PLANET OUT
The L Word: an interview with Jennifer Beals

by Greg Archer

It was bound to happen. When a TV nation has been "Queer as Folk'd" and "Queer Eye'd" all the way to the Clinique counter, it stands to reason that the flip side of gay maledom has to come out of the closet sometime. This month, it's a post-Ellen estrogen parade.

Welcome to "The L Word," Showtime's head-turning, perception-busting new series about a group of lesbian gal pals living and loving in L.A. Created by Ilene Chaiken, the show boasts one of the most impressive, captivating gaggle of female thespians ever to share the boob tube: Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner and Pam Grier. Hot? Yes. But the real coup, at least creatively it seems, is where the show promises to go: into emotionally deep waters with storylines dripping with drama.

In one corner, there's the committed lesbian couple (Beals and Holloman) wanting to start a family. They're surrounded by new neighbors (Mia Kishner and Eric Mabius), a bisexual journalist (Alice Pieszecki), a hairdresser (Katherine Moenning), a closeted tennis pro (Erin Daniels) and Bette's (Beals) musician half-sister (Pam Grier), who's also a recovering alcoholic.

Already generating buzz for its concept and its appealing cast, "The L Word" also delivers a dramatic Jennifer Beals, who seems to officially rise above the ashes of the fickle pop-culture wreckage of "Flashdance". Beals takes creative risks here as she morphs into the in-love go-getter named Bette. And while everybody at Showtime is zipped lips about particular story arcs destined to raise eyebrows, Beals maintains that "The L Word" isn't just about lesbians. It's about people; it's about relationships; it's about love -- however it shows up.

The new series looks intriguing.

Yeah, I'm excited.

What's so captivating about "The L Word" in your opinion?

It's about how we find the things we enjoy in life. It's about relationships. It's about the people we love, the city we love, how we stay alive with joy.

Tell me what is so intriguing about playing Bette.

Well, you know, I think she is a complete Type A personality, somebody who is very driven, very organized. She's a very focused person, but at her core, I think she is much more diffident than she appears, and that dichotomy was interesting to me. That attracted me to the role. What attracted to the project was the fact that it could make a difference in a person's life -- that it was the type of project that could change somebody's mind and could save somebody's life. Not too be too dramatic, but it's true.

You mean, just by people experiencing these characters in certain situations, or is it more the gay theme?

Well ... you think of a young girl in the middle of Kentucky or somewhere, who doesn't have any access to an extended community, and to be able to see herself represented in some way, shape or form gives her a cause to celebrate rather than be ashamed, which I am sure is what the government would want her to be.

Tell me what we can expect to see happen with your character and what will happen with her relationship with Tina [Laurel Holloman]. On the show, your characters want to start a family.

I think her journey is really about what it takes to start a family and where the relationship should be in order to set the foundation for family. And how to do that when you are pursuing a career -- or not, in Tina's case -- and balancing work with a relationship.

One of the things you said about this show was that it gets to the heart of who we are and why we are so intrigued with the mystery of sexuality and who we are attracted to. Can you elaborate on that?

Well, that was in response to a reporter's question about who was gay in the cast, which I thought seemed an "interesting" question to ask at the time. I think the reason she felt so compelled to ask it is that the mystery of sexuality is so profound, so that when you are playing a character, people want to know where the line is drawn -- when reality blends with fiction.

Sexuality is a mystery -- why do you think so?

It's the mystery of where we come from and where we are going and who we love. ... It's much more complex than race.

The whole premise here seems deep and dramatic. Looking at some of the roles you've taken over the years, would you say you are drawn to deeper things?

I think I always have been. I think it's whether, financially, I am able to fulfill that. I think all people are attracted to things that deepen them in some way, don't you?

Yes. For me, it's writing.

And that act -- going deeper -- in and of itself, is dangerous. Because you can't go deeper without some kind of danger to yourself. You don't know what you may find.

How is it working with what appears to be an amazing cast?

Really exciting and really fun. They have all been supportive. Whenever we had big group scenes, people would come to my house on the Monday before we had to shoot and we'd rehearse so we wouldn't have to worry about the scene. I think everybody cared very deeply about their work and their characters and each other -- and how the scenes played out.

What do you love most about acting?

The danger.

Do you mean exploring something that you quite don't know is there?

Yeah. It's dangerous. It's kind of like jumping out of a plane. You don't know what's going to happen. You know the lines, but you don't know what's going to happen.

Is it easy to turn this character -- any character -- on and off?

It's usually easy, but there was one scene Laurel and I had, which appears later in the season, that was emotionally very hard to let go of. It was very disturbing.

What inspires you?

Everything. Anything. All kind of things.

You love life?

Most of the time.

What bores you?

I don't understand the concept of boredom. I don't get that one. Way too much to do.

What makes you laugh?

My dog. It's a lab-terrier mix.

What make you cry?

A lot of things -- and it's usually self-induced. Right now, the U.S government is making me cry a lot. I have huge anxiety about it. It's a horrendous time. The Patriot Act makes me cry. You know when librarians are saying "No" that something is going on that is wrong.

Are you very political?

I think everyone is political if you are alive and breathing. Because every choice you make has something to do with politics, or the environment -- whether you choose to recycle, whether you vote or not. All of it is political. How you treat other people on the street. The personal is political, period. And I don't think I thought of myself as overtly political, but I do realize that every act I do has a political consequence.

Do you have any thoughts on the gay-marriage issue?

Well, I think the very fact that people would think that marriage was designed to be about love between two people ... I mean, really, it was about property and men making sure they could secure property. So, to say to an entire group of people, "No, you can't get married because now we are going to pretend it's all about love and the American family," is bogus. In fact, it's about legal rights.

I mean, if your partner is dying in the hospital, you should be able to help him pass. If you built a life together, a home together, you should be able to have that home. It's incredibly absurd and incredibly self-righteous to deny people that -- that your love doesn't count as much as our love. You know, if people want to get married and enter into that institution, they should be able to do that at their own joy and at their own peril.

That's interesting, and it reminds me of something a dear friend said, which was that you can say you dislike anybody -- you can "hate" anybody -- but the minute you love somebody, everybody has something to say about that.

Oh ... love is the most dangerous thing in the world.

What do you think is one of the most challenging things about marriage?

Making sure that you leave room for the other person -- and to set your ego aside.

What's something most people don't know about you?

Probably something I wouldn't want to tell you.

How about something quirky?

I am a thumb-wrestling champion.

Nice. When I say the name Pam Grier, who plays your half-sister on the show, what comes to mind?

Oh, I see somebody who is laughing and singing and riding horses. She's an excellent horsewoman.

How about Ilene Chaiken?

Somebody who has a great passion, who is disciplined and mischievous. Intelligent.

Laurel Holloman?

Laurel is patient and kind and free-spirited.

Mia Kirshner?

Mia is the queen of mischief. She's a very intelligent woman -- and prone to flashing new directors and making prank phone calls.

Fun.

Trouble.

The best advice you've been given?

The worst thing they can say is no.

And the best advice you've given?

I once told Gwyneth Paltrow not to give out her address in an interview.

What's the most interesting thing you learned about yourself lately?

How to swim better. I should stretch from the middle of my back, not the shoulders, because it opens my lungs more.

What could TV use more of?

Better executives. People who aren't at the service of the government or a corporation -- and you can put an equal sign between the two. I don't feel like I can watch the news, including CNN, and get what's really happening

What do you hope for as "The L Word"unravels?

Well, it's a groundbreaking series in that it's the first of its kind, and I hope that it is widely accepted, not only by gay people but by straight people. And ... I hope that George W. Bush will not be able to make a whole group of people invisible.

 

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PLANET OUT
The L Word: an interview with Jennifer Beals

Beautiful "L Word" star Jennifer Beals recently sat down with PlanetOut entertainment editor Jenny Stewart and show producer Ilene Chaiken to talk about the Bette-Tina breakup, celebrity crushes and, of course, the jail scene.

Director Rose Troche apparently made a videotape of various onscreen love scenes for the cast to watch. Was this helpful?

Yes, she made a cassette for us of a series of both lesbian and heterosexual love scenes, and she thought some of those scenes worked and some of them didn't. She wanted us to see and judge for ourselves which ones worked and which didn't -- and why.

So what were some of those movies?

"Bound," which worked really well, "Claire of the Moon," "The Hunger." And when we watched them, the ones that worked, regardless of the director, were the ones where the actors weren't fearful. When somebody was fearful, you could see it right away. It takes you out of the story, and that's to be avoided at all costs.

So this tutorial helped you?

Well, it wasn't a tutorial. However, there was an "alleged" tutorial given to us by a woman named Iman, and interestingly enough, we talked about sex for about three minutes, and the rest of the hour was spent talking about politics and class. Which is very telling!

Ilene Chaiken: She was supposed to be a "sexpert." We were there to talk about lesbian sex because we were just starting the pilot and we were a bunch of people who, presumably, had questions. We wanted to have an open forum. And what happened was, we got there and I think we all realized we knew everything there was to know about sex! [Laughs.]

Jennifer: [Laughing.] Yeah, pretty much!

OK, well I want to talk about your performance in the jail scene. Was that hard for you to do?

No, because I just watched the Genet movie and I just imitated the guy in the movie!

What's the name of that film?

It's called "Querelle," and it was clear that the episode, or at least the jail scene, was an homage to that film. I had watched the film and I said to the director Lynne Stopkewich, 'See this guy, and see what he does to the wall? I want to be that guy, I want to do this.

What was the most challenging episode for you this season?

The finale. Absolutely the finale.

A lot of people were surprised when you took a lesbian role, but you actually do have a gay background -- you were in "Twilight of the Golds," and you played a transvestite in a movie called "Sons."

Yes, I loved doing "Twilight of the Golds," and "Sons" was a lot of fun.

Is that movie available on video? I'm sure that's something that everyone's going to want to see.

I think "Sons" is available on video. I hope so.

Do you think Bette and Tina are a good couple?

Bette and Tina are an excellent couple. [Looks at Ilene.] And I think you are a hussy for making me have an affair!

Wait, Bette hasn't had the affair yet.

Hello! What do you think the jailhouse scene was?

No, because you didn't technically have sex!

Oh, listen to Bill Clinton over there!

I don't want you to have an affair! Oh, well. OK, what do you think attracted Bette to Tina in the first place?

I think at first, when Bette met her, she fell in love with Tina's beauty. And then I think ultimately, as far as being in love, I think that she's so different from Bette, she's so grounded and very big-hearted and so generous with people so easily, you know? And I think that Bette is so much more judgmental, and things like that are a little harder for her. And I think that [looks at Ilene again] they should be back together![Laughs.]

OK, are you ready for some personal questions?

Yes, I'm having fun.

What is your current relationship status?

I'm married to a man.

What's the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for Jennifer Beals?

My husband does so many romantic things for me, it's absurd. But I remember one day I was on my way home and I had called him on his cell phone and he knew that I had not had a great day. And when I got home, he had a gazillion rose petals in the doorway that spelled out "I love you." Yeah, and he made the entire doorway this mandala to love, you know, before I had gotten into the house.

Well that's pretty impressive. How about you? What's the most romantic thing you've ever done for someone?

Hmmm -- I don't know. I guess you'd have to ask them!

When was the last time you had a crush on someone?

A couple years ago I had a big crush on Eddie Vedder. I told my husband, "Do not let me be in the same room with Eddie Vedder." He said, "Don't worry, I won't." [Laughs.]

Is there one particular characteristic that you have consistently been attracted to in a person?

A sense of humor

What is your least favorite physical feature on your body?

[Laughs.] I'm not going to tell you. Only my costumer knows for sure!

You've played a wide variety of characters throughout your career. Which are your favorites?

Daphne Monet from "Devil in a Blue Dress" -- she's way, way up there. And I like Bette a lot. She's hard sometimes, so I like that.

What are the favorite films you've done?

That's really hard, because they're all so different. I like "Devil in a Blue Dress." I love "Twilight of the Golds." I like "A House Divided" a lot. "Vampire's Kiss" I think is really good -- it's hard.

Getting back to "Twilight of the Golds," if you were to become pregnant and you found out your child was going to be gay, what would your main concerns be? What thoughts would be going through your head?

Making sure that when my child went to school people were enlightened enough not to torture them, you know? And I wouldn't want them to feel lonely or outcast ever in any way. And no matter where they were in the world, I'd want them to always feel incredibly confident about who they were and proud.

That's a great answer. Thanks, Jennifer.

Thank you!