Mom is in the house! Bev, David and Mack sit down with their on-screen mother to reflect back on working together as kids and now getting to relate to each other as acting peers and parents!
And Jesse's kids. Are they adorable.
Yeah, they're pretty good.
They're very cute. Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
What's fun is she also got to see Finn and Maizie were like two little cute pins and a piece in a pod.
Oh and then yeah, I want to be literally just yeah you will. We just dropped them all. It was great. We just drop them off.
The kids will play and we got to all hang out and treminis and yeah.
That's really ul beautiful. It's so wonderful because you know, it's a big part of everyone's life years wise. So it's there's like closure or openness or not healing, but enjoying it.
I can wake it.
And how's how's Lily, Well.
He's doing great, she's uh.
We we went for pizza yesterday when she wanted pizza, so we went with her cousin, which was a Shawna's sister has a little girl who's a year almost a year younger. Yeah, so they had pizza and then we went home, went to bed. Shawna's beat right now because of her with her boss being gone. And I'm pretty because I'm like driving all the way to La again.
Oh right, Yeah, I'm used to not going, but at least you're a.
Little closer in the new house, right, just ever so slightly.
Yea, let's do intro.
Oh, Hey everyone, welcome back to catching up with the Camdens.
I'm Beverly Mitchell.
I'm David Gallagher, I'm Mackenzie Rosman, and we've got a special guest, Catherine Hicks.
Mom you're here.
Yes, yes, I flew in from Rio. Mom's got a lover and I'll kill you in later.
We are so excited that you're here.
Thanks. I'm so proud of you guys doing this, and I'm sure the audience is going really wonderfully wild.
Well, you know what, everybody was very excited. I mean, I think after nineties Con and they saw us all together everyone, it was kind of one of those feeling or mutual.
We couldn't Yeah, it was mutual.
We couldn't not give the fans what they wanted, Yeah, which is we couldn't do well.
We always have known these last years since we wrapped, because when people come up, they birched into deers and love you. Yeah, so you know, across the country they grew up with us. We've saved marriages, we've helped teenagers and little lonely children. So yeah, yeah, it makes sense that there's an audience.
We have a show that really be proud of. I think is kind of the lesson there. I mean, we yeah, there's there are plenty of shows you could have been on that that have kind of gone the wayside and are remembered not so fondly. But for us being the kind of little engine that could when we were on TV and everyone kind of not believing in us and being that family show on a network that wanted to be pool and sexy. Yeah, you know, I think now coming full circle, it's nice to look back on it and feel like we did something positive on TV, or we.
Tried to do something positive from TV.
I think the success rate varied from episode to episode, but we tried to, you know, to have a positive impact on the idea of the nuclear American family.
Yes, and I think the experience too.
What we've realized too, is how amazing our set was that we all got along, that we truly people each other.
You know, oftentimes there's actors who are shy or insecure or arrogant. We were just nice people. That was the luck that everyone was nice and humble and you know, good sports. And Brenda's writing was uniquely good. Yes, we had drama and comedy, yeah, really good heavy stuff and really good light stuff. And I think that's what made us unique. Unfortunately the industry never really saw because you know, it was a smaller network, so we didn't get emmy action. But in terms of our audience, you know, we know that the show really made a difference.
Well, and I think Brenda being a part of it throughout that stayed with us because most show runners don't.
In television, the show runner is the creator. Yeah, and case in point, the OC a fabulous show, and Josh Schwartz left to do movies. It died, yeah, you know, and Brenda didn't leave, so thus our longevity.
Yeah.
Except we've laughed about how every year we were like when we got that phone call, like you've been.
Picked up or like no way, like it was.
Like you never knew what.
Yeah, every year was like are we saying goodbye?
Well I remember us saying goodbye every year being like, well.
It's been great. I'm glad we made it this far. You guys, it's been real.
Law.
Yeah, were eleven years ago full season?
Yeah, Yeah, it's been uh.
Oh, there's no one here to ask questions. I'm waiting for the next question.
We do, Yes, we do have actually questions because we did ask our fans.
What they wanted to know from us. So actually I think.
There is a question yay, oh, what did you think of all of us when you first met us and worked well?
As I think these young people will verify. I was a guilty real mom and I had a four year old at home, and I was never a great mom. I didn't like kids, but I could act, and I was always feeling guilty. I left this child crying to come to set with these fabulous people, you know, and having I was reminded of it last month at the Reunion convention. I love these people and you know anyway, so it was always tinged with and I somehow thought, don't get too friendly with them because you you know, you Katie wouldn't like it. So these people are like trying to bond with me on set and I'm like, uh huh bye, you know, and I know they just you know, it was like, wow, you are not a mom.
So not true.
Well that wasn't maybe you thought you were an idea bye, But I never I think I got a note be nicer to the kids.
I don't.
I don't.
I wouldn't characterize it.
I wouldn't have even I imagine characterizing you like that.
Yeah at all. I think you maybe try more unsuccessful.
About you. I mean, I could you know you were very You came and did your job and then you went home quickly, and it.
Was nice to you.
You were nice. Yeah, like I guess the word I'm looking for. I can't find a race to leave.
Yeah, it was just.
Compartmentalized, okay.
But I would also say that as parents, I think we all you completely more appreciate that when you go to work, you do your job, and you go home because you have something.
You're not there for social times.
That's the thing is in real life, in reality. If I if I just got this job before becoming a mother, I'm an only child, lonely Arizona upbringing, I just love I would have stayed. I would have had dinner with you every night, you know what I mean? Because that community is the child in need, so needed, and so I went against my nature because I had to get home.
But it's your four year old, and that is your heart being in the right place, like I wouldn't prioritize my co stars over my own child. He was waiting to see me at the end of the day.
Ever, And sorry guys, but.
Also we can all absolutely understand that, well now your parents.
Yeah, but I'm nothing wrong with you.
I would there is.
I will tell you this, My thoughts of you have always been warm and lovely. And I think we've always loved and appreciated everyone exactly who they were, exactly how they showed up.
And that's not what never yeah feelings at all.
Like, I mean, I'm so grateful for your existence in my life, and and I think of you so highly, and you are one of the smartest, funniest and most magical people.
Well hilarious, but yeah, well thanks, I realized it.
I just I think.
What I loved about the convention we rocked it, Susan surrounded, is that I was free to love, view, yeah, and see you and just absorb the great whatever. I don't want to use cliches, but I guess love is the word and humor so funny each and every one of you. Yeah, So it's it's just a gift. It was such joy. I felt such joy. So yeah, I'm not telling Katie. I'm here today to.
Pick her up after Yeah.
Yeah, she was a mess. She never learned to drive because of seven to heaven. Another question, what was it like to watch us grow up?
You know?
Well we were You were always so little bubble Puss. You were so you were so happy and like, oh my gosh, isn't this neat? You know, and so positive? And you were he was like ten, you were so cute, and Mac was six like little Shirley Temple. But uh, what was it like to watch them grow up?
Oh?
Yeah, I mean I don't remember. It's just the scenes got different, and you grew breasts.
Well, some of us. I avoided that one.
Remember when you had to take your shirt off? You were shy?
Yes, of course, me, Barry and I together for some reason. And the only reason I remember that is because a picture came up at the corn of it.
Oh really, yeah, strangely if you sign.
It, it was on the it was in the pile.
Yeah, it was that they had for the corner.
Did you or did somebody bring it?
I didn't bring it wasn't part of my booth. It wasn't a picture I was offering.
Yeah, I mean, there was a there's some there's some pictures that came up that I was like, oh, I forgot that we did that. That was like apparently when the show was trying to be sexy for a minute. Remember I had to like dress like brawn underwear in front of Adam Lavornia and it was Jesse's boyfriend at the time, and I was.
Like, what that was a Seventh Heaven photo?
There was this Yeah, I was like no, it was like it was basically because Robbie.
I think that was his name, or was that like a teen beat photo it.
Was on the show. It was like it was.
I remember because I remember being so embarrassed because it was all the crew and I'm sitting here being like, this is really.
Awkward, like a sort of sex scene kind of deal.
Okay, we don't if I did, I don't remember.
I never did a sex scene.
Well it was we did.
Steve and I were always in bed, but there was one day there was New Children.
Yeah, you're welcome in bringing that up.
There's some things that I've blocked out.
Mac Well, I remember just before.
Or just after, but never it was.
Like a Seventh Heaven version of a sex scene, right, basically nothing happened like a cigarette scene.
Wish who was a cigarette? No?
I mean, like girls, it's a thing. See, I wouldn't know it was a thing back in the film history.
Can I brag about this young man? He graduated USC Film School. Very few actors in Hollywood child actors, very few choose higher education, and it's USC is impossible to get into. And I'm so proud of you. And he showed up at my daughter's birthday party, you know when they're like fourteen, and he came and it was so you are the nightmare. You're just a great human.
I feel like such a low bar to praise me for, Like, of course I came.
Your daughter's They're not raised to be other oriented. It's sort of mem and you you're just great. Plus I think you no offense to anyone. Have the finest acting instrument anyone in.
Oh wow, thank you, Catherine.
I think that was always like there was. It was always so fun to work with you because like.
You just you could always see something turning. Yeah, he's a really good was great.
You didn't know what.
I like that a lot. Thank you, And I think.
That's actually the biggest gift.
As an actor is when you get to work with someone who you have no idea what they're going to deliver to you, because you may, in your mind may see the line going one way, and then when somebody brilliant comes along and they.
Do it and you're like what, And then it's so much.
Fun to react to, because that's what that's acting, is the gift of reactions.
We were on the show for so long, and I don't know if you guys kind of relate to this.
I'll try to figure out.
How to say it, but like in the beginning, it was super exciting We're on this new show.
We got picked up.
Yeah, we were kind of like figuring out our characters and like and thinking about how the show was themed and who the audience was and how to kind of to embody the family and stuff.
And then and then we kept getting picked up.
We were on TV for a while, and there was definitely a point where it felt like it was like kind of predictable or easy, or you did it. I got to turn off my brain and just go to set and do the thing and do Simon's thing. And then at a and then at some point when I was a teenager, I had I found myself like getting angry at myself about it, about that wow, about not working hard enough. Wow, even though like I knew Simon like the back of my hand and I could just go in and do any any given scene with my eyes closed.
And I was like, that's not good.
Enough and it shouldn't be good enough for me, Like I shouldn't be satisfied with that. And then I started trying again to like to find things in a scene that like would be interesting or to do. And I remember in particular, and I think it was a scene with you, but there was a scene where I had to argue with them to let me have a toothbrush. And I had to and I was like no. They were like, you're coming out of the bathroom and you're gonna run into Lucy and you're gonna have this little talkie heads thing and then go down the thing. And I was like, great, I'm coming out of the bathroom. Was I just going to the bathroom? Is that what we're suggesting her? Can I come out with the toothbrush? I was brushing my teeth And they were like, oh no, no, we got a.
Call, you know, we got a call about that.
We're going to figure it out, and I was like, just let me have a toothbrush, man, just let me hold something. Just let me pretend I was doing something, you know what I mean. And then in that scene.
I won the toothbrush I got, they let me have.
It, and then I had it in my mouth and they were like, don't hold it in your mouth and I'm like, no, I'm gonna this is what I'm doing. Yeah, So then and I just remember like that that was around the top and I don't remember when that was in the show where I was like, no, no, I want to like make weird choices and do things with my character that feel organic and strange and kind of not just the talking head thing that we're used to.
It's kind of reminding me of the Micho Black Did you say anything? Yeah, with the peanut butters phone. That was one of my favorite little like nuances similar to that about it.
Well, it's.
It's important of like finding purpose of like I mean, I think that's one of the things that is always so frustrating with scripts sometimes is you're like, well, why are they doing that, or like why would they say that? And they're like, well, because we need to get to this part, and it's like, no, no, no, no, this is not how life works.
You do not go into a room to get into.
Conversation and then walk out without doing anything in that room.
Yeah, exactly, so, being like, I think the part of being actors is being able to like really make like have everything makes sense and work, and also come up with stuff because.
Of the ordinary stuff.
Though, that was that, that was the challenge that I had set out for myself. I was to find weird ordinary things that's great, to give it some kind of complexity or depth or the illusion of that in some way, you know what I mean, where it felt like we were living together in.
The reason that actors, you know, doing a series as opposed to projects. I personally preferred feature films because they had a and I turned down tons of money and TV to hold out for movies when I was a young actress.
I mean almost this one, almost seventh heaven right.
Well, yeah, but that was it was more before that. As I was creating my career, I wanted to be in film and I got there. And but the thing about a series that I didn't like is that it does you don't know the beginning, the middle, and end you can't shape your performance. You know, you create a beginning for the character, a middle, and the resolution change.
Yeah.
So it's challenging to an actor to do a series that just goes on and on and on, and when it's a long one, lethargy, fatigue, boredom sets in. So for you, I never did that. For you to do that is, you know, an example of you know, your your desperate attempt to be creative in this month becoming money.
When it was stretching out.
Yeah, when we were going for a really long time, I wanted to find something to kind of latch onto creatively.
Yeah.
So that's that's great. That means you're an artist. I just got tired. Oh dear, I feel badly because I think back. I do remember on the last day looking at the cameras they're setting up for a close up and going, do you realize that for eleven years you have just sauntered in and been lit and photographed by a motion picture camera a camera. People spend their whole lives never doing that, and you've had it. So this is your last one. Be grateful for all the times you know you've got to be on film and you know, remember just be grateful because I often slid into resentment fatigue. I was bad, you know, I confess just like ugh, and you know that was wrong.
No, but I relate to that big time.
And that was what I was trying to fight against, was that the urge to just kind of be like, oh who cares? Yeah, you know, and yeah, just in trying to force some kind of yeah.
You know, it's really hard. I think when you're a restless soul, it's hard to keep that exciting, yeah, the spirit of that.
Yeah.
And I think at the end of the day, I'm happy that that because I also look back on it really grateful, you know, for all the time that we got to spend together, but then all of the opportunity we had to do what we love to do.
Yeah, you know, yeah, I mean it is a gift, like we were all getting to do the things that dreams are made of.
Yeah.
And I do remember also always trying to keep that at the forefront of my mind of like, this is what I've always wanted for my life. And even when on the hard days or the tired days, or you know, when I was juggling trying to go to school and work full time, at the same time, because apparently I really like to put a lot of things on my plate the exact same time.
Isn't that surprising.
That's such a weird thing.
And so but I just remember just and I think that's also why I rode that wave for every single episode, two hundred and forty three of them and never left the show, because it was like, I just remember being like, I was so great thought I just wanted that was my journey.
Yeah, that was We were all lucky for sure.
Was there any mom advice that we ever asked?
Catherine?
I think I remember coming up to you when I told you I met Michael, and you were so gut for The first thing you asked me is like, is he Catholic?
And when I said yes, you were like, he's the one I'm still And then I told you and he goes to l m u W and you're like even better and like and he's a Division one tennis player and you're like, it's done.
You did it.
And then you said is he an actor?
And I said no, and you were just like, yeah, you gave you, you gave I mean, you were the first one to give him.
So Catherine gave you away essentially she was Basically she just said like, yeah, I mean yeah, I mean when we're at.
Twenty three years later.
Yeah, I'm really happy for you. I mean I'm so happy. In fact, I think of that often. How serendipitous and what a blessing, and you know, I know you're thankful for it that this great human came along in your life. You know, it's hard to find people out there because well they may not. I mean, first of all, he's neat, and he's handsome, and he's cool and he's but he's deep and he cares about you. There seems to be sort of a shallowness I see in a lot of young men. I don't want to just be cliched, but no gentlemanliness or no courage or no strength or no care take caregiving. There's no respect and they're just you know, so your husband is not like that because he's Catholic, because.
You wear it.
I went to Catholic schools all my life. But you do get an extra ingredient of a dimension of life, which is spirituality, and they teach you to care for others. Yes, you're saving quarters in first grade for the starving in Africa and I think that's really important to raise kids with the awareness of the poor and other people, you know. And that's one thing the Catholic Church does well is teach service, you know, And so that's that's all.
I mean.
Yeah, and miracles. It's fun to believe in miracles, you know, Like, yeah, if I asked for it tonight, it's going to happen to ask if you're going to ask a dog for a dog for you for your baby, not a dog.
Not a dog.
We were talking about when David had his New York Accents New York the.
Dog.
Ye interesting challenges, unique challenges I had coming from the East Coast out.
Here to do TV with you guys, lovely people.
He was a New York actor, just worked with John Travolta, where like, well.
That's cool.
I want to talk about Mac because I don't know what I'm about to say, just that you're really beautiful. You were adorable child. You went along with everything, and Dawn helped a lot, but you were sort of like a natural actor. Do you remember being like, where am I what's going on? It's not like you grew up in commercials, right, I.
Did just a couple of commercials. Yeah, but I didn't. It wasn't like I had wanted to be an actor before I became an actor. I became an actor and then realized what an actor was.
Did you present that your parents made that choice at all?
Actually being on set was my favorite part of the day. I loved being there and everyone was supportive and it's wonderful and it was great. I mean, Don really helped immensely for me, but probably mostly helped everyone else deal with me.
I were never you know, we all siphoned off Don's attention as needed.
Was Donald's a gift to us all.
But it was a wonderful experience, and I like being on set is probably one of the most comfortable settings for me.
Yeah, you were everyone cheered. Yeah, it must have been better than real life.
Thing is.
Before I started acting, I was always the kid, Like when my mom would take me to the park, I would go and sit with all the moms actually and just like, you know.
I wasn't with a kid.
Yeah, so I think being on set is like the only kid. Was just like, oh, this is great with my peers and they're thirty.
Yeah, and there's a security today you do that you don't have to vie. You don't have to deal with other children, which can be painful, right, Yeah, children are mean.
Yeah.
Honestly, when I went to like I you know, I spend time in homeschool, and then I would be like, oh, you know, I want to be in a classroom, so I would do some private schools, which is all that we could do. But like I remember being in like the fifth and the sixth grade, and those kids were brutal. I cried every day on the way home from did they target you on the way to school? For other reasons?
But like, mom, did they target you? What? Did they target you?
They must have because they were vicious, and uh, I thought it when my mom was always saying, you're so dehydrated all the time. And then one day I was like, aha, I'm crying too much. It's just yeah, a well exercised muscle.
Well, we are very in touch with the emotions.
Yeah, And then I try to use that and like when somebody says like, you know you're so sensitive, like, well, it's not my fault. I was an actor, you know, like that's my job to be in touch with emotions and to you know you, I was you.
Are so east code.
I love you, right, It's like, well, that's my job.
I'm gonna take it out of me. You can take the girl out of Hollywood.
But I did special Forces. That's why they're like, why do you cry so much? I'm like, I am an actor, Like that is what I do. They're like, pull it together. I'm like, it is not.
And when you're acting, you're like trying to cry when you need to cry sometimes, I mean it does work. You know, we all love those mental blowers.
Oh aren't they the best? I thought, yeah, I'm irish. We don't cry.
We just drink that one, you know, Like that's true. Drinking and crying can go hand in hand though.
But but you know, another thing I just thought that's really sorry about this reunion is that because child actors, there's and all living creatures, there's a lot of pain. And you guys are getting to connect. I think it's wonderful that you can share and be real friends now and and and share life, you know, like sisters. Actually, yeah, and that's beautiful.
Well, I think what's what's amazing about all of us too, is we and and it's what we can instantly like it takes two seconds for us to instantly be.
Back to where we were.
Is like we have a shared experience, we have a bond, and there is absolutely no fronting at any point, Like immediately we can dive into something traumatic, something sad, something happy, something joyful so quickly and share that and literally also transition like flip flop back and forth. Like I swear, like the at the con we we don't like real deep.
The chowder we ever had at that.
I mean, I'm still by the way, I'm still mad that we shared the clam chowder because I should have gotten my own clam chowder.
I hope we can go back to Connecticut because the restaurants were great.
Yeah, you know, we have like a good soup.
It's also I'm so happy you're in the East. I feel like you'll meet better people, just morel well they're not on the make.
Well, I mean I met a mate, yes, you know, mac is matur not currently currently I'm sitting on the couch currently about a two year old. Yeah, mating season, is that what you're saying. No, I have met some amazing people there, and you know, it's definitely a different kind of person and like I think I was talking to about yesterday, or someone yesterday, I mean.
Last week, really long car ride.
Yeah yeah, oh yeah, Bev was talking in her car.
Stopped talking.
Okay, I'm gonna.
Wait, wait way, I'm gonna finish my uh And so yeah, I've met a lot of incredible people. Like I moved there and I'm sort of a very outgoing and I consider myself to be a friendly person. But you know, ignorance is bliss, isn't it so? But like, I lived there for about six years, and I have an amazing group of friends there, and then it gets bigger every year and it's not really at all any of the same people that I knew before I moved there. And I had two baby showers. Yeah, I'm that popular. And I lived there for like what four years.
I feel I feel like people in the East, So it's gonna stick.
But then the thing that I that I noticed and do miss about people here is that most people, not including Beverly's side, are not from l A. And like, fundamentally, as a person, you know, there's a quality of being brave enough to leave home just nicely put, that is not what you find where I live.
Like gotch We're fascinating, isn't it, David. So yeah that people here who made the left home to come.
Absolutely ready riding on the coattails of their grandfather.
But thank you. It's more that way in the east. Yes, yeah, gotcha.
But we did see Jess last night and she says, hello, Okay, so because we had we.
Had a sister session last night.
Oh another one did with some good tears.
We didn't cry last night.
Oh good.
I mean, I mean.
Jesse asked me one question that I gave a really straight up answer to and.
Was she shocked a little bit?
No, not really, I don't know. I was like, well that probably got a little heavy, little quickly.
No. I think that's it's good for Jesse. That's also what's great. And it's like you can justly just go straight.
She wanted to some stuff. Yeah, good she did, and you know it was great good because that's what we're all here for. I mean, in a way.
Yeah, that's what family is about. Yeah, and I think that it's easy for us. It's it seems cliche because we played a family, but after all those years, it's you know, the wish was granted, it became true.
I have so many more questions for all of you, like when we saw like when we left nineties, I was like, God, I have like a hundred more questions to usk David, And like last night, I was like a thousand more questions, you know, like one hundred and fifty more to ask Jesse.
You'll never catch me.
I was so tired too by the time.
But I think it's I think that's what's crazy, and I just keep going back to it because I think it is so special. Is the magic of seventh even was the magic of all of us having such phenomenal relationships, even in the even when you felt disconnected, Like I feel like the environment was so unique. We had Ashley Simpson come on and it was amazing to see like what her experience is coming on as an outsider an already existing show, because oftentimes most people like it wasn't a warm welcome, it wasn't an inviting set.
But to us, for us, it was I think we're all just they cast nice people. That's the luck of it. We're nice.
Yeah.
You know, do you remember getting the call for Seventh Heaven when they like offered it to you.
Yeah, Well, Aaron was calling, I was. My mom had a stroke, so I was I was taking care of my widowed mom. I'm an only child, I was married, it just was and I didn't and I was back in film because I had done Turbulence, and I was like, I am not doing TV. And Aaron kept calling and saying, you know, please at least fly over and meet Aaron. And I just kept saying no, and so I flew over. So it wasn't like whoa again my naked I mean I was, I'm sorry. I apologize to you. I was last enthusiastic, but then I read the script and I thought, you can't turn it down. It's great, but I wish if I had to do over again, my god, I would have, you know, thrown a party. So thank you.
But I think, you know, I think we all have our journeys in the difference.
Yeah, all land the way we land. But I have to say, though, like your story is perfect. It ended the way it was supposed to do it.
You were always supposed to be Annie, and I honestly like there was nobody who could have done it the way you did because you were so funny, you were such a strong character, and like some of my best memories.
Are with you, Catherine, and.
Also a lot of them are off camera.
The thing is, Catherine, like say, I mean, if your priorities were us rather than going home to your daughter, like you would have a whole different set of regrets. And I think, honestly, I mean, you were where you were.
He was in the right place.
Okay, we will absolutely accept that, Like Katie was number one and she should have been, and especially having your mother, I.
Mean, and I like your experience from that time, but makes perfect sense to me, Like you know what I mean, Like you you were coming off of a cool movie, and you were like you were, you were trying it.
You were trying to well. I was. I had just done phenomenal, I had phenomenon. The premiere. Phenomenon came out I think.
Right in the beginning.
It was either right when or just after we shot the pilot.
I'm trying to remember, because that's when I was in l A. You got to go to.
It and and so so phenomenon was and you know, I don't know it wasn't you know, I didn't get all the taps. But but but that premiere happened at the same time, and I remember my priority was always to try to do film work as well, like that was that was the dream for me, and so like, like, I don't remember being like, oh, no, I'm going to be on this TV show, you know, But from my perspective as a kid, I was just happy to continue to work because I was a set kid, like kind of like you, like I I grew up being on set, and so like my my goal with auditions wasn't really about the backside of fame and being a celebrity or anything like that. It was about getting on set and doing and living.
That life on set. Well, that was what I.
Loved, you know, because on set, I knew what I was doing there.
I was important. I had a job to do.
Yes, I could. I could not let everyone down. I knew how to, I knew how to be useful for.
You to not letting anyone down.
Really, I was satisfying.
It's satisfying when you're when you're a young.
Actor an adult too, like just to know that you're not going to let someone down, well that's so.
Sad, but I'll let them down.
Craft and had the ability to do something, so it made you feel.
Good like yeah, like you you know, like I think, in the same thing that everyone looks for in a career. You want to do something with your life that you're really good at.
And they know your pers they were they but they were going to did they forget their pencil box?
I guess, but they were to do it right away. Well, I grew up doing it and so like I'd be interested to hear mac because like for me being an actor, like my mom made the decision to start doing this with me before I could talk, and then I so for as long as I can remember, one of my earliest memories of life is on a set. So like one of my very first memories from a commercial I did where I threw up on. The guy who played my dad was like because a Tyson Chicken commercial. And I was like, and I was into that Tyson Chicken.
Man.
I was like, give me more of that Tyson Chicken eating everything. This is the lesson the food lessons from sol. I learned this lesson really early.
But stop eating.
But like you know, so for me, a massive part of my identity forever is just being an actor. It was I've always been an actor for as long as I can remember.
I have to tell you the rest of us are out there at twenty three going oh yeah, I want to be an actor. And I really take my hats off to you. I mean, it is fate. You know you you lucked out.
Yeah, I had nothing to do with it.
Got to do with it?
What match?
Yeah, So touching on what you were saying about being able to do something you're good at, like, that's why I moved because like missing the being as not being able to do something that I knew how to do, Like I went to go do the only other thing that I had that I knew how to do and I have been doing for as long, like horses. Yeah, but.
The only reason it makes perfect sense towards what you know you're good at.
You know, yes, Dad, I'm well.
And I also think it's also crazy too because I think that, you know, there's so much of our identity that's in front of the camera. It's like that's our like my safe space is in front of cameras, so like it's after seventh Heaven. There was definitely a moment of being like, what do I do? What does this life look like?
Yea, and so it's.
And you do here and then But what's interesting is my my safe place, the place where I feel the most comfortable, where I feel the most me is always in front of a camera, which is why even some of the like crazy shows I did with like Special Forces, which I wasn't playing a character, it was me, but I was able to be vulnerable and be real because there was a camera, which is, by the way, the most like there's some there's some psychological.
Cameras give actors permission, though, to be vulnerable, to be to be emotional, to kind of to open up, and it's the one we're trained to open up in front of the camera, not to I.
Always felt better next to it, like camera, when I feel like it it takes where I really feel like I got there, someone else's covered every time.
I don't know.
Sorry, Well, that's a credit to you that you give off camera. I've had fights with actors. They do this great performance and then it comes to your close up. I'm like, excuse me, shine, you can tell the whole character of a human off camera.
That you know what to be honest, I feel like that is a true testament of what you can understand of an actor who is really there to act, and.
Then one who's just performing just for themselves.
Because the person who is going to be present and like stay on it and stay focused and be their off camera.
For you, for you, not for themselves, or it's the ultimate gift. It is because it's hard to go through the whole performance painfully because I like.
When people.
Save your tears for your close up and I'm like, my best, my.
Best always cry off camera.
Cry off camera because because give the actors something to react to.
I feel like I can take partial credit for their beerforem.
For me.
Oh god, the references.
But I always looked at being on set as like being on a football team, you know what I mean, Like it was our sports team and where the where the players on the field, and so like I can't like ruin your touchdown by not getting the block in or being there for you while you running the ball.
You know, like that's our team. We got to run the ball.
Everyone's got to run the ball, and so you every Like I've always looked at that when I'm the most unathletic person in history, by the way, at sports, no, no, no. When I when I tested for Gridiron Gang, I tested for the the I think it was the exhibit like football movie that can and this was all this was later in the game, right we had to do the physical tech. We did the acting test where I cried all over the rock, and.
Then we went to go.
We all met out in a football field, me and a bunch of dudes, all the kids who were in the movie and a bunch of other kids to go play football because it was a physical tests. And I'm the only one at the physical test who fell on my ass. I straight fell over trying to catch a ball because I can't. Was like, I'm just going to pretend I know how to play football.
Here we go. It's absolutely terrible. I was not in that movie, by the way. I did not get that that film.
But but like you know, like that's but to me, the acting was my sport.
And that doesn't mean.
That you have to be the You don't always carry the ball, you know what I mean, Like a good athlete supports the other poem.
The good A good athlete supports there.
That's beautiful simile. I don't know, it's a great comparison, you know, you guys, can I say I think we should do an acting show, you know, like Actors Studio. We've said a lot of I'm teasing, but a lot of knowledge here and a lot of lessons, learned a lot of experience.
We have a lot of experience. Did you ever want tell me? Uh wait, what would you say?
I said, Did she ever want to be anything other than an actor?
None?
Yeah, you really can't be both, okay, like.
I adore you.
I went to I went to Calic. None none as were the first. None were the first feminists. They were intellectual, unmarried women. So we in Catholic school became strong strong. I didn't care about ever getting married. And I went to college and majored in theology and so. But but anyway, probably no, I didn't I was gonna anyway. No, I know it was a real starlet. No, it just was. I mean, you guys were born, you know, you had it so young. It was something that I only dreamt of because I wasn't a drama person in high school or college. So it was very intimidating. One teacher said, I took one class at Notre Dame and he said you should go on after graduation, and that was like in pop you know, it's just all been. But I therefore, I tried harder than my peers. I tried hardly. It's like, I don't know it I don't know stage left from and I just worked and then got a scholarship to Cornell where we really studied acting for two years in MFA and then went to New York. But I kept my voice, and my peers on my first soap opera would just go out partying. I was always behind, so I tried harder so they didn't care as much.
So anyway, I think that's a huge lesson too, because what I've always said too is when an opportunity came forward, it was I was always very clear that there were people around me that were far more talented than I was.
But if I was given the opportunity, I was not going to squander it and I was not going to give it up.
So I was going to work my ass off to be that like, to be that much more professional, to be like on time, to know my stuff, to be supportive and do everything. And it's always been that reminder that, like, if I'm given the opportunity, I need to make the most of it.
But I always felt like I was always passed up.
So that means that I push harder, I fight harder, And you are.
The living.
Creature of that energy, because it's true and It's what makes you marvelous because you fight harder than most people and you appreciate everything more. You know, thank you, and it works and you've come so far.
I mean, I got us all together that.
She organized.
You know, it's true.
Nineties Con. We hit nineties Con because of Bev and for no other reason.
And Bev even on the show, was always you know, you were the promoter.
I know, Barry gave me a hard time. He's like, why have we known had a reunion? I was like, He's like, you didn't put it together. I was like, is that my responsibility?
And he was like, yeah, I thought it was.
And then I was like, oh, okay, I will put on my party planner hat, and but I mean I did.
We pulled it off, and then you were.
Like, oh wait, I'm wearing my party planner hat.
The party planner hat is like permanently attached on it.
Yeah. Yeah.
So and they're your kids must benefit. It's like they're not going to miss any anything.
No, Actually that was what's fun.
Last night we brought the kids over to Jess's house and I got to like play and they're also party been fun. It's really fun and I can't wait till we get Lily and Ophelia and all the kids together, Yes, and have the next version of like all of us like.
Get to Can you imagine your children playing together?
That's an episode, that's a that's a series. But anyway, it's a blessing.
That is we love you so much. Thanks, and we're so grateful that you. Thank you came on.
We I'm seeing you all together, and I'm happy you each have this new friendship with each other.
As young I know this, this reignition.
You have real friends. You have real friends right now forever very Yeah, that's appropriate and natural and I think needed. I think you need needed to connect with and yeah, I mean there's been a lot of As I said.
We didn't know that we needed it though, until we saw what it could feel like.
Yeah, I felt you're less everyone's less alone after the con everyone's less lonely and less sad everything because you could share it. It's been amazing. It's a mere it's a little wonderful blessing. My sister Mary Stella would say, well.
Thank you so much for being thank you pard of it.
This was catching up with the Camdens and stay tuned for our next Episolute.
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