SUCCUMBING TO TEMPTATION!

TAF: You have accumulated a vast amount of experience in the entertainment industry in a few short years, ranging from appearances in television commercials and music videos to roles on feature films and television series. What inspired you to pursue a career in acting?

LINDA: I started acting when I was four years old. While in pre-school, I must've seen a play because I begged my mother to put me on stage in some way. She took me to the Park District where they were putting on a play which involved fairies and elves. They said I could be an elf, and that I wouldn't have to speak. I piped up that I wanted to speak in the play, and the director seemed skeptical that I would be able to learn any lines. I believe they gave me three lines which I pulled off without a hitch. I still remember nice parents patting me on the head as a wee thespian and praising me for knowing my lines. I guess that's what started it all...the desire for praise and head-pats.

TAF: Do you have a preference between working in film or television?

LINDA: Actually no, I find that both experiences are swell in their own ways.

Movies are my favorite form of entertainment. I *LOVE* going to the movies. Seeing myself projected on a big movie screen is unlike anything else I can describe. It's the end to every existential crisis I've ever experienced.

TV is great fun too. The cast and crew of a TV show are like a family. The best thing about TV is that the story is so much longer than a movie. TV has 22 episodes a season (I think), which is at least 11 hours of storytelling. The actors that I worked with on Ally McBeal (which I'll just use as an example) were seamless with their characterizations. They really impressed me.


TAF: Among all the notable productions you have worked on thus far, the 1999 Arnold Schwarzenegger thriller End Of Days is arguably your most high-profile project. You took the opportunity to play the very daring role of Evie Abel, the daughter of Satan's head priest (played by Udo Kier.) How did you land the part?


LINDA: I showed up for the casting session without knowing it was for a Schwarzenegger film. The casting director Jackie Burch asked me if I was willing to be nude in the film. I said that I had never done nudity before but that I would do it (thinking all the time I'd never get the part). She told me that the film was starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, so the nudity would be tame. She also told me a little about Marcus Nispel who was (at that time) the director. She told me that Sean Bean would be playing opposite me if I got the part. Obviously a lot changed between my audition and when I showed up to set.


The audition itself consisted of me saying "Bye Daddy, we're going to the movies!" into a video camera set up by Jackie's assistant. I gave a little wave into the camera, and that was it. Jackie told me I was adorable and sent me on my way. That's it. It was very quick and painless.


A funny post script: there was a cute girl waiting to audition for the same part who told Jackie that she wouldn't do the nudity. She asked me after the audition what I had said. I told her that I said I would do it, and she told me she thought I was nuts...a few months later she and I were waiting to audition for "Castaway." She brought up the "End of Days" audition. She made a comment about not wanting to take her clothes off for such a small role and I said: "Well I got the part and I'll be rolling around naked in a bed with Gabriel Byrne." Every girl in the waiting room peered at me with envy, and one said "They wouldn't even have to pay me!"



TAF: Playing Evie Abel included a very taboo scene where your character participates in an orgy with her mother (played by Lynn Marie Sager) and Satan (Gabriel Byrne.) Did you have any initial concerns or reservations about filming this scene?


LINDA: I had a few concerns.


#1. I was a little worried that the role would stigmatize me. It didn't.

#2. I was a little worried about what my family would think. They didn't have a problem with it, although my Dad closed his eyes during my nekkidness.

#3. I was a lot worried that my body wouldn't look like that of a lithe 16 year-old. I joined a gym and hired "personal-trainer-to-the-stars" Camille Mosley.


TAF: The orgy sequence called for your character and Lynn's to morph together into the form of Christine York (Robin Tunney.) This was reportedly a very technical shoot with a lot of pre-visual effect requirements. Can you take us back to the filming and describe the shoot?


LINDA: The computer morph scene was very technically involved. It was the last day of shooting, so Gabriel and Robin were understandably knackered. They had been shooting five days a week for something like nine months. I was also tired as I had just returned from Prague where I had starred in a Heineken commercial. I was a little jet-lagged.

[Director] Peter [Hyams] was energetic as usual & he was very
pleased that it was the last day. We showed up
to an airplane hangar where the green screen bedroom was set up. We all watched the scene as it had been choreographed by the body doubles for us. Peter played the shot over and over so we could understand the camera move. As you know, CGI shots are done with a motion controlled camera that is programmed to make the same move over and over. The shot was three minutes long and had to be timed
perfectly with the movement of the camera.

We watched the video until we felt ready to
shoot the scene. We all crawled into bed
together and begun practicing. The beginning and end of the shot were cut in the final film version. At the top, Gabriel was kissing me, so the audience thinks that it is just the two of us in bed, then he moves to Lynn and begins kissing her, and the three-way is revealed. At the end of the shot the camera moved up to the foot of the bed to reveal Udo watching the three of us with calm delight. I thought that was really cool,
but it may have been too much for the
ratings board.

It was very repetitive and tedious. Peter was
standing on the other side of the green screen wall watching the monitor with a stopwatch in his hand. As each take was filmed, he shouted directions to us as they corresponded to the seconds count. It went something like this: Gabe, you're kissing Linda...now you're kissing Lynn...hands...legs...now girls, you kiss...Gabe now you're over Lynn's face...now move your face...Lynn turn your head...and Cut!

I think we did about 80 takes (!). It was hard
work rolling around in bed with Mr. Byrne, but
somebody had to do it!


TAF: Describe your experience working with Gabriel Byrne.


LINDA: Gabriel is a very funny, fiercely intelligent man. The first day I met him, he was shooting a scene with Rod Steiger in the Church. I was introduced to him, and he was told which part I would be playing. He said "Have you ever shot a scene like this before?" I shook my head, and he said "It'll be done right, I'll make sure of that." He was very protective and reassuring. He kept his promise, it was
done right.


While we filmed the first scene Gabriel and Udo Kier and I stood around and talked shop. Gabriel was particularly interested in Udo's experiences with the great German directors. It was clearly a thing of great interest to Gabriel. They had a lot to say to each other about it, I was glad to listen in.


During the "love scene" he was amazing...you can take that any way you like.


A few months after we completed shooting I ran into Gabriel and his kids while shopping. I was wearing a tiara that was from my friend Emily Weissman (she directed me in "Miss Supreme Queen") this is how it went from there:


Linda: Gabriel! How are you, are these your kids?
Gabriel: Yes, these are my kids...say hello.
Adorable kids: Hello!
Linda: God! You guys are adorable, I was just in a movie with your Daddy! I'm so glad I got to meet you both...but I gotta run. Bye!
(They pass me by at this point where I overhear)
Gabriel & kids: Bye-bye!
Adorable Girl kid: Daddy...does she play a princess in the movie?
Gabriel: (short pause) Yes honey, she does.


TAF: Did you have an opportunity to interact with Arnold Schwarzenegger? If so, what was your impression of him?

LINDA: I had the pleasure of Arnold's company on more than one occasion (two occasions). He is a charming, funny, and warm individual. We talked about the script, the character I was playing...we talked a lot about acting. He was very interested in my character's background. He is one of the most dynamic people I have ever met. At one point he affectionately referred to me as a "delicious
creature." I almost blushed to death.


TAF: When you finally had the opportunity to watch the finished film, what was your reaction to the entire work? More over, how surreal was it to watch yourself morph into a million dollar special effect?


LINDA: Well, it was overwhelming. To play a
role in a film with A.S. ...possibly the most recognizable person on Earth...it's a little much. I had never seen myself on "the big screen" before, it was so exciting! I was glad I was in the first half of the film, because if I had been at the end--I'm sure I would have gone crazy waiting to see how I looked and sounded. I thought the film was great, quite a debut for me!

It was very strange to see myself having the big O in a movie. The effects were somewhat secondary in strangeness to seeing myself in the throes of passion, but watching the effects was definitely surreal.

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Akim "Goose" Bischoff