Q1. What is the status of your cookbook of your grandmother's recipes? What
type of recipes are they?
A1. Well, the status of the book right now is we're firming up some of the recipes
and we are talking to various publishing houses about it and so hopefully
within the year or the beginning of next year we'll have a firmer idea about
where it's going to be published. It's basically southern cooking cause my
grandmother was from Durham, N.C. and so it's a kind of stick to your ribs
kind of food. I suggest that when you eat this food your run to the gym
don't walk run. But it's good.
Q2. Do you think that Dr. Quinn reasonably portrays the struggles of Blacks in
the 1800's? If yes or no where do you think it's strength's are and it's weaknesses in portraying the Black struggle during this time period?
A1. Well, I think that Dr. Quinn, more than portraying our struggles because we
are always showing how we are the have nots and during that time there
were some of us who were the haves. And so Dr. Quinn is showing that there
was another group of black people who were very much instrumental in
forming the West and survived and succeeded in that. However, there are
storylines coming up that will show about Shanty Town and a storyline having
to do with Grace and wanting the education of other blacks who are not as
fortunate as Robert E and Grace. So, I think that there will be more storylines
being introduced to show more across the board blacks in the West. However,
they concentrated on a certain group that they wanted to portray and I think
that was good. Because all to often we really haven't been shown in the West
and when we are we are shown, we are always about the struggle and hard
times and hardships and not saying that didn't exist however the other existed
too.
Q3. Do you have a favorite moment or event on the set of Dr. Quinn? If so what
was it?
A3. Well, I think one of my favorite moments was in the first season of the show
when we did the first Thanksgiving and incorporated Cloud Dancing and all
us were at the cafe and we were all together as a cast. And I thought that
was very powerful. It was very powerful because it depicted the unity but
not only the unity of the show but of people working together. I thought that
was wonderful.
Q4. Is there an episode which has been your favorite? If so, which and why?
A4. Well, there are a lot of them that I've enjoyed. But I have to say that the one
that will be coming up and it will probably be airing in December and it's
when I teach school in Shanty Town. I'm really quite proud of that particular
episode and also of the dynamics of Grace teaching school, but also what
realization she comes to about going into business with Preston and any more
I won't go into. You have to watch it.
Q5. What do you like about Robert E? Grace?
A5. I like his determination, his quiet strength and that he is there and that they
have a very strong support unit and I can depend on him. However, he
accepts me as an independent woman also. He's great. About Grace: Everything. I just love her. I really do.
Q6. What, if anything, would you like to change about Robert E? Grace?
A6. Nothing really. I think that they are good people but I also think they are
flawed people. I don't think that they are one dimensional people. I like
them and now with the addition of our son there will be more storylines
having to do with the family unit which I think is very important. And,
also the fact that you'll be seeing the interior of our home this season. I
like that as well.
Q7. Are there any particular stories that have involved Grace and Robert E which
you wish had been developed further? If so, which and why?
A7. I would've liked to seen more involvement with Grace in the Buffalo Soldiers
storyline. I like the fact that the Buffalo Soldiers were depicted and they
actually used a regiment of writers who go around the country depicting the
Buffalo Soldiers and some were descendants of the Buffalo Soldiers. So I
thought historically it was wonderful that they did that but I would have
liked to have been more involved than I was in that particular story. But
I'm glad the story was told.
Q8. What character to date have you portrayed that has had the most impact on
your life?
A8. I would have to say on stage Sylvia in "Two Gentlemen of Verona," that was
very important to me career wise because that opened me up a whole other
venue of people. I also think Doreen on "Generations" she was an interesting character to play and people remember her very fondly. And, I would
have to say Grace because of the fact that she is an African American Woman
in the West and she is one of the first character woman to be depicted in a
prime time Western. So I think that that is important as well.
Q9. How do you feel when the subject of Grace's or Robert E's race comes up?
Does it make you feel awkward on the set?
A9. Well, I think that when, especially when we were doing the KKK episode
there was a kind of solemn feeling on the set because everyone stopped
and thought a lot about what was really being depicted and there was a
sense of how far have we really come. Because while we were doing that
particular episode there were things in the news being talked about, racial
issues in the news that were happening around the country that made us
stop and think. Well, how far have we really come? So that particular
episode made everybody a bit uneasy while we were doing it. And so it
should have.
Q10. Will there be any storylines concerning black settlers from American
history that will be portrayed on Dr. Quinn?
A10. Well, I don't know but that sounds like a great idea. If you could perhaps
tell us some names of people who you would like to see. The writers are
always interested in that kind of thing. The writers always want hear
from the viewers. And, yeah it would be nice to integrate real life
characters with fictional characters, they did that with General Custer
and other characters on the show. That would be wonderful. I think
that's a great idea.
Q11. Well Grace be featured more this coming season?
A11. Yes.
Q12. Will Grace ever have an indoor hotel/spa?
A12. It's interesting you say that, in an episode coming up you'll hear about that.
Right now she may be going into business with someone who is opening a
spa. But having her own spa that's a good idea too.
Q13. Will Grace ever have a child?
A13. Well, we have the little boy Anthony right now who is ten years old. But
Grace having a baby who knows, I mean that could happen. In true
television fashion you never say never.
Q14. It seems that Grace is much older than you. Why is she played as an older
woman than you are?
A14. Well, I don't know if it's so much that Grace is older than I am. It was more
serious times. She has an authority and a groundedness that may make her
seem older than her years and where as I'm, I don't know, I'm sitting here
with a baseball cap on (laughs). People of that time did have a more
groundedness to them which would make them seem older, I would think.
Q15. How much control do you have over the character of Grace, i.e., how much
of her is your creation?
A15. I think it's a collaborative thing. I think that the character was created by
Beth Sullivan however, over the years when you're playing a character you
do bring yourself to it. And it's a marriage, the writers will see you do
something that'll give them an idea and they can expound on it. So I think
it's a collaborative effort. I can't say where one ends and the other begins.
It's a collaboration.
Q16. What did you do before Dr Quinn?
A16. Oh well, I have to send you my resume, I've done a lot of work. I don't
know maybe I am older (she says laughingly).
Q17. Do you have a favorite role that you've played to date? If so, what was it?
A17. Oh, I always like to enjoy what I'm doing at the time I'm doing it. Because
if I'm not doing that I'm thinking about the past or whatever. And I think
the here and now is where one should be. So I'm very happy with playing
Grace right now.
Q18. Do you have any projects in the works for the hiatus of Dr. Quinn?
A18. Yes, we're working on some ideas for movies of the week and feature films.
So stay tuned.
Q19. If you could play any kind of role what would it be?
A19. Well, I know it would have something to do with singing and dancing because
I did come from the musical theater. So I would like to be able to do a role
that would combine all of those things I like to do. Which is singing, dancing
comedy, drama. You always like to do something that incorporates all the
things that you can do.
Q20. What do you do when you have time off?
A20. Hang out with my animals, read mysteries, ride horses go to the gym. I love
to go to the gym. You know, do stuff for me.
Q21. It is often said that Dr. Mike and Grace are equal and that much of their
struggle as woman in the West were the same during this time period. Do
you see their story of struggle as the same or do you think there are some
real differences? Do you think they will ever become better friends?
A21. There is a story coming up, (I guess by the time you hear the answer to
these questions you would have seen the episode), yes, they will become
closer. I think the fact that they are women and they came out to the
West and that they did things that were thought of as unconventional
make them contemporaries of each other in that respect. However,
Dr. Quinn is a woman who is from Boston from a very well to do family
and who is white and Grace was a house servant and a slave in New
Orleans. But in that respect being a house servant in a big home in New
Orleans gave her a sort of privilege that she won't have if she was out in
the fields. But there are those differences and you can't deny that. But
then there are the similarities as well.
Created: 120396 | Updated: 082497
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