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| Author | Topic: Read 1977 Bernadette interview here! |
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 Jenny_loves_
bernadette
Registered User
Registered:
6/6/2002
From:
London | posted: 5/10/2003 at 6:09:46 PM ET
I got this in a clippings set I bid on last year and have only just got round to typing it out..its fantastic!
Bernadette Peters tells how a Shy girl Became a Show-off!
Bernadette Peters had 2 goals in mind a year ago. She wanted to star in a television series and she longed to get married. Well, today she’s co-starring with Richard Crenna in sparkling new comedy All’s Fair, in addition to guesting on major variety series. But she is still single.
!I’d very much like to meet the right guy, get married and have children”, she says “but right now I find it almost impossible even to go out on a date. Gaining this series was wonderful, but every night, I’m busy memorizing my script. I can’t even think about socializing.”
Even Bernadette’s weekends are jam packed with things to do. “I leave all my chores for Saturday. That’s means going to the cleaners, getting my laundry done and having my black roots taken care of at the beauty shop.”
Unsays are the days that she manages to get away. “I usually go with some friends for a drive up the coast to some place like Santa Barbara, but Sundays pass so quickly. Before you know it you’re back at the grind on Monday.”
Nothing should stand in the way of Bernadette’s matrimonial plans once she meets Mr Right, but the problem is getting to know him. “I’m basically very shy and introverted,” she confesses. “At parties, you hardly notice me. I sit in the corner with my mouth shut” Nothing or nobody can persuade her to be the life and soul of the party. She won’t sing or dance at these functions and becomes angry when anyone asks her to perform.
“the only time I ever acceded to a request to sing was at a small part not too long ago” she notes. “Groucho Marx, who is a sweet old man of over 80 got up and sang, and then someone called out for me to do it. I could very wel refuse after Groucho had so graciously performed, but I despised doing it.
The buxom blonde certainly hasn’t lacked he experience of entertaining audiences. At the age of five she appeared on TV’s Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour. This was followed by toddling on stage for Juvenile Jury and Name that Tune. Even before she became a teenager Bernadette was strutting in the New York City Center production of The Most Happy Fella, but Bernadette claims that she wasn’t actually aware that she was an actress during her early childhood.
“It’s true I was more outgoing then than I am now,” she says “but I also wasn’t conscious that people were looking at me. To me, it was all play-acting. Kids regard dancing and singing as fantasy and I did too.”
At 13 However, Bernadette knew she had a job to do as a performer. It was impressed upon her that she must be excellent at her entertaining chores. It was at this age she toured with Gypsy for eight months, playing the role of Dainty June.
“I have tremendous confidence in myself on stage,” she observes “ I really feel that I’m an expert at what I’m doing but, once I leave the spotlight all my self-confidence fades away.” Bernadette has good reason to feel assured while performing. She’s been singing dance and acting since she was four. That’s how old she was when parents-Marge and Peter Lazzara-provided professional instruction.
“my Mother always wanted to be an actress herself.” Says Bernadette “unfortunately her parents thought it was wrong. So she made certain that I gained all the things she missed in life.
When I toured with stage companies, she was always with me.”
Today her parents still live in Ozone Park, New York, where Bernadette was born and reared. “It’s a nice neighbourhood” says the actress, “ and our house is quite comfortable. I used to play on the streeets with the other children and no one got into any trouble but right abound the corner from where I live, there were always gang fights and wars.”
Bernadette’s youthful show-business experience helped her make her mark on Broadway and off-Broadway. She quickly won roles in The Penny Friend, Johnny No Trump, Curley McDimple and George M. She gained her first Tony Award nomination for On the Town. After starring in Dames at Sea, she took down her second Tony nomination in Mack and Mabel, which co-starred Robert Preston.
Three years ago she suddenly left New York for Hollywood. “The stage was drying up” she explains, “and there was little work for me. Besides, I realized that you could be the biggest star on Broadway and no one would realize it but a handful of New Yorkers. Television is different. It can make you known to millions in a matter of weeks.”
Nobody got too excited over Bernadette on her arrival on the West Coast. Her reputation was based mostly on her experience in musicals. She was typed as a singer-dancer, and wasn’t considered for acting roles. As a result, she barely made ends meet. “ Except for seven appearances on The Carol Burnett Show and a guest-shot here and there, I didn’t do anything at all, I became very discouraged and kept asking myself ‘What am I doing out here anyway’?”
Finally, she received a call from producer David Merrick to star in Mack and Mabel. Bernadette didn’t want to return to New York but felt it was her only choice. The play was widely praised and when it reached Los Angeles on tour, producers and directors suddenly took new interest in Bernadette.
She found herself getting more dramatic parts and one of them, a Maude guest-shot, aroused the enthusiasm of genius television producer Norman Lear. He believes she’d be perfect as Charley, the free-lance photographer in All’s Fair. In the role, Bernadette portrays an ultraliberal who is continually arguing with Richard Crenna, a conservatively minded columnist. Though they’re at odds politically, the are attracted to eachother romantically.
“Actually, I am a liberal,” Bernadette admits, “though not nearly as liberal as the character I play. I never campaigned for a politician in my life and have no intentions of doing so, and I don’t vote all the time. When I do, I consider myself an independent.” She never discusses politics with co-star Crenna off the show. He happens to be more of an activist liberal.
“I never knew Dick before we made the pilot together, but he has been wonderful to me on this show. He knows the TV-series business backward and forward.” Crenna has starred in such past series as Our Miss Brooks, Slattery’s People, The Real McCoys.
Now that Bernadette is doing so well in television, she’s giving more thought to film. Her last picture, Silent Movie, won her many fans. “I’m really amazed at the way so many people remember me from that film. They stop me in the street to talk about Mel Brooks and Dom Deluise. “
Before appearing in Silent Movie. Bernadette was feature in Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies, The Longest Yard, W.C Fields and Me, and Vigilante Force. There were many rumors that she had become very close to its star Burt Reynolds. She refuses to discuss it. All she says is, Burt’s a good friend.”
Away from the set, Bernadette certainly doesn’t live ostentatiously. She hasn’t a big house or pool, but instead has taken a small apartment in Hollywood. Though she’d like a Mercedes (“I can’t afford one!”) , Bernadette drives a Toyota. The clothes have been designed by Bob Mackie, who does all of Cher’s outfits. “I really can’t find a store out here that sells nice slithers,” she complains.
The television critics predict she’ll be the season’s new star, but Bernadette takes the news calmly: “If it happens, that will be great. At the moment, I’m just pleased to be in a series. More importantly, I’m happy because I am feeling so healthy these days, Just months ago, I was always tired and rundown.”
She gives credit to a new diet for her salubrious feeling. “I’ve become a vegetarian, and I don’t drink anything with stimulants in it, including coffee, tea and Coke. I stick mainly to fish and poultry, salads and fruit.” Then she smiles and adds, “Of course, I don’t drink or smoke. Please believe me, I have absolutely no vices these days.”
they say bernadette's wonderful..........and she is
xx Jenny xx
|  MsPetersFan1
Registered User
Registered:
6/25/2002
From:
Long Island, New York & Boston, | posted: 5/10/2003 at 8:22:43 PM ET
Thank you so much Jenny for typing that up! I thoroughly enjoyed reading that. Interesting things.
~* Megan *~
|  Bernadollie85
Registered User
Registered:
7/23/2002 | posted: 5/10/2003 at 10:22:58 PM ET
Yeah, Thanks for that Jenny, that was very interesting and I enjoyed reading it as well, It was fun to read new info!
I'm just a Broadway Baby learnin how to sing and dance....
| Jenny_loves_
bernadette
Registered User
Registered:
6/6/2002
From:
London | posted: 5/11/2003 at 4:09:17 AM ET
You're very welcome. I loved it. Don't you find it kind of said when it says that she wants children and a husband and we know that she won't have children and she'll get married 19 years in the future!!!
they say bernadette's wonderful..........and she is
xx Jenny xx
| kate
Registered User
Registered:
4/28/2003 | posted: 5/11/2003 at 7:20:44 AM ET
She also talks about wanting to be famous... hence wanting to do tv. I think that's really intresting. I know she turned out to be a huge star and it was via theater, but I bet she feels differently about the whole fame thing now.
|  moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:09:40 AM ET
Sure but when you are young you want all the glory you can get but as you get older you realize that the quality of your work and the adventures you were able to have are more important. She sounds like any star of that age today. But it is interesting to see how things turn out. :-)
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 5/11/2003 at 1:46:26 PM ET
Wow, what a great article! Let me add to the chorus of thanks for taking the time to type out something so lengthy. Is there any way to tell from the clipping what magazine the article appeared in?
| Jenny_loves_
bernadette
Registered User
Registered:
6/6/2002
From:
London | posted: 5/11/2003 at 2:20:23 PM ET
no prbs. i don't usually contribute things of value to the board. No, I'm afraid I can't see from what magazine its from. sorry!
they say bernadette's wonderful..........and she is
xx Jenny xx
| PATTY
Registered User
Registered:
3/1/2003
From:
tonawanda,n.y. | posted: 5/11/2003 at 3:59:07 PM ET
Thank you,Jenny.Yes,in some ways the life Bernadette chose is sad,but as us older folks know,many things in life are a trade off.You look back and maybe wish you had chosen differently..very few people can have it all.If you read or saw "The Hours",Meryl Streep closes the film with this statement:{not an exact quote}"You look at life for what it is..close the door and move on".Listen to the words of "Move On" ..I'm sure Bernadette has, because she sings it with great knowledge and emotion.The words have helped me understand my own life's experiences and somedayI hope they will help you too!I think Bernadette is content with her life..she has traded off some personal things in her life to share her wonderful gift with us,and aren't we lucky?!
To the loveliest lady of song!
You will keep on giving me joy forever...
| Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 5/11/2003 at 4:23:06 PM ET
Patty, wow..I couldn't have said it better! Someone stated, "Don't you find it kind of said when it says that she wants children and a husband and we know that she won't have children and she'll get married 19 years in the future!!!"
I don't think its sad at all!! I think it's sadder thinking about what her life would have been like if she and Michael hadn't met.Good or bad, everyone has the opportunity( atleast in America) to make choices in their life. Sure, things come along that are out of out our control but its up to us if we want to make something good or something bad come of it. Those who appreciate and learn from those choices are the wise ones.From personal experience, I can say that if there's anyone who seems to realize how blessed they are and not take anything forgranted its Bernadette. And she's probably the first to step up and give others those same opportunities for a better life.
I think anyone can tell how much she LOVES life and performing in particular...its contagious--which I think is one of the many reaons why she is so respected and adored by her peers in this business and by fans. The article shows how much she's grown. In the article she states how she is shy at parties and sits in the corner very quietly...now she is the life of a party! And I don't even think that's by choice, it just happens that way. Its almost as if there is this eternal spotlight following her around. I have seen some of the most well-known celebrities get star struck around her. I think the best part of it all is, she doesn't act like a "star".She doesn't pretend to be better at anything than anyone else.
| moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:15:43 PM ET
I wouldn't exactly say she is the life of the party now. When she is performing or doing something that has to do with work, she is performing and very outgoing. But she is still a fairly quiet person.
|  Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:25:36 PM ET
No offense, but when was the last party you attended with Bernadette?
<3CMH<3
| moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:27:19 PM ET
neither am I. She is different professionally than she is personally is what I was trying to say.
| Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:27:32 PM ET
Ok, let me put it this way....from personal experience I can say that when Bernadette enters a room( that a party is taking place in) the mood lightens and she becomes the focus. I'm not going to go into any detail but I will say she most certainly can be the life of a party. I am not saying she is the life of EVERY party but its been known to happen.
The fact that this is even becoming such a heated discussion or whatever you want to call is just rediculous.
| moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:29:23 PM ET
You and I have different definitions of what the life of a party is then.
| Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 5/11/2003 at 11:31:19 PM ET
Most people are a little different professionally than they are personally. I doubt most people would talk the same way to their boss as they would their best friend( unless of course their boss is their best friend LOL)
My statement about her being the life of a party was from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE( which I even stated) so for you to say I am wrong is pretty presumptious and well, rude. Sure state your opinions but please, don't make it seem like my comments are false or not valid.
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