INTERVIEW: Jaclyn Smith Talks SVU
I caught up with Jaclyn Smith recently to discuss her new wig and hairpiece line (paulayoung.com/style-by-jaclyn-smith — more on that later this week!), and I asked her about her role in tonight's Law & Order: SVU.
What can you tell me about the episode and your part in it?
I sort of want my part in it to be a surprise, but it was good to get back into [doing some acting]. I had worked with Dick Wolf on Christine Cromwell many years ago, and I am a fan of the Law and Order shows. It was great to get back onto a show that I love watching. Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni were so wonderful to work with. They’ve been doing this for 11 years now, and they've got it down — boy, they know what they’re doing!
It was such a challenging role for me, because it’s different from my demeanor. But once you get through a challenge, you feel so much stronger and better, and you’re glad you got out there and did it. I’d been turning some things down, and I’d been out of town a lot, and I just couldn’t seem to work in things that had been offered to me. It was my first time in a while that I got out to do something that I am used to doing, but there had been some time [between acting jobs], so it was a little scary. But once I got there, I felt right at home. It was really fulfilling for me.
I think you’ll be surprised when you see it. It’s an unusual character for me. But it was fun, it was really fun.
Catch Jaclyn, along with Ann-Margret, Morgan Fairchild and Susan Anton on Law & Order: SVU on NBC tonight at 10/9c. Go here for a sneak preview: www.nbc.com/Law_and_Order_Special_Victims_Unit/video/sneak-peek-of-bedtime/1212109/
Stand and Deliver Teacher Dies of Cancer
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(from the Associated Press)Jaime Escalante transformed a tough East Los Angeles high school by motivating struggling inner-city students to master advanced math, became one of America's most famous teachers and inspired the movie "Stand and Deliver."
He died Tuesday at age 79 after battling cancer for several years, family friend Keith Miller said.
Escalante used his outsized personality to goad his working-class Mexican-American students to succeed, said Elsa Bolado, 45, one of his former pupils.
"Teaching is an art form. There's a lot of practicioners and very few artists. He was a master artist," she said.
An immigrant from Bolivia, he overhauled Garfield High School's math curriculum and pushed his students to do their best until the school had more advanced placement calculus students than all but four other public high schools in the country.
Edward James Olmos played Escalante in the 1988 film based on his story.
"Jaime exposed one of the most dangerous myths of our time — that inner city students can't be expected to perform at the highest levels," Olmos said. "Because of him, that destructive idea has been shattered forever."
Q and A: Week of March 31
Q: Jaclyn Smith (pictured) is one of my favorite actresses — she is the epitome of beauty and class. Can you tell me what she has been up to lately? — Georgia F., Chattanooga, Tenn.A: While I agree that Jaclyn, 66, is the epitome of beauty and class, she also is the epitome of BUSY! On the acting front, she recently completed a guest-starring stint on “Law and Order: SVU,” which airs tonight. She’s also very much involved with her Jaclyn Smith Collection of clothing and home goods for K-Mart. Most recently, she has teamed up with Jose Eber and Paula Young to develop a line of wigs, extensions and hairpieces called Style by Jaclyn Smith (paulayoung.com/style-by-jaclyn-smith).
Jaclyn also is involved with a film called “1 a Minute,” a docudrama that focuses on breast-cancer awareness. “Enlightening women everywhere is so important,” says Jaclyn, who successfully battled breast cancer in 2002. “You need a mammogram every year, and you can’t base it on price analysis. If I hadn’t had mine, my diagnosis and my prognosis could have been quite different.”
Q: I was just wondering what happened to one of my favorite TV shows, “Without a Trace”? Will it be coming back? — Addie H., via e-mail
A: CBS pulled the plug on the missing-persons crime drama back in May, citing declining ratings. Series regular Anthony LaPaglia has been keeping himself very busy with various film roles, his most recent being “A View From the Bridge,” an adaptation of the famous Arthur Miller play in which Anthony will take on the lead role of Eddie (and he is also a producer). Poppy Montgomery stars in the ABC pilot “True Blue,” about six former best friends who rose through the ranks at the San Francisco Police Department and reunite to solve the murder of one of their own.
Q: I love Ralph Fiennes and try to see every movie he’s in. Has he ever been married? — Deanna S. in Florida
A: Ralph, 47, has been married once, to actress Alex Kingston from 1993-97, whom he met while they were both attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Alex is best known for playing Dr. Elizabeth Corday on “ER.” Recently, she co-starred on ex-brother-in-law Joseph Fiennes’ new ABC series, “FlashForward,” as Fiona Banks. In 2006, Ralph and longtime love, Francesca Annis (who played Gertrude to his Hamlet on Broadway), separated after 11 years together. Ralph most recently appeared in a small but unforgettable role in the Oscar-winning film “The Hurt Locker,” and will appear this May in “Clash of the Titans” with old friend and “Schindler’s List” co-star Liam Neeson.
Q: I really enjoy “History Detectives” on PBS. Will it be back soon? — Mary S., via e-mail
A: Season 8 of “History Detectives” premieres this June on PBS with new host Dr. Eduardo Pagan. In the first episode, Elyse Luray goes on the road as she investigates a story about an unusual musical instrument — the theremin.
Jesse James Goes to Rehab
Jesse James is going the rehab route to try to save his marriage to Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock — and, it would appear, to save face — according to his representative."Jesse checked himself into a treatment facility to deal with personal issues," his rep said in a statement. "He realized that this time was crucial to help himself, help his family and help save his marriage."
For the full article, go to people.com.
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