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 Would
you say that you became a part of this project in part because
of the message it has for young women?
I would like to think that that's why I did it. I have
to be honest, when I saw what the message was I was already
attached, but I was like, "Yes, this is good. I'm really
glad that that's what they're saying," because I have
daughters.
Actually, I have a daughter that is modeling and going
to high school, which is so funny because it's a lot like
Jane. She's a kid and I want her to be a kid and I want
her to treasure her years in high school. So I'm having
to reiterate that to her all the time. And then here paralleled,
at the same time, I'm working on a show that is exactly
that same story, which I find fascinating that that happened.
That life is like that.
ABC Family often times has young people teach important
life lessons to more experienced adults. I am curious, how
do you see that theme come into play on "Jane by Design?"
Wow, that's a good question. I hadn't really thought about
that. I mean that is something I think about all the time
because I'm learning stuff from my kids constantly. I think
maybe within different things that happen in the show, we
can always see great lessons.
Well I think she can probably make us laugh at our human
foibles, the things that we do that are really silly and
make us look at ourselves too. The things that we expect
of kids and we expect of ourselves sometimes are not always
the healthiest, and to be able to treasure the good things.
I think a lot of times we make too many sacrifices for work
and we don't pay attention enough to the things that we
should be paying attention to. That's probably why Gray
doesn't have anybody in her life. So there's an answer.
Who or what inspired your personal fashion style?
My personal fashion style-I think it's my nature probably
more than anything. I just go with things that I like my
personal self. The things that make me feel warm and comfortable.
I'm really into boots. I like jeans. I don't know, I'm kind
of a country girl, but yet I can also enjoy dressing up
because I think I was exposed to certain things in the fashion
world.
I come from a small town and I grew up very simply so I
think there's a piece of me that will always be that. But
I've been exposed to high fashion so there's also going
to be that piece as well.
What is a typical day like on the set of "Jane
by Design?"
Fast. It's very fast. We work really hard. The writers
and the producers don't have a life. They were there all
the time. The kids are just great. They're gifted and talented
and smart and funny and they gave me such amazing energy.
Watching Erica work was really-I can't tell you how good
she is. The kid's great. And they all know how lucky they
are. You can just see it. Rowly was really wonderful and
even helpful to me. They were just sweet.
We'd hang out in tiny little trailers. Eat-they have nice
food but we don't have very long to eat. We're changing
hair really fast. We're getting dressed really fast and
we're running back into the set. Working late at night sometimes,
which is really hard when you're my age. Having to remember
your lines at midnight. But it was all fun. It was a lot
of fun.
What does Gray see in Jane? What is the special thing
that not only makes her hire Jane but to connect and keep
her around?
I think she sees that she's got great style, and maybe
she sees a little bit of herself when she was younger, the
capacity to think quick, and then something in her that
is trustworthy.
How have the fashion elements enhanced the show either
for you personally or for the quality of the show overall?
I think the set's beautiful, and I think the clothes are
beautiful. It's fun to go to work everyday and put on amazing
Alexander McQueen and Gucci and Vivienne Westwood. It's
a lot of fun. ... was sort of deja vu of how I started out.
I played so many mommy characters that didn't wear anything
nice, and it's a lot of fun to play this particular character
because I enjoy getting dressed up every day and going to
work.
And Erica looks amazing, really fun. I think that the kids
are really going to-the young people are going to love just
seeing how she's dressed. And India too, they look great.
Are you planning on doing any more films with your daughter?
I hope so, but we'll just have to wait and see. At this
moment, we don't have any plans. I hope her career takes
off on her own. That's what I really hope.
Did you film a lot or do you have any projects coming
up when it's done filming?
I'm getting ready to work on something. I'm not going to
talk about it yet, but I'm getting ready to work on something.
We're looking for other good things, but it's hard. I don't
want to do just anything so I'm being patient.
It's not always easy when you get older. You have to be
patient, I think. There's loads of work. There's a lot more
work because it's a very youth oriented business and so
I can't take it too personal.
Jane has to think quickly on her feet to keep up this
charade of a dual life. I was wondering if you could tell
us about a scene maybe in the first couple of episodes where
maybe that happens or something funny where she was trying
to cover up her tracks?
The first couple of episodes-I'm trying to rack my brain.
You're asking a 53-year-old to remember something. Well
I know she was like running between the show and having
to get in between school and the show.
When she had the date, that one was really cute. Where
she was trying to go the prom and trying to work at the
same time and trying to change her clothes in between the
two and really trying to exist as a teenager and have this
treasured moment but she had to work.
I think that was a pretty compelling setup for a teenager.
To see her having to deal with both of those, the sacrifice
that she was making to work. And that's interesting, you
know, to think of a child having to make those kinds of
sacrifices.
What is it that you admire most about your character
on the show?
For me, it's finding the opportunity to find humor within
the ridiculous attitude that she has towards her work. It's
just classic. There are so many people out there like that
that are highly demanding. They're all about the work. There's
just nothing else in their life. They expect everybody else
to be that, and it's just accepted that that's the way the
world runs. I guess that would be it for me, and finding
the humor in that.
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