Ask Catherine

SEVENTH HEAVEN How did you feel when they first asked you to be on SEVENTH HEAVEN? Afraid. I wanted to do just movies and I knew a series was a big committment, that it would take me away from my daughter, husband and mother. But also thrilled to be picked, and to be pampered. What's it like to be on a television show? Tiring! Thrilling at first, scary, and then it settles down and just becomes a part of your life. It's a job, but I'm happy it touches people . I feel like I'm doing something worthwhile. Do you work every day? No, I average four as a week, and we get three months off in the spring. What was your favorite show? The Halloween show the first season. Is it hard to memorize all those lines? At first it is, but then your mind gets in really good shape, and you can almost sight memorize. That kicked in after about 2 years! Do you get along well with the other actors on Seventh Heaven? Yes, we totally dig each other. Everyone is funny, smart and humble. How do you feel about Jessica Biel's leave of absence from SEVENTH HEAVEN? It's time for Jessie to branch out as a young actress should. She shouldn't have to play just one character for so many years. Do you find it hard to live up to Annie Camden's character? No , because she's just a mom and wife like I am in real life Where is Glen Oak? Somewhere In California I'm told, but I pretend it's in the Midwest. Were you really pregnant when you were pregnant on the show? No, I had a big, heavy body suit. What do you think about Annie Camden? I think she's funny and vulnerabnle and angry and gentle and giving. How long does it take to shoot an episode? About 8 days (not including weekends). We shoot 22 episodes each year. Do you like to act? Yeah, it's especially fun to play comedy, and also to cry in a real way. How long will SEVENTH HEAVEN continue? Who knows? The ratings are great. Do you feel like the actors on the show have become part of your family? Absolutely. We don't have to pretend anymore, we do love each other Do you support all the advice given on the show? Most of it., except when we tried to get Matt out of the army . I think a year of boot camp is healthy. PERSONAL Where did you go to college? St. Mary's of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and then Cornell University. What did you study at Cornell? I was a theatre major in graduate school, and I studied Fencing, Dance, Mime, Voice, and we did emotional work. What were some of your other dream occupations, besides acting? Being a Cheerleader at Notre Dame, a foreign diplomat, or espionage spy. When did you start acting on TV? My first television series was Ryan's Hope, a Soap Opera in New York. What was it like working on Star Trek? Terribly fun. Everyone was so nice and I had these big fat monologues about wonderful whales. Do you ever travel to Europe? I wish! I will again when the show is over. It's my absolute fave place on earth. People know how to really enjoy life. Here in American , we don't, we think shopping is everything. Do you have any children? Yes, one daughter How old is your daughter? 10 1/2 Did you want a big family like on the show? I do now, but it's too late! What do you do for vacation? We go to a very private Hawaiian village right on the beach, and I visit San Diego alot. What are your favorite movies? A Man For All Seasons, A Tale of Two Citites, and What About Bob! Who are your favorite actresses? Emma Thompson, Julia Roberts (as a movie star), Maggie Smith, and Reese Witherspoon. What languages do you speak? English!, and semi decent French. What are your favorite foods? Beef Wellington and Foie Gras. What music do you listen to? I love classic rock. Current pop. I love Aerosmith, Nirvana, Sugar Ray, U-2. We also listen to Classical while my daughter does her homework. Do you have any pets? We have a little corgie, border collie mix that we rescued named Molly. How do you deal with the pressure? I just compartmentalize things in my mind and deal with things one at a time, and totally trust that God will work everything out. I pray alot for Heavenly help with my loved ones. Do you help people with family problems such as divorce or physical/verbal abuse like on Seventh Heaven? No, there's not time, but I try to donate to places that I know need funding for these kinds of problems. Do you ever wish you weren't so famous? When I'm out with my family sometimes, because I don't want my daughter to be in the shadow of my celebrity. She deserves the attention now. But otherwise I enjoy it. It was my goal How do you arrange family life and work? I make phone calls from the set. I have a house cleaner and because my husband has his own business he picks our daughter up from school when I can't. Still, I make a good breakfast and dinner every day, and, I don't work EVERY day. But you CAN find a way to make a cozy feeling in your family, no matter what your circumstances are. ISSUES What are your feelings about 9/11? September 11, 2001, like we all feel, was a horrible morning and a terrible tragedy. I feel like these people , however, were martyrs. They helped wake up our lazy, consumer driven self-indulgent nation and now we've suffered like most other nations have for centuries, and on our own soil. I was in the makeup trailer on the set of SEVENTH HEAVEN getting made up. I couldn't believe my eyes. They sent us all home, and I felt like I was watching a movie. Fundamentalists are wrong and unGodly in any religion. Some people need to feel superior over others , but God's message has always been that of humility, service, and love. All we can do is pray that good triumphs over evil. What do you think about teen sex? We just didn't do it in my day that early, that young. I think that lately it's become, like, no big deal. I think making out is fun. You can do that for a few years until you are older. What is the meaning of life? Well, Christ said: "Love God with your whole heart and mind and soul" and "Love your neighbors as yourself." RELIGION What is your religion? I'm a practicing Roman Catholic. I think religion, when spiritually based, i s wonderful. People need to worship their Maker together in a House of God, whether it be a Temple, Mosque, or Church. How can I learn about Catholicism? Find your parish, the church in your town, and knock at the rectory door and see if you can talk to a priest. They're always around. You can start from there, and you can go to a Mass on Sunday. Go sit in a church during the day, make little visits, start talking to God and listening. Sit in the quiet church. I like being Catholic because Jesus Christ himself started it 2000 years ago when he told Peter the Apostle : "Upon this rock I shall build this church". So drop by sometime. Go inside a Catholic Chruch. Maybe light a candle What are your feelings about the Catholic Priest scandal? First of all, we're all Christians.... Catholic, Lutherans, Episcopal, etc. Of course I am appalled and disgusted and all of the offending priests should be in jail. SPECIAL QUESTIONS FROM FANS How can I become an actor/actress? Read through plays, act the great parts (from Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Henrik Ibsen). Go to professional productions, act in local plays, and after you REALLY know what you're doing then go and try and get an acting job. If you are a long girl, read OUR TOWN, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, THE MIRACLE WORKER.