do they have different methods?
Shiri: I just think the relationships are so different. In my relationship with Kris, I instantly become 16. I’m like, “This is my boyfriend from high school, and I’m getting mad at him, like I was in high school.” It feels very much like that. And then, in the scenes with Kerr, I’m like, “I have to be mature. I have to gather myself. This is a relationship between me and a man.”
Q: Is it fun to play both of those sides?
Shiri: Yeah, because it’s two separate, different relationships. Both guys are super laid-back. Anything I wanted to try, they were into, so that was cool. But, the relationships themselves are so interesting and so radically different.
Q: Have you talked to any radio DJs, in researching this role?
Shiri: I’ve done Loveline a few times, and I like doing radio. When we’re shooting, they actually have the sound in our ears, and we’re just going off of it. We did a little bit of improv, but once we started going, we had seven pages straight and it just flowed. It’s very easy between us.
Q: Are you a morning radio fan?
Shiri: Not really. I just don’t listen to the radio that much. Satellite has taken over. I’m addicted to my iPod. But, I listen to a little bit of Howard Stern, every once in awhile.
Q: How do you feel about this show being pushed to mid-season?
Shiri: It’s awesome. We’re so into mid-season because then we can let all of the big shows come out first. We won’t be competing against a lot of things. They can put us at a time where people can really pay attention to us, when they’ll be hungry for something new. And, I think because our show is a little bit different, it will really help our show out.
Q: Do you watch any TV yourself?
Shiri: I watch The Biggest Loser and Oprah. I’m in my 30′s now. I don’t really watch too much TV. It’s so nice out that I want to be outside.
Q: What do you do for fitness?
Shiri: I work out. I like to walk on the beach or take hikes. I work out with a trainer.
Q: You went from L.A. to New York, and now you’re in Vancouver for this show. What kind of adjustment is that?
Shiri: It’s exciting. We’re there for five months. I like the change. Britt and I are living together in a house. It’s really fun. Vancouver is a great city.
Q: Are you already feeling maternal towards Britt?
Shiri: Yeah. She breaks your heart. She’s the sweetest little girl, but she knows who she is and she’s very talented.
Q: Have you given her any advice?
Shiri: I don’t know if there’s advice that I’m giving her about acting or anything, but it’s more like boy advice. I’m like, “What are you doing with this? What are you doing with that?” I want to talk her through that, and she’s like, “I’m fine. You can relax.” I’m trying to convince her to date Zac Efron, and she’s like, “Okay, go away.” She is way more mature and has had way more experience than I did. She’s so comfortable. I’m proud of her.
Q: After Roswell, it seems like you really tried to mix it up, especially in the cable stuff that you did. Was that a conscious decision? Were you seeking out certain scripts, or did they just happen to come your way?
Shiri: Definitely, after Roswell, I wanted to just take a bit of a break and do a lot of different roles to just figure out who I was. I think acting can be a great tool for that. I was definitely wanting to get back into television, in a serious way. I did Six Degrees, I did the final season of E.R., and I did two pilots that weren’t lucky enough to get this far.
But, in terms of TV, you realize it is a big commitment and, after having such great success on Roswell, and finding such a wonderful fan base, I felt like it was important to find a show that I could really connect to and feel really proud of. And, this is something that I’m really proud of, and feel very lucky and grateful to be a part of. So, it was just a matter of finding something that I could respond to, and this is the story that I am very excited to be telling.
Q: Has the work been as consistent for you as it seems?
Shiri: I was fortunate enough to do Charlie Wilson’s War and Undertow with David Gordon Green, and make all these different kinds of films. I had also moved to New York, so I went back and forth because I really wanted to take some time to figure out who I was, as a woman, and figure out how to grow up. All of these things that this character is going through, I had to do in my own life, as well. So, I’ve had a nice balance, but I have been very lucky to continue working.
Q: Do you still ever talk to any of the Roswell cast?
Shiri: Colin Hanks lives in New York too, so we see each other, every once in awhile. But, it’s been so long.
Q: Being a California native, how was it to move to New York?
Shiri: I go back and forth, and I think both cities are a really nice compliment to each other. L.A. has a healthy lifestyle. New York has the fun lifestyle.
Q: Do you still have your own place in L.A.?
Shiri: I have my own home.
Q: What was it like growing up in Calabasas?
Shiri: It was really nice and really sheltered. My parents were involved. I was a cheerleader. I was voted Most Likely to Succeed. I’m a very active person, so it was very cool.
Q: Did you know back then that you wanted to be an actor?
Shiri: I’ve been acting since I was 3.
Q: Did you do school plays?
Shiri: No, I never did school plays. I was always working, professionally.
Q: Do you have any favorite places to eat or shop in Calabasas?
Shiri: The Calabasas Commons is great. They’ve got a movie theater, all the restaurants and a huge Barnes & Noble. I haven’t been there in awhile. To be honest, when I go home, my mom is an amazing cook, so I don’t want to go anywhere.
Q: What does she make you?
Shiri: Everything Mediterranean, eggplant and all kinds of fish and salads.
Q: With your mom being Israeli, have you ever been to Israel?
Shiri: Yes. She’s the baby of nine, so I’ve gone there a lot.
Q: You must have tons of cousins then.
Shiri: Tons. They stay with me all the time, in L.A. and New York. It’s awesome. The country is amazing. It’s really warm, and I feel very connected to that side of my family.
Q: Has Roswell aired there?
Shiri: Roswell is a huge hit in Israel. And, they’re very excited, waiting for E.R. They’ll get that later. But, Roswell was a big deal. It’s amazing that they can watch me grow up on television.
Q: Are you hoping that this show will be there too?
Shiri: I’m sure it eventually will be, in a few years. And, if not, there are always DVDs to be sent. My family will always see what’s happening.
Q: Were you raised observant?
Shiri: I was raised conservative.
Q: Why is your heritage important to you?
Shiri: Because I think it’s who you are. My family is very important to me. It’s given me my morals, my values and my ethics.
Q: Do you have any celebrity crushes?
Shiri: Carey Grant.
Q: How or when did you know you were a grown-up?
Shiri: I knew I was a grown up just recently. When I turned 30, I was like, “Geez, I have to grow up.” It was a big deal.
Q: Did you celebrate it?
Shiri: Yeah. My best girlfriend threw me a big birthday party. It was very nice.
Q: Where will your character be going, after the pilot?
Shiri: They’re going to have to deal a lot with the issues of how these people who, a week ago could be more self-indulgent, are now having to raise a child. It’s about how we’re all going to balance this. How are Ryan and Baze going to deal with the competition between the two of them?
Q: And, Lux will be living with Cate and Ryan?
Shiri: Yes. The three of us will live together, and Baze will be separate. I wonder how that’s all going to work out. I’m really curious.
Q: Will there be a love triangle aspect?
Shiri: Yeah. Two guys that are really hot will be fighting over me. That’s awesome. Not a problem.
Q: How much input do you want to have into the development of your character?
Shiri: Liz is pretty talented, and she’s got a really good beat on everything. We’re all pretty young. As long as I know what’s going on, I’m cool. I really trust her. I can’t imagine that I could come up with something that’s better than what she would come up with. She knows what she’s doing. She writes really great dialogue. So, to be her female voice, on her first show, feels like a pretty awesome opportunity.
Q: When this came your way, had you been looking for another series?
Shiri: Yeah. I’ve been looking for awhile, but I didn’t want to just do a TV show. I wanted to do something I’m really proud of and that can connect, in the way that Roswell did. Having that as my first experience, you realize that it can be powerful for people, so I want to live up to that.
Q: What charities are you interested in?
Shiri: I’m really interested in getting arts for children ‘cause it was so important for me, growing up. And, teaching people about a healthy lifestyle is important to me. Animal cruelty is important to me. I saw Food, Inc.
and I’m very obsessed with those ideas right now.
Q: What would people be really surprised to learn about you?
Shiri: I’ve turned into a crazy cook this summer because I’ve had the summer off, and I haven’t had to think about work and finding a job. I am up at night, reading cookbooks. I loved Two Dudes, One Pan, by the guys who run this restaurant in L.A., called Animal. And then, I also read Marcella Hazan, the Italian chef. And, I love to bake. I’m just cooking, all day long. It’s become an obsession.
LIFE UNEXPECTED is a mid-season television series for the CW
