Vassilios Nicolaos Vitsilogiannis interviews the famous actress Katherine Kelly Lang
Funviews and hellenicmediagroup.com Journalist-Correspondent
(IG @iamvassiliosvitsilogiannis)
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1. I know your mother was an actress, was it the reason why you began a career as an actress or a personal need?
Katherine Kelly Lang: My mother told me when I was very young to believe in myself, I could do anything. Having your parents support your hopes and dreams is everything. While I was still in high school, I went to a movie set while on vacation with my mother in Mexico, and the whole experience was fascinating to me. From that moment on, I had my heart set on being an actor. My mother encouraged me, yes, but it was my decision and she didn’t try to influence my choice one way or the other.
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2. Were you more within the framework of certain roles when you made your debut, or you wanted to take a deep dive into the uncharted waters of acting?
Katherine Kelly Lang: Discovering the journey of the character and the story allows me to explore a world other than my own experience. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but it is rewarding to pretend to live through things that you will never experience in real life.
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3. What’s your greatest accomplishment as an actress?
Katherine Kelly Lang: Playing Brooke for over 32 years seems unbelievable. This role has given me so much and I’m so fortunate. The privilege of coming to work every day and fulfilling my passion to be an actor is priceless. Creating a character like Brooke, who follows her heart, who’s authentic and who doesn’t fake it has been an amazing accomplishment.
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4. You are best known for the role of Brooke Logan in the CBS daytime show “The Bold And The Beautiful”. Was it a gut feeling that the show will be a success and you accepted the role?
Katherine Kelly Lang: Everyone knew about Bill Bell and his success record with other shows. So there was a lot of excitement and optimism about this new series. We knew it would be a success. But in my mind I gave it around five years. No one could have ever known that 32 years later the series would still be one of the most watched dramas in the world.
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5. The role of Brooke has evolved throughout the years, and the writer always pull something out of their caps to make it interesting. But what would be interesting for you to see in this role?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I would love for Brooke to face more adversity and to have bigger challenges to overcome. The series is about love stories and family. Brooke has had more love stories than any other character. Now, I would like for Brooke to show that she’s gained some wisdom and savvy. I hope she will take on more of a leadership role and influence other characters. I would like the story to demonstrate that her experience has led her to make good choices when she comes up against adversity.
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6. You have been nominated for a Daytime Entertainment Emmy for ‘’Outstanding Supporting Actress’’ in a drama series and a second for ‘’Outstanding Lead Actress’’ in a drama series; how’s the feeling, the love of your fans?
Katherine Kelly Lang: It’s nice to be recognized by your peers and to win awards, but it’s not the main reason we do what we do. The acting itself is its own reward.
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7. How difficult is for a working mother to juggle too many things at a time? Is there time for family?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I was pregnant three times during the filming of The Bold and the Beautiful. Brad Bell and the production were always great about either hiding my pregnancy (wardrobe, props and camera tricks), writing it in, and giving me time off to give birth and take care of my newborn baby. The show is so family friendly, I’ve been able to bring children, when they were babies and toddlers, to the set. Sometimes they even played Brooke’s fictional children on the show. That was great, because I could be close to them while I was working. Maternity breaks weren’t the only breaks I took. I did some outside TV and film projects, too, and even some much-needed vacations. The production has been pretty flexible overall, so that’s one of the reasons why I’ve stayed for 30 years. I could be a mother and an actress.
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8. How is life with your grandchildren now? Usually, parents do more and spend more time with their grandchildren than their children, is this true?
Katherine Kelly Lang: It’s delightful to be able to spend time with my grand-babies. They’re adorable, sweet and fun. I’m spending time with my daughter and my grandchildren together at home. Sometimes she leaves the kids with us. We baby sit. We play with their toys. Read them stories. Try to put them to bed. We go shopping and buy clothes for them. I’ve always spent a lot of time with my children. It was a priority.
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9. This is a kind of equation: Katherine-Brooke, for me: Katherine-World Traveler. I’m following you on Instagram and I see you’re traveling most of the time. How do you find time to do all this trips? Do you like traveling?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I love traveling. Thankfully The Bold and the Beautiful shooting schedule has lots of weeks off so I can travel.
Vassilios Nicolaos Vitsilogiannis
10. Who is your favorite actor you want to meet and perform together?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I don’t think like that. I like life to surprise me. Besides, you never know what the reality of working with someone is going to be like. Better to live without too much expectation.
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11. If you had to choose one out of three, what that would be cinema, theater or television?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I wouldn’t want to choose. The work of the actor is the same in the end, no matter what the genre. Things are cyclical. Now all the film actors want to do television.
Vassilios Nicolaos Vitsilogiannis
12. Of all the roles you have played, name your favorite one.
Katherine Kelly Lang: Besides Brooke? One of my favorites was playing bounty hunter “Enona” in “Lonesome Dove”.
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13. What sort of acting roles will you be seeking in the future?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I’m open to playing any kind of character.
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14. You left B&B for a while and went to the jungle. It was something you did for your chosen charity foundation “Breakaway From Cancer” or to test yourself under harsh conditions in the wilderness?
Katherine Kelly Lang: It’s fun to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. I was excited to try to make money for my charity “Breakaway from Cancer”. That’s really why I did it. But I wasn’t really ready for the physical effects of a low-calorie diet, eating only rice and beans. I was also really disappointed that I left so soon without winning the money I wanted to donate to my charity. But I’m glad I did it. After these outside projects it’s always nice to get back home to the set of The Bold and the Beautiful and Brooke.
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15. Also, you spend your days off, mountain biking, horseback riding and running triathlons. I see you’re actively participating in many sports events. You did the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in 2014. Do you exercise daily and what advice do you give to our readers?
Katherine Kelly Lang I like to push myself to discover new limits. I’m always outdoors. Nature and being active make me happy. I think that’s good advice to give anyone. Stay active and push your body, no matter what your level is.
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16. What’s that attracts you to visit Italy often?
Katherine Kelly Lang: Italy holds a special place in my heart. I love it there. The people, the food, the history, the architecture, the fashion. I visit Italy as often as I can for work or pleasure.
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17. It’s been quite some time you have been involved into the fashion industry with your own brand of kaftans. How do you get inspired?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I really like that hippy bohemian style. I love the beach as well. There’s a little Middle Eastern influence in there as well.
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18. What kind of fabrics do you use?
Katherine Kelly Lang :The kaftans are made mostly with delicate silks and some of them have some great beading too.
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19. What are your future plans?
Katherine Kelly Lang: I hope to keep pushing my limits. I just want to continue to find joy in life through balancing my pursuits as a philanthropist, actress, mother, partner, daughter, business woman and athlete.
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20. What’s your motto in life?
Katherine Kelly Lang: True beauty comes from inside, and from having self-esteem. If you take care of your body and surround yourself with positive people, you will have a genuine smile. And when you smile, the world smiles with you.
