As some of you are aware, I have a list of people (in the right hand column of this blog) who I would love to interview. Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to move one of those names into the "People I have LOVED interviewing" list, thanks to the most talented and incredibly gracious actress Shoshannah Stern. Here is the interview, in its entirety:
What made you decide to join Twitter? What do you hope your interaction on Twitter will achieve?
A friend of mine told me I should try it out. I was skeptical at first but I think it's an amazing resource. It makes it so easy to share information. It's a great way to let people know what I'm up to. The PSA for DeafHope exemplifies that, along with the warm welcome I got when I joined Lie to Me. I hope it becomes an expansion of what I try to do with my life, which is to educate and learn as much as I possibly can.
Do you feel social media has the power to educate a large number of people; to change people’s attitudes and perceptions? Or is it too superficial and fleeting to have a lasting impact? (I can honestly say, however, that you have done, and continue to do, much to educate ME about the Deaf Community via Twitter and I sincerely appreciate this.)
I can only hope that it does. I believe anybody can change, but only if they want to. In order to shift perceptions, the people behind them have to first recognize that they may be skewed. I've seen firsthand that this is often a very difficult thing for people to do. I don't ever want to shove things down people's throats. I don't think that's the way to do things. A lot of people use social media to talk about how bored they are, and that's fine, too. It's there to use the way people wish, for better or for worse.
How did you become involved in doing the PSA for DeafHope?
The recent CEO of DeafHope, Julie Rems-Smario, who has recently left for another position, was a former teacher of mine. We remained in touch and she asked me to come to the very first fundraiser for their organization, called Glimmer of Hope, almost ten years ago. I thought the organization was amazing and I told her that she could count on me for anything she'd need me to do for them in the future. I was thrilled when she took me up on that. I flew out to give a keynote speech at a banquet and do an autograph session, then I did a couple of performances of The Vagina Monologues for them with a mix of professional actors and women from the community, which was another amazing experience. I was going to be in Northern California, where they were based, for the NAD Gala welcoming the new CEO, Howard Rosenblum, so I asked if there was anything I could do for them while I was there, and we came up with the PSA.
What charities are near and dear to your heart?
DeafHope, definitely. I've also done things for NAD, the National Association of the Deaf, which I just mentioned, and just appeared at a fundraiser for GLAD, Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, which my friend Ken Paves hosted. I also donate to the Humane Society and the ASPCA and I'm always signing petitions on Change.org, mostly in regards to the environment and animals. I also just did something for VH1 Save the Music in association with a movie I did, Adventures of Power.
You sign in ASL… Do you also sign in any foreign languages, or International Sign Language?
I dabble. My sister lives in London, and she's fluent in British Sign Language. Every time I go over there, I relearn it and improve, then when I get back, I stop using it so I promptly forget. I worked in Rome one summer when I was in college, so I picked up some Italian Sign Language, which I have also forgotten. I think I might be better at International Sign Language which is what I tend to fall back on when I'm abroad.
Have you ever had an embarrassing signing/interpreting misunderstanding?
Oh, yeah. There are a lot of really amazing interpreters out there but there are also some really bad ones. There have been times where I've done press and then when the articles came out, I've just done a complete double take. That's probably why I try to do most interviews through email so I can have some control over my words. American Sign Language and English are completely different languages with distinct structures, so it's not the easiest thing. The person interpreting for you has to know you and capture your voice, so if I have to do press, I have to make sure it's with an interpreter I know and trust.
I believe you have previously said you are fourth generation deaf in your family. Is this from your paternal or maternal side of the family, or both?
Fourth on my paternal side and third on my maternal side.
You seem to have been raised in an extremely loving home. You speak very fondly of your family. You have also said your sister has always been an inspiration to you. How integral has your family’s support been to your success as an actress?
It has everything to do with it. My family made me who I am as a person, in a thousand different myriad ways. The biggest thing has to be the direct communication I got from the moment I was born, but a lot has to do with me just being able to discover my personality and who I wanted to be. I've never really thought of myself as deaf first, just myself first, and I've tried to make my acting career an extension of that. Books were also a huge deal in my house, and that gave me gateways to imagination and other worlds that I could explore, and that had a huge impact on me as a well.
What has been your most challenging acting role to date?
Sarah in Children of a Lesser God, onstage at Deaf West. I had to change the way I did everything, from the way I signed to the way I mouthed words, to the way I stood and how I held myself, even the way I spoke. I would go home after the show and not be able to sleep because of how emotional I would be after a show.
What has been your most fun role?
I always try to have fun in everything that I do, but Jericho was amazing. I got to get shot at, shoot guns, ride horses, drive pickup trucks and not be surprised if I needed to park next to tanks and helicopters when I went to work.
If you could work with any director in the industry right now, who would you choose and why?
Ang Lee, I think. Hard choice, but I love his use of silence.
Primarily because I know so many Lie To Me fans will want to know… what was it like working with Tim Roth?
It was crazy. When I was twelve years old I had to work on a project called a Memory Book, where I had to visualize where I would be as an adult. In it, I said that I would be an actor and I would work with Tim Roth. Because of that, it was very hard not to get ahead of myself when I met him. I had to tell myself to be careful not to project whatever image I had of him on who he really was going to be as a person, but he turned out to be this amazingly warm, gentle, funny soul. It was just amazing working with him. I don't know any other way to describe it.
Do you recall a favorite contribution you made to the blooper reel in any of your roles?
There have been a few! I think the two that stand out was when I fell down a spiral staircase shooting a film. I hit every step on the way down. Another one was on Lie to Me shooting a scene with Tim. Simply put, he walked in, didn't like the entrance, said a favorite word of his, then walked out. I decided to translate it.
As a Deaf actress, what frustrates you most about Hollywood / the film & TV industry / the entertainment business as a whole?
I think it's the same thing that frustrates me with people in general, kind of like what I said about social media. They often aren't willing to recognize that their own personal perspective may not be authentic. Either that, or they don't care because they know they can get away with having their perspective being the way it is.
What helps you stay positive & keep things in perspective in the often-brutal world of being an actor?
I think back on people who I've met along the way who do get it and have urged me to stay the course. I remind myself that if these people exist, there are going to be more of them out there. It's just one foot in front of the other. On bad days, maybe it's going to be a very slow trudge, but sooner than later, an awesome day is going to come along where you're going to be skipping. You just have to take the trudges to get to the skips.
Can you tell me about any upcoming projects you have in the works?
I have a movie coming out in theaters this fall called Hamill. It's a biopic based on the life of Matt Hamill, who is currently an UFC fighter. He was one of the first, maybe the only, deaf person to ever win a national championship, which he did as a wrestler in college. I play Kristi, who serves as his love interest in the film, and who Matt eventually married in real life and had a daughter with. I'm also attached to a short film that should start shooting next month. Besides that, I wrote my first script this year. I'm starting to shop it around a bit, and hopefully when it's ready it'll turn into something tangible.
And finally, some totally random questions:
Did you ever get a favorite toy as a child that made you so happy that you can still perfectly picture in your mind the moment you received/opened it?
Yes. Dolly Bear, my first teddy bear. She was worn out by the time I was twelve, so she was retired. Her successor's name is Leopold. I still have him.
When was the last time you flew a kite and who were you with?
I think it had to be the kite festival in Fremont when I was in middle school with my family. I just read about it a few years ago in The Kite Runner, which is partially based in my hometown.
What’s the craziest piece of clothing you have ever worn in public?
I used to walk around in a pair of white furry boots and think I was very cool.
Who can make you laugh, no matter how bad of a mood you may be in?
My sister.
Do you keep a journal? Do you have any journals / diaries / letters from your ancestors? How important do you think it is for people to learn about their heritage?
Not anymore, but I used to. Acting, writing, and my art are my journals now, so to say. I keep almost all of my letters. I think heritage is an essential thing. My mother is flying to Vienna with my father to visit her mother's hometown for the first time in a couple of days, and I can't wait to hear about it.
What place brings back wonderful memories of your childhood? (Could be a vacation spot; a neighborhood hangout; etc.)
It's not really a place, but people, smells, and things. I left my hometown almost twelve years ago and have only been back a couple times since then. I think memories stay with the people, not with the environment.
Were you rather a tomboy growing up or were you a "girly-girl"?
A little bit of both. I always loved dolls and frilly dresses, but I also loved soccer and swimming and running around and getting as dirty as possible.
What other jobs have you had? Or has acting always been your sole focus?
I was a teacher. I still am. I've taught everything from kindergarten to college. Right now I still teach at a local university, but acting is where my passion is.
Any pet peeves?
Like I said, [people’s] resistance to learning.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how good are your dancing skills?
Depends on how you judge it. I prefer to dance on the silly side. I don't think dancing is something that should be taken seriously.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how good are your driving skills?
Depends on who you ask.
Name three things that are within arms reach of you right now…
My water bottle, my camera, and my appointment book.
If you were to describe your temperament in three words, what would they be?
I hate talking about myself so I asked my friend Jimmy. He said, "Entertaining, loving, and kind."
Is/was there a particular teacher or mentor who helped make you the person you are today? Do they know how influential they are/were in your life?
There have been many. I always try to tell people as a general rule how much they mean to me, so I hope they know.
