How
did you start working for "Adventures in Odyssey?"
They
wrote the part for me after I had been working at Focus on the Family
for their magazine on tape.
Who is your favorite
character on AIO?
Wooten and me, of course.
What was it
like playing Connie Kendall? Do you relate to her in any way?
She and I are
one and the same.
What have you
learned the most as you played Connie Kendall?
That I'm not perfect, but I'm ok. I've learned to be a better actor and
a better Christian.
If you could change
one thing about your acting on "Adventures in Odyssey," what would it
be?
Speak more
loudly.
If you were to give
one piece of advice on how to act, what would you tell someone
interested in being an actor?
Allow yourself
to react from a gut level, listen to the other actors and don't just do
what you think others want to see or hear. Make the part your own.
What do you like and
dislike about playing emotional scenes?
Doing a lot of
takes. I have had some really emotional scenes where it was hard to snap
out of it. Marshall Younger has fed me a lot of jelly beans to make up
for my distress.
What was your
favorite part of working with the AIO team?
Being friends
with them, having fun, watching our families get older and bigger.
What is your
favorite part of the recording sessions?
Seeing
everybody again, finding out what is going to happen next. Also, I love
singing with Will when he brings his ukelele. I love acting opposite
Will. We crack each other up (well, I really like cracking him up and
wreaking havoc whenever possible.)
What is your
fondest memory of working with Hal Smith during the beginnings of
Odyssey?
Watching Hal
sing with Will. Also, they always put me across from Hal in the studio,
so I have a fond memory of just looking at him directly when we were
acting.
What other
kinds of things (job-related) do you do now?
I'm working on
a new animated series for PBS called "Animalia," an anime cartoon called
"Zatchbel" and I substitute teach.
During the
Novacom Saga, what did you think of the Connie and Mitch relationship?
I thought it
was frustrating. I never knew what was going to happen or how we felt
about each other.
Do you think
the writers made a good decision by having Mitch join the FBI and Connie
move on with her life?
Do you?
From what we
understand, Cal Jordan was a favorite child character on the show for
the short time he was around. What
did it feel like to have your son Adam join the Odyssey team to fill
that role?
It was lots of
fun. I didn't know he was a favorite, but I'm glad. It was a really
special time for me. I'm very proud of him. Now he is leaving to go to
college.
Do Odyssey
fans ever recognize you when you're out in public?
Yes, sometimes
they do. They are always very sweet. They are my most favorite fans.
One time I was with my daughter at a calligraphy class. Another little
girl sitting next to her just slowly looked up at me and asked, "Are you
Connie?" It was really sweet and surprising.
Looking back, do you
have any outstanding memories of working with the AIO team?
They are a
huge blessing in my life and I thank God for their support and love
through hard personal times.
In conclusion,
what piece of advice would you like to leave the "Adventures in Odyssey"
fans who have loved your character over the years?
Love the Lord,
trust Him with your life, try to be blessing to everyone you meet. God
has a plan for you using all your interests, talents and skills. Don't
stop doing what you enjoy and allow God to surprise you with what he has
in mind for you to do.
