Press Archive of Sappleby.com
Fandemonium Q & A
Q: Do you believe in Aliens?
A: I'm not really sure if I believe in aliens. I think there might be another life form out there, but I have no idea who or what they are.
Q: If you had the ability (as the aliens on Roswell do) to shapeshift into another form, would you use it, who would you shapeshift into, and why?
A: If I had the ability to shapeshift into another life form, I would shapeshift into my cat Abby. I am always curious about what she is thinking and feeling when she does certain things. I think it would be interesting to get into the mind of an animal.
Q: Did you have a comfort item that you used when you were little? Like a blanket or some such thing?
A: I had a blanket that my grandmother made me when I was born that I would say is my comfort item. It had a big picture of Strawberry Shortcake on it that always made me happy.
Q: How did you get discovered to act in a TV show?
A: I started acting when I was almost 4 years old. At that age it was all about having fun. I heard about Roswell from a friend of mine. I asked my agent to get me an audition, but for some reason the casting director didn't see me as one of the three girls. The friend who told me about the show knew David Nutter, one of the Executive Producers, and gave him my picture and resume. After eight long, hard auditions I became one of the members of the show.
Q: Hey Shiri. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you weren't a star and what would you be doing with your life?
A: If I weren't on the show, I would be finishing my education at USC, majoring in either English or Psychology.
Q: Some people believe in soul connections (I myself do.) Do you?
A: I believe in soul connections. There are many people in my life that I can just sit with and not have to explain anything to because they know exactly how I am feeling. I really treasure and value those friendships because they are so pure.
Q: How, does it feel to kiss Jason Behr?
A: Jason Behr is a true gentleman. When our characters have to kiss on the show, he is always double-checking to see if I am comfortable. In a situation that could be very weird, he makes it very pleasant.
Q: Ok, first off, I think you are an amazing actress and I absolutely love Roswell. I also wanted to say as a Jewish teen, I think you are a great role model. How do you stay close to your Jewish roots while working?
A: My family is religious, so I talk to them as much as possible to help keep me grounded. I also go to temple for the high holidays. I just try to be a good person to all the people I meet.
Q: Shiri...wow you are an AMAZING actress and my fave person on Roswell. My question is..What do you think will happen with Max and Liz next season?
A: I really have no idea what is going to happen between Max and Liz next season. I think that Liz will have a hard time staying away from him, but I also think that she needs some time to be on her own. That might be her own battle.
Q: What were your first impressions of the other cast members? And, do you feel there is a real bond among the cast now?
A: Majandra and I hit it off right away. I thought Jason was a very gentle person. Katie seemed very poised and intelligent. I knew Brendan and Nick would be fun guys. I just thought the world of Colin when we first me. He is such a good, loyal friend. After nine months of working together it feels like we have formed our own family.
Q: Did you have any embarrassing moments while filming "A Time for Dancing"?
A: I have one embarrassing moment from the shoot. I had to do this scene driving in a car with Shane West. I didn't really know Shane that well, yet we had to sing this song together. Shane can sing really well because he is in a band, so I was really nervous because I am completely tone deaf. When we were rehearsing, he was just laughing because I was so off key. We decided I would just sing really loud and play up how funny I sound. I ended up turning "Wind on the Water" into a country song.
Q: You have the most healthy and shiny hair! What products do you use on your hair?
A: Thank you for commenting on my hair. When we first started the show it wasn't so healthy, so I worked with the hairdresser to get it in good shape. While I am shooting, I shampoo with Redken Extreme shampoo, Nexus Humectress Conditioner and Tigi Spray Shine.
Q: Are you much like your character Liz?
A: There are some qualities that Liz and I share. we are both responsible, hard-working, and sensitive, but I think she is more reserved than I tend to be.
Q: My question is about the amazing looks you give Max (Jason) during your scenes together. What are you thinking or what experiences do you draw from for those steamy eyes you have?
A: While Jason and I are looking into each other's eyes I just think about the most pure love possible because their relationship is based strictly on the heart. What they share is what I someday hope to find.
Q: One of the main reasons people love to see the relationship between Max and Liz is because of the chemistry between you and Jason. Do you see that chemistry yourself?
A: A lot of people comment on the chemistry that Jason and I share. When we shot the pilot, I couldn't see it at all. I think I had a hard time looking at us as characters instead of the two of us just goofing off. But as the year went on, I was able to completely detach and just watch the show.
Q: My friend said she read an article about you and she said that your mother is Israeli! Is that true?
A: My mother is Israeli and my father was raised in Southern California. They raised both me and my brother in Los Angeles.
Q: I read on crashdown.com in your bio, that you're majoring in English. What made you want to be an English major and what kind of job did you plan on having with it? Is it a backup in case something happens with Roswell?
A: I was planning on studying English at USC because I wanted to read a lot of the literary classics with help from a professor. I loved the experience of reading a novel and picking it apart with the other students while the professor would explain what the author was going through in his/her life. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do anything specific with the major because I knew that my passion was in acting. Yet studying all those fictional characters is so helpful because you can read how that character's mind works and how they process information. As an actress, that is exactly what you do when you create your own characters.
Q: I'm a big fan....as well as aspiring actress. What advice would you give to someone my age (I'm 16) about breaking into acting professionally? Also, what do you think about USC?
A: If you are looking to break into acting, my advice is this: Don't give up. You have to know inside that you will succeed because you are told so often that you are not right for a certain part. You have to believe in yourself because once you do, others will follow.
Q: Was it embarrassing to have to fake an orgasm in Sexual Healing in the classroom scene knowing your parents would be watching the episode?
A: Faking the orgasm in Sexual Healing was so difficult for me. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do because I was not comfortable with having a lot of people watch me do something so personal. My parents were really great when I told them what I had to do. They said that it is my job, that I should stay confident and that they would love me no matter what. Yet, my parents and brother had a hard time watching me do something like that even though it was kind of funny.
A: A normal day on Roswell is typically rather long. We arrive around 5 or 6 AM and go through hair, make-up, and wardrobe for about an hour and a half. Then we shoot for about six hours. We get 42 minutes for lunch, then we have to go back to work for another eight hours. Once we wrap, we get twelve hours until we have to go back to work again. The days go by slowly but the weeks pass rather quickly.
Q: In Roswell you play such a strong character who has to deal with many different emotions and situations in her life. Have you ever been overwhelmed by a scene or found it difficult to conjure up the emotions needed for a particular scene?
A: Liz is a rather strong character and sometimes I am surprised by how much she deals with and is still able to contain herself. The scene I had a hard time with was when I had to watch Max and Tess kissing. I just wasn't sure if Liz would cry right away or if she would be in shock first. I tried combining those two ideas and it really screwed me up. It was just difficult to be put in that situation because that was Liz's nightmare and I had to do justice to her feelings for Max and how much that would have hurt her.
Q: How and when did you decide you wanted to be an actress?
A: I have been acting since I was little. I loved it all growing up, but when I got into school I wanted to give it a rest so I could grow up normal with the rest of my friends. Not until I got into college and started taking acting classes three times a week did I want to pursue it seriously.
Q: What is the biggest sacrifice being a celebrity has brought upon you?
A: I haven't really sacrificed too much since I started working on Roswell. My life has stayed the same except for the obvious differences. I haven't been able to hang out with my friends and family as much as I would have liked, but a lot of them come to visit on the set.
Q: What actors have inspired you in your work and your life?
A: If I had to choose one actor that has influenced me the most, I would have to say it is Lucille Ball. She is the Queen of Comedy. I must have seen every episode of I Love Lucy about 10 or 15 times each. When she acts she expresses herself with everything-her body, her eyes, her voice, her heart. As the audience, you know every single thing she is feeling and thinking.
Q: Have you ever had a weird encounter with a fan? If so, will you tell us about it?
A: I have never had any weird experiences with a fan. Anyone that has ever come over to say hello has always been really nice and friendly.
Q: What is your ultimate goal in life? Realistically speaking, what do you want to have achieved?
A: My ultimate goal in life is to do things I am proud of, both with work and personally. I can't wait to be a mother. I see how much love and excitement my parents get from me and my brother and I want to experience it with my own family.
Q: In high school, what were you categorized as? Were you popular, an outcast, a nerd, the smart one, shy, class clown, rebel?
A: In high school I had a group of girls that I hung out with. There were about eleven of us and we were really good friends. I guess you could say we were popular, but we didn't think about that too much.
Q: What was your favorite episode to work on?
A: My favorite episode to work on would be Sexual Healing because it was my biggest challenge. I had to do a lot of things that I am not comfortable with and am not used to performing. The episode made me nervous at the beginning, but I really threw myself into it. It is my favorite episode because I know how much harder I had to work on it.
Q: What's the name of the best book you have ever read?
A: I can't really say what the best book is that I have ever read. I have had lots of favorites at different points in my life. Charlotte's Web was the first book I read on my own. Matilda was another favorite of mine growing up. This Summer I have read The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and I am on the second Harry Potter book right now.
July 1, 2000
Fandemonium