Parade: Celebrity
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Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale on A's 'Shocking' Identity
If you mix Desperate Housewives and Gossip Girl, you will probably end up with something very close to the delicious ABC Family drama Pretty Little Liars. Don’t let the name of the network the show airs on full you: every Monday night it offers another addicting dose of intrigue, eye candy, and season finale-worthy nail-biters.
PARADE recently chatted with the charming Lucy Hale, who plays artsy Aria Montgomery (the teenager who accidentally backed herself into a romance with hunky teacher Ezra Fitz!) about her craziest fan encounter and what’s in store this season.
Pretty Little Liars fans will get to see Hale, 22, in a new light thanks to her new film Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song and her new single “Run This Town.” (Watch the music video.)
“It was like letting out my inner rock star, it was so fun. I’ve been Aria 24/7 for two years so to get to go and be a different character in something lighter was so much fun,” said Hale after her segment on Radio Disney’s Take Over with Ernie D (airing Friday, January 20 at 6 p.m. ET). “I really hope people enjoy it.”
There are some great outfits on the show. Which character’s wardrobe would you most want to ransack?
“I think Aria’s. She has so much fun with it and she’s all over the place. She mixes vintage pieces with modern. She doesn’t have a distinct style and that’s why I think it’s fun. She’s really quirky.”
The characters’ seem to have gotten a wardrobe upgrade this season. Are you getting to wear more designer clothes?
“We are. As the show is gaining momentum and a following we get more stuff sent to us. But what is so special about our show and the fashion is that a girl can go out and buy that outfit. It’s really affordable. We get a lot of stuff from Forever 21, so it’s budget-friendly.”
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Now that Ezra and Aria told her parents about their relationship, what other romantic roadblocks will they hit? Any other love interests?
“Can’t they just be happy? They will definitely go through some speed bumps and it’s quite the roller coaster, but at the end of the day what keeps them together is their love for each other. They really, really do care about each other. There is gonna be some things thrown at them that they don’t expect, but I hope they make it work.”
Would you want to pursue a music career?
“I would never give up acting, but one day I would love to pursue it, absolutely. It definitely has a big place in my heart.”
You started out doing music (Hale competed on the singing competition American Juniors). What would an album of yours sounds like?
“That’s why I’ve been sort of slow pursuing it, because I am trying to figure out what to be and what my sound is. I mentioned I love country music so maybe country. I don’t know what is in store but I’m excited about it.
We will find out who "A" is this season. What was your reaction when you learned who it was?
“First of all, they didn’t give us the script until we got there so it was a complete cold read. If you could have been a fly on the wall we were all shocked. It was amazing and I wish somebody could have captured that on tape because our reactions were pretty funny. All season it’s a hunt to find out who A is and by the end the girls go through a lot and the stakes are raised. They finally find A and at the end of the season you will too. I honestly don’t know what’s in store after that.”
See photos of the stunning cast of Pretty Little Liars
Will all four girls live past the finale?
“Oh yeah, we’re around for awhile. There are some close calls though. Somebody is always about to die on the show.”
What’s your TV obsession?
“Toddlers & Tiaras, but I also love Shameless and Breaking Bad. But mainly Toddlers & Tiaras.”
What other show would you love to be on?
“True Blood. That looks like a fun show though I heard they shoot at night and it’s a hard shoot. But who doesn’t want to be a vampire? I do! I want to be a supernatural creature.” -
Paula Deen on Her Diabetes Confession: 'The Time Was Right'
Celebrity chef Paula Deen has cooked her way to fame and fortune with calorie-rich recipes. But her love of down-home comfort food hasn't come without controversy.
Now, the 64-year-old Food Network star is addressing rumors and opening up about her Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed three years ago during a regular physical exam with my doctor," Deen revealed Tuesday on the Today show. "I'm here today to let the world know that it is not a death sentence."
After that appearance, the queen of Southern cuisine talked to Parade.com about going public with her diagnosis, the steps she's taking to improve her health, and why she won't be saying goodbye to butter.
How do you feel since making the big announcement that you're living with Type 2 Diabetes?
"I feel really good about it. It was like taking a weight and lifting it off my shoulders. When I was first diagnosed, I was totally unprepared to talk about it. I felt like I had nothing to bring to the table other than to just say that I had been diagnosed. But this time has given me the opportunity to work with my family and with [drugmaker] Novo Nordisk to launch the Diabetes in a New Light campaign, so I know the time was right. Now I have something to offer people."
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What was your biggest fear in opening up about your diagnosis?
"My biggest fear was people expecting too much out of me, more than I could possibly give. And that my life was going to have to change so drastically that I wouldn't want to hop out of bed every morning loving life. That the pleasure was going to be taken away from me. I think that was probably my biggest fear."
How did your sons first react to the news?
"They are the most precious things in my life. They have always been so supportive of their mother and when times are hard they've never left my side. The most important thing in the world is family."
Jamie Deen Dishes on His Mom's Biggest Cooking Quirk
What do you want to tell your fans who have cooked along with you all these years?
"My message has always been the same: We have to use moderation. I don't want a person who suffers from diabetes to think that they can never have that piece of pie or have something that tastes good. That's something my family and I are working on — recipes that are diabetic-friendly without sacrificing the taste and the flavor."
How has your diagnosis changed your lifestyle?
"The first thing I did was give up sweet tea because I drank so much. I'd start drinking at lunchtime and wouldn't set it down until I went to bed. When you calculate how much empty calories and how much sugar I was consuming, it was staggering. So I haven't had a glass of sweet tea in three years.
"If I have to think that for the rest of my life that I can never have a piece of cake, that would make me so sad. That would make me wanna cry! And I know I don't have to live my life that way. I'm making little changes in my life to take care of myself, like putting in a mile or two on my treadmill every day. And I always practice moderation. I think people have a hard time understanding that because they see me two or three times a day on TV cooking these high-calorie, fabulous-tasting foods, but that's only 30 days out of a year that I'm doing that. Those other 335 days a year, I'm not eating that way."
Get Paula Deen's New Diabetic-Friendly Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip
What kind of healthy foods are you enjoying?
"I know when you think about the South, you think about fried foods, but we eat a tremendous amount of vegetables. I have my own garden, so vegetables have always been a big part of my life. I love broccoli. I love fresh beets. It's not all about the fried chicken and the biscuits."
What's your response to your critics?
"I understand that there's going to be some negative conversation, but that's all right. I've had to face many obstacles in my life and my concern is more for people out there that need the hope, the help, and the encouragement. They're more important to me than the haters or the naysayers."
We all know that you love butter. Will you use a substitute now? -
Miranda Cosgrove on Michelle Obama's 'iCarly' Cameo: 'She Was So Nervous!'
Miranda Cosgrove and the cast of Nickelodeon's iCarly had the experience of a lifetime when they got the chance to share the small screen with First Lady Michelle Obama.
On Jan. 16, Mrs. Obama brings her star power to the teen comedy to promote her message of support for the nation's military families. The lead character, Carly (played by Miranda), is the daughter of a Colonel currently serving overseas in the military.
Cosgrove, 20, talked to Parade.com about what it was like having the First Lady on set. She also dished on two of the show's biggest fans: Sasha and Malia Obama.
On Michelle Obama's iCarly cameo.
"Everyone on set was just really thrilled to get to have her on the show. We had Secret Service on set a week before she came because they had to come and check out the area. We went through a lot of different rules and learned a lot about what her life is like. It was really interesting. It was one of those things you never forget."
Are You an iCarly Fan? Take the Quiz!
On having the Obama girls as fans.
"It's really exciting. I met her daughters before and they're really nice. It's crazy that they watch the show! I was really excited to hear that."
On the message of support to military kids.
"My character Carly's dad is in the military and we heard that Mrs. Obama wanted to come on and talk about how important it is to talk to military kids and tell them how amazing their parents are and how important it is what they do."
Michelle Obama Exclusive: Military Families Need Our Support
On the First Lady's acting chops.
"It was her first time acting, so it was funny because we were all so nervous to meet her and she was so nervous because she said it was her first time ever memorizing lines like that and being on a TV show. But she was really good. She went over her lines and she had them all down really well.
"We also got to random dance with her, which is something we do on the show a lot. I never thought we'd be dancing with the First Lady, so that was pretty cool!"
On her hopes for future famous guest stars.
"I love Tina Fey and I love Kristen Wiig. I saw Bridesmaids four times in the theaters, so either of them would be awesome."
Miranda Cosgrove on Her College Dreams -
Vanessa Lachey on Husband Nick: 'Nothing Is Going to Tear Us Apart'
Vanessa (Minnillo) Lachey is enjoying life as a newlywed.
The Wipeout co-host and former Miss Teen USA tied the knot with longtime love Nick Lachey in July 2011. And although the newlywed is still glowing from her Necker Island nuptials, she admits that her busy schedule started to take a toll.
"I do a lot of damage to my hair every day because of my work. I just noticed this huge change. It started getting thinner and it started falling out. I hit 30, and I literally felt like I was balding!" she tells Parade.com.
Photos: Hollywood's Latest Newlyweds
To repair her famous locks, the star's friend and hairstylist Betsy Reyes introduced her to salon hair care brand Nioxin and their latest product, Diamax. "She used it at my wedding and I immediately saw a change. If a girl doesn't have healthy looking hair then she just looks a hot mess!"
Vanessa, 31, talked to Parade.com about the essentials: hair, boys, and love.
On her blonde ambition.
"I dated a guy once who wanted me to have blonde hair. Clearly, he was the wrong guy for me! I went to a lady who bleached my hair and it literally fell out. So, not only did I go back to my natural hair, I broke up with the guy!"
And went on to find someone who appreciates the real you.
"Absolutely!"
How does Nick make you feel beautiful?
"He always just tells me how beautiful I am and that he loves me. I think any woman wants to hear that because we have our off days, so whether they're lying or not, to hear that from your man is always encouraging."
On life as a married lady.
"It's good! In a good way, nothing is dramatically different, so I think that means we were good to begin with. We worked out all of our kinks when we dated and after everything we've been through, there's nothing that we can't handle and take on. It's a comforting thought to know that I've got my partner by my side walking through life and all the ups and the downs. I know we can handle it. There's nothing too big or too crazy that's going to tear us apart."
Vanessa Minnillo on Her 'Intimate' Moments With Nick Lachey
On balancing work and family.
"First and foremost, we have to make the priority each other and everything else falls into place. Yes, work is what makes the world go 'round and it's our creative outlet, but at the end of the day, your partner is your family and that is your life."
On her newest gig as a host on ABC's Wipeout.
"It's crazy! I'm there 14 hours a day, every single day, so I see the good, the bad, and the ugly. I've always been a fan of the show, so this was an easy transition for me. But everything is bigger in person. [The set] is literally like a theme park."
Have you taken the plunge and gone through the obstacle course yourself?
"I haven't done it. I feel like I should do it so I have more sympathy for the contestants, but then if I do, they can always hold that against me."
Nick Lachey: 'I'd Like to Be a Dad Sooner Than Later'
On her hopes for the future. -
Catching Up with 'The Middle's' Charlie McDermott and Eden Sher
Charlie McDermott, 21, and Eden Sher, 20, play siblings Axl and Sue Heck on ABC’s The Middle. Even though neither actor actually grew up in the Midwest, it turns out the trials and tribulations of surviving life as a teen in a semi-dysfunctional family translates to any part of the country.
The duo talked to Parade.com about what it’s like to play a Heck and what they were really like in high school.
On their quirky and lovable characters.
Eden Sher: “It’s hard to pinpoint what I love most about playing Sue. Obviously, I love the enthusiasm. I get paid to squeal, that’s the way I look at my life! I’m pretty fortunate. The only thing I would change about Sue would be those braces and having to put those things on every day.”
Charlie McDermott: “He’s going to be the same old Axl the rest of the season — very unaware and self-centered. That’s probably the thing I like most about him, actually. He’s selfish and loud and nothing is really off limits with him. It’s fun being able to play that type of person. I can go around insulting my fellow castmates all day!”
Photos: Hollywood's Celebrity Siblings
On filming scenes in his underwear.
McDermott: “I’m pretty comfortable with it now. In season one, I would walk onto the set every day and the only piece of wardrobe I would have would be a pair of boxers.”
On what they were like in high school.
Sher: “I was a crazy person, but I wasn’t like Sue. I was never popular, but I had a lot of friends. I was in the theater crowd and we were super cliquey and super into ourselves and our theater.”
McDermott: “I didn’t like school. I was pretty much daydreaming all the time. I would be in the back of the class writing down random stories and stuff that would have nothing to do with school. I only lasted two years in high school before I moved out to L.A. I’m probably similar to Axl in the sense that I wasn’t really paying attention, but at least I would try to keep some sort of good grades so my parents would let me continue acting.”
On having Patricia Heaton as their onscreen mom.
McDermott: “It’s awesome! I watched Everybody Loves Raymond so much. Patty was one of the first funny female comedians that I became a fan of. I always loved her character and I remember thinking that I could be one of her sons on the show because she reminded me of my mom in a lot of ways. Six years later, I’m her son!
"I was so intimidated by Patty the first season. I would never talk to her. She thought I hated her, but I was just terrified by her.”
Patricia Heaton: The Middle Could Become Iconic
Sher: “I agree with everything Charlie says except I never imagined being her daughter, but it’s exceeded my expectations. She’s just one of the coolest, nicest, most talented people.”
On their growing appreciation for Middle America.
McDermott: “I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, so it feels very similar to me. My cousins are from Indiana, so it felt very close to home. I really like doing a show that is based off of something familiar to me and all of my family and friends.”
Sher: “I would say I have a new appreciation for the Midwest. I’ve had this urge to take a road trip through the country now and stop in any place that’s not L.A. and New York.” -
Cuba Gooding: 'Red Tails' Is My Love Letter to Our Armed Services
Cuba Gooding Jr. is back on the big screen in Red Tails — the George Lucas action film inspired by the first all-African American aerial combat unit to serve in World War II.
Gooding Jr. is no stranger to the story of the pilots who famously painted the tails of their P-51 Mustang planes red — he also stared in the 1995 HBO film Tuskegee Airmen about the same group of fighter pilots.
“When I did Tuskegee Airmen, I was embarrassed because I didn’t know who they were. I was supposedly done with my education and I had no idea,” the actor tells Parade.com “There was a frustration there for me.”
Gooding Jr., 44, talked to Parade.com about bringing the historic tale back to life on the big screen.
On the importance of telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“Whenever there’s a story of African-American contribution, specifically in the war efforts, I jump all over it. To me, it’s a healing film for a nation. I don’t care if you’re black, white, whatever, you feel proud to know that our country has created such warriors. I look at this movie as my love letter to the men and women in our armed services. No matter how screwed up the politics are and war is in general, what they are doing is selfless and heroic and should be celebrated because they provide the freedoms we enjoy.”
On educating the world about African-American history.
“I travel the world as an actor and after 9/11 there was so much resentment towards Americans. And when President Barack Obama took office, I had people saying to me, ‘How does that happen? To have a black man run such a racist nation.’ And I thought, ‘Wow, how do I respond to that?’ If you think of my movies: Men of Honor, the first black Navy Diver who overcame insurmountable odds; Dorris Miller in Pearl Harbor who fought in WWII, and Tuskegee Airmen and all of their accomplishments. If you knew about African-American history, you’d realize that President Barack Obama was just a natural progression of things, but there wasn’t that education for people abroad.”
Test Your Knowledge of African-American Firsts in Pop Culture History
On filming on the outskirts of Prague.
“The coolest part for me was being at an airfield every day for two months and getting paid to look at relics. There were B-52 bombers that took off and landed and P-51 Mustangs doing barrels in the sky. It was a treat. And the fact that we shot at an old abandoned airbase, it literally was like going back in time.”
On inspiring his three children: sons Spencer, 17, Mason, 15, and daughter Piper, 6.
“I try not to make this seem all sanctified, but the luck of the draw is that I’m able to be a part of a movie that I think will be beneficial for my kids. In the [Red Tails] promos, the airmen chant ‘we fight, we fight,’ and my two boys, who play football, have been coming into a huddle sometimes before the games and yelling ‘we fight, we fight.’ It’s great.”
Filming was an education.
“At the time, the army was segregated, so they had an all-black airbase, which meant that the chefs were black, the doctors were black, the mechanics were black. It was a community of black people back in a time that was so close to slavery and they were doing everything for themselves. It blew me away. I also learned that in every major war effort in American history, there have always been black participants. From the Indian Wars, Civil War, WWI, WWII. I didn’t know that.”
On being an inspiration to his younger co-stars.
“It’s a chain of responsibility and a sense of accomplishment. Every day we had a real Tuskegee airman on the set and we would sit around them and they would just tell us stories. And then some days I would sit in my chair and a few of the extras would come up and they would ask me questions and I would be in the same position as the Tuskegee airman and telling stories, like the first time I shot with Ice Cube on Boyz n the Hood and they did the same wide-eyed thing. It just makes you feel like you’re doing God’s will and you’re in the right place in life.”
On his rapid rise to fame.
“If you think about the milestone’s of my career, the first time I was paid over a million bucks, or the first time I headlined a movie that made $100 million, or winning an Oscar, it happened all in the beginning of my career. I didn’t know what to say or think. I thought I was the norm. Now, I realize how special those moments are and I just appreciate them.”
On his memorable 1997 Academy Award acceptance speech.
“I was so embarrassed by it for so many years that I’d never talk about it, but the bottom line is if you see my movie and you walk out laughing or crying, I did my job. So if that acceptance speech moves people to laugh or even get excited, it’s just what I do.”
Watch Cuba Gooding Jr.'s emotional Oscar speech
On what’s ahead for 2012. -
Kristen Bell on Her Return to the Small Screen: 'I Missed TV'
Kristen Bell is making the move back to the small screen in Showtime’s new series House of Lies. The new comedy, which also stars Don Cheadle, follows a team of cutthroat management consultants who stop at nothing to get business deals done.
“The topic is relevant. We haven’t really seen a show that’s behind the scenes of the wheeling and dealing of corporate America and the bad decisions they tend to make,” the actress tells Parade.com.
Bell, 31, talked to Parade.com about House of Lies, life with fiancé Dax Shepard (Parenthood), and what’s filling up her DVR these days.
On her return to TV.
“The fact that it is on Showtime was a big component of my interest level. I realized about a year ago that I missed TV, but having been through the ringer on a few shows, I had a couple requirements that I didn’t want to compromise on. I didn’t want the whole show to be on my shoulders and I wanted it to be a show that was a little edgier. And I really wanted it to be on cable. There’s less pressure on a cable network because you shoot less episodes, so it doesn’t overrun your whole life.
“So this falling into my lap was not only amazing because it wasn’t on my shoulders and it was on a great, edgy network, but Don Cheadle was already attached, which was certainly a deciding factor for me.”
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On teaming up with Don Cheadle.
“He’s one of the best actors of the last 20 years. He’s so dedicated. He is a storyteller by nature. He cares about each and every part of the process. He’s an executive producer on the show and I think he’s an even cooler guy than he is an actor.”
She can relate to being one of the guys.
“I’m not really intimidated by a big group of guys. I feel like I can hold my own, but I think I have a much stronger moral compass than [my character] Jeannie does.”
On TV vs. films.
“I like the consistency of a series. I’m a lot like a dog, I like routine and I like consistency. And it keeps you in town. Acting is a really fun job, but one of the not-so fun parts of it is that you’re always traveling and it takes a strain on you emotionally. I like being at home, I don’t like living out of a suitcase. Having to travel all the time is just a stressful thing I don’t want to deal with.”
See exclusive photos of Kristen Bell
The shows she and Dax make sure to DVR.
“We watch Parenthood every week, and we’ll probably watch House of Lies. Our DVR is full of Homeland, Parenthood, Frontline, 60 Minutes, and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Oh, and Jersey Shore! It just started up again. It’s hilarious.”
On life as an engaged lady. -
Daniel Radcliffe's Life After Harry
Daniel Radcliffe has elegant hands, which he uses often to make a point as he speaks in his gentle English accent. We are sitting backstage at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre, three hours before a matinee of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, in which for 10 months Radcliffe has starred as the sweetly conniving mail room employee turned executive. It’s his first musical, and it has won him critical praise, in part because his character is so very different from his role as Harry Potter, protagonist of the $7.7 billion–grossing, 10-year film franchise that made this 22-year-old one of the richest actors of his generation.
When I ask Radcliffe how he is, he enthusiastically replies, “I am happy!”—his cheeks dimpling as he grins broadly. The source of his happiness today? Someone he loves has flown to New York just to be with him.
Charming, serious, and surprisingly open, Radcliffe seems more like a bright college student relaxing between classes than a world-famous actor. At 5-foot-5, wearing a blue shirt, fitted jeans, and white sneakers, he has a dancer’s tight, wiry body and a boyish face dominated by large, blue, deeply expressive eyes. With his run in How to Succeed winding down (his last performance was slated for New Year’s Day), he is eager for the release of his first post-Potter film, on Feb. 3: The Woman in Black, a character-driven supernatural thriller. “While it’s very frightening,” Radcliffe says of the movie, in which he plays a widowed lawyer, “it’s also about love, grief, and longing. It’s beautifully written and very compelling.”
He is well aware that he has entered the second stage of his career and faces a task that has derailed many former child stars: the transition to adult roles. With candor and humor, he discusses that challenge—as well as his boyhood, his fears, his hopes, and what it means to really be in love—on this winter morning.
PARADE When did you know you were interested in acting?
I was 5. I turned to my mom and said, “Mom, I want to be an actor.” And she said, “No, no.” My mom and dad were actors when they were younger and had a horrible experience of it. My dad became a literary agent and my mom a casting director. [Radcliffe is their only child.]
Growing up, did you have the sense of being an outsider?
Totally! I remember being 6 years old and knowing that I saw the world differently from the rest of the boys in my class. I have always said to myself there must be a reason for me being this weird. There’s got to be a payoff at some point.
Your dad is a Protestant from Ulster and your mom is English and Jewish. Were you raised in a particular religion?
There was never [religious] faith in the house. I think of myself as being Jewish and Irish, despite the fact that I’m English.
My dad believes in God, I think. I’m not sure if my mom does. I don’t. I have a problem with religion or anything that says, “We have all the answers,” because there’s no such thing as “the answers.” We’re complex. We change our minds on issues all the time. Religion leaves no room for human complexity.
In 2000, a friend of your parents, producer David Heyman, asked you to audition to play Harry Potter, and your parents agreed. You won the role and your life changed completely.
Yes. I got very lucky at the age of 11 and had this great job. For the first two films, I was just having fun. Then I started to see the potential for acting as storytelling, as being part of something fundamental to human existence. Working with Gary Oldman was a big part of that.
How would you have been different if you had not been Harry Potter?
[When I was cast] I was at a private school—an almost exclusively white, very privileged place—and I was put into a film set with people from 100 different backgrounds, races, classes, everything. Suddenly, because of Potter, my worldview got much wider than it would have been.
At 17, when you played the deranged, sometimes naked stable boy onstage in Equus, or this past year starring in your first musical, did you worry that the critics would be gunning for you because you’re a young, successful movie star?
[laughs] I knew they would. But I’ve worked out recently that I don’t do very well without fear. There needs to be a part of me saying, “You can’t do that—that’s going to fail,” for me to prove myself wrong. What I’ve learned, particularly this year, is that all actors—no matter their status or brilliance—still feel like fools.
Fools?
Yes, like we’re conning people and we’re not really any good at it. What I learned is that acting is to a large extent about trying to stave off self-doubt long enough to be natural and real onstage. I’m at the point in my career where I should be learning a huge amount from every job I do, and unless something’s going to give me that, I’m not really very attracted to it.
I have quite a rich inner life, and I’m constantly looking for a way to express that. I haven’t found it yet in acting. When you’re playing a character, you’re only going to find outlets for very specific parts of your inner world. Self-expression is something that I love and yearn for. I need it, absolutely.
Is that why you write poetry? You’ve published a few poems and written short fiction.
Poetry is something I love to do. Good poetry has an amazing ability to be communicative before it’s even understood. I get emotional just from the beauty of words. I write best at night, and I haven’t written nearly as much this year, because after being onstage I get into bed and fall asleep. When filming, normally I sit for an hour and try to write when I get home.
Are you a romantic?
Yes. I don’t know where my romanticism comes from. My mom and dad would read to me a lot. Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, tales of chivalry and knights, things like that. Those are the stories I loved growing up. I still see something very romantic in the world that perhaps isn’t there. I suppose I want it to be the place of knights and that kind of stuff.
Knights marry princesses. Do you want to get married?
Yes, absolutely. When growing up, I thought of marriage as being very official, drawing up a contract. It seemed slightly clinical to me. But then you meet somebody that you really love and you think, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind standing up in front of my friends and family and telling them how much I love you and that I want to be with you forever.”
Have you met anyone like that?
Yes, I have. The person I’m with now is pretty wonderful—my girlfriend, Rosie Coker, who I met on the last Potter film. She is a production assistant. We’ve been going out for just over a year now. She landed in New York on Sunday and she’s in my dressing room right now, actually.
Are you in love with her?
Yes, absolutely. When Rosie’s here, every day seems better. Ultimately, I think, it comes down to that—having somebody in your life who makes you happier than you thought you could be. When you find somebody like Rosie, who is smart, kind, loving, and not crazy, you hang on to her.
Love is also like having a cap on your own happiness, because you can only be as happy as the person you’re in love with is. I realized that for the first time a couple days ago. I’d had a great day, and I got home and Rosie was very down about something. I thought, “Why don’t I feel good? I feel anxious somehow.” It took me about five minutes to realize that it was because I was worrying about her.
I’m not an easy person to love. There are lots of times when I’m a very good boyfriend, but there are times when I’m useless. I mean, I’m a mess around the house. I talk nonstop. I become obsessed with things. This year it’s fantasy football, which means Rosie has to listen to me talking 24 hours a day about this team. “Should I take this player out, do you think, darling?” And she listens to it, and she loves me for my oddness, my awkwardness, all of those things that I hate about myself. She finds them cute. I guess that’s love.
You’ve had girlfriends before her.
Every girlfriend I’ve ever had I met through work, and I generally spent a lot of time with each before we started hanging out. We never went on dates. Rosie was the first girl I went on dates with.
Why was that?
I hated dating because I’m crap at it! [laughs] With Rosie, I didn’t know what was appropriate, like on which date you’re supposed to try and kiss her. At the end of the second date I pulled a move out of the Bela Lugosi Book of Woo—I went to kiss Rosie and at the last minute lost my nerve and ended up kissing her neck, which is such a weirdly intimate place to kiss somebody on a second date. Afterward, I texted her, saying, “I’m sorry, what I just did probably seems very odd to you.” Fortunately, she just found it really funny, so she kept coming back.
Last year you gave up booze. Why?
My inner life was being drowned. I’ve worked with Richard Harris, Gary Oldman, all those actors who went crazy when they were young, and I always wanted that. The idea of that kind of life and chaos was always so appealing to me. Unfortunately, the way I do it, there is no romance to it! [laughs] There is nothing glorious or triumphant about it—it was pathetic, boring, and unhappy.
You’ve had enormous success for someone so young. Do you fear that it won’t last?
Yes. But it’s reality, not fear. It will happen, and I have accepted that. In a way it’s a great relief that I will never, ever do a film as successful as the Harry Potter series. But neither will anybody else. [laughs] Or it will take them a long time.
If this success lasts longer, great. If it doesn’t, so be it. I’ve had enough fame to last a lifetime. As long as I’m happy with the work I’m doing, I don’t mind. The thing I’ve realized this year is that all that matters at the end of the day is that I’m happy with my life and the people around me, the people I love. That, ultimately, is all I care about.
More on Parade.com:
Audio Excerpts: Hear Daniel Talk About Life Post-Potter
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Interview Extras: Find Out What Daniel Radcliffe Worries About -
Daniel Radcliffe on Fame, Self-Doubt, and Falling in Love
Daniel Radcliffe opens up about life after Potter, falling in love, and fame in this weekend's issue of PARADE. And with his first post-Harry Potter film — the psychological thriller The Woman in Black — out next month, the actor admits he doesn't do well without fear.
In the highlights below, the 22-year-old actor discusses entering the second stage of his career and what it means to really be in love.
Be sure to check out this weekend's issue of PARADE magazine in your local newspaper for the full interview with Daniel Radcliffe.
Are you a romantic?
"Yes. I don’t know where my romanticism comes from. My mom and dad would read to me a lot. Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, tales of chivalry and knights, things like that. Those are the stories I loved growing up. I still see something very romantic in the world that perhaps isn’t there. I suppose I want it to be the place of knights and that kind of stuff.”
Knights marry princesses. Do you want to get married?
"Yes, absolutely. When growing up, I thought of marriage as being very official, drawing up a contract. It seemed slightly clinical to me. But then you meet somebody that you really love and you think, 'Actually, I wouldn’t mind standing up in front of my friends and family and telling them how much I love you and that I want to be with you forever.'
Are you in love with girlfriend Rosie Coker? [Radcliffe met Coker, a production assistant, on the set of the last Potter film.]
"Yes, absolutely. When Rosie’s here, every day seems better….I’m not an easy person to love. There are lots of times when I’m a very good boyfriend, but there are times when I’m useless. I mean, I’m a mess around the house. I talk nonstop. I become obsessed with things. This year it’s fantasy football, which means Rosie has to listen to me talking 24 hours a day about this team. 'Should I take this player out, do you think, darling?' And she listens to it, and she loves me for my oddness, my awkwardness, all of those things that I hate about myself. She finds them cute. I guess that’s love."
Why was that?
"I hated dating because I’m crap at it! [laughs] With Rosie, I didn’t know what was appropriate, like on which date you’re supposed to try and kiss her. At the end of the second date I pulled a move out of the Bela Lugosi Book of Woo—I went to kiss Rosie and at the last minute lost my nerve and ended up kissing her neck, which is such a weirdly intimate place to kiss somebody on a second date. Afterward, I texted her, saying, 'I’m sorry, what I just did probably seems very odd to you.' Fortunately, she just found it really funny, so she kept coming back."
Last year you gave up alcohol. Why?
"My inner life was being drowned. I’ve worked with Richard Harris, Gary Oldman, all those actors who went crazy when they were young, and I always wanted that. The idea of that kind of life and chaos was always so appealing to me. Unfortunately, the way I do it, there is no romance to it! [laughs] There is nothing glorious or triumphant about it—it was pathetic, boring, and unhappy."
Your dad is a Protestant from Ulster and your mom is English and Jewish. Were you raised in a particular religion?
"There was never [religious] faith in the house. I think of myself as being Jewish and Irish, despite the fact that I’m English. My dad believes in God, I think. I’m not sure if my mom does. I don’t. I have a problem with religion or anything that says, 'We have all the answers,' because there’s no such thing as 'the answers.' We’re complex. We change our minds on issues all the time. Religion leaves no room for human complexity."
You’ve had enormous success for someone so young. Do you fear that it won’t last? -
Timothy Olyphant Shares 'Justified' Season 3 Secrets
When the FX hit Justified returns for its third season on January 17 (catch up on season 2 on DVD, which hits stores Jan. 3), it's going to come back with a bang. At least according to the show’s star Timothy Olyphant.
"We’re surely off to the races in the first episode," says Olyphant, 43, who stars as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. "My guess is a little more blood gets shed this year."
Read on for more teasers from season 3:
On Winona's pregnancy.
"It's one thing to try and work on a relationship fraught with problems to try and make it work and it's another thing to make that work with a baby on the way. It certainly raises the stakes."
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Love-triangle afoot? (Carla Gugino guest stars as someone from Raylan's past.)
"She certainly offers [romantic] possibility. She's fantastic. I was so thrilled that she was able to come on and willing to come on and do something. It's a pleasure working with her, she's a pro."
Will Raylan ever leave Harlan?
"I can tell you what we would do if we had it my way, but I don't think that would be fair to the people who actually make these decisions. But I think the cool thing about the show and certainly the Marshal Service is that it's a federal organization and they can go all around the country to get the job done and I think that's a nice luxury to have."
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New kids in town. -
Gayle King Makes a Big Leap
"Hi, everyone, I’m Beyoncé!” Gayle King calls out to a group of CBS staffers she’s meeting for the first time. The line gets a big laugh, just as King intended. Soon this 57-year-old journalist and TV personality, up until now best known as Oprah Winfrey’s closest friend, will be showcasing that playful sense of humor in the highest-profile job she’s ever had: Starting Jan. 9, she’ll be cohost, with Charlie Rose and Erica Hill, of the new CBS This Morning program.
The venture will be an eye-opener for King, who loves staying out late, hitting movie premieres and concerts (her musical tastes range from Jay-Z to Josh Groban). “I never had a desire to do a morning show because I don’t like getting up that early. Thank you, Jesus, for hot flashes!” she laughs, explaining why she’s up these days before 5 a.m. anyway—and how she’ll need to rise only a half hour earlier to do the show. Dating, she notes (she was divorced in 1993), may be a bit more challenging: “I’m available for afternoon tea. I love sandwiches with the crust removed!”
King was born in Maryland and lived for most of her elementary school years in Ankara, Turkey (her father, an engineer, worked for the U.S. government). A news junkie who has a TV in every room, she spent 21 years anchoring news programs in Kansas City and Hartford, Conn., but says it was never her dream to go national. “Unless you lived in one of those places, you got to know me through Oprah. I’m really okay with that,” says King. “I didn’t grow up thinking I wanted to be on the morning news. But now at this stage of my life, it’s all I want to do. It’s so cool.”
Gayle King on How She and Oprah Differ
She resisted a network job in the past because she was raising two kids. “I wanted to be in a community I really liked,” says King. “I wanted to go to the grocery store and the post office. Network to me meant a lot of traveling, and I’m a very nervous flyer.”
Now she’s an empty nester: Daughter Kirby, 25, works in Washington, D.C., and son Will, 24, who worked for a New York investment bank for two years, is now pursuing business opportunities in Shanghai. “I’m trying to pretend they’re still just away at college,” says their doting mother. One of King’s goals for 2012 (see below): fly 14-plus hours to visit Will in China.
What will CBS This Morning be like? When we talked in early December, it was still a work in progress. “I know Charlie will drive the first [7 a.m.] hour,” King says, “and I’ll be driving the second, which will definitely be geared toward women. Erica will be on both. How it opens on day one will not be how it looks on day seven. Everything takes a hot minute to gel.” The aim is to get the perennially third-place show out of its ratings rut. With executive producer Chris Licht (late of MSNBC’s Morning Joe) at the helm, CBS This Morning is meant to be a harder-hitting, less frivolous take on the day’s stories than its network competitors. It won’t be deadly serious, however. King’s not suddenly going to become buttoned up. “I don’t know how to be anyone other than me,” she says. “I was never stiff, even when I was supposed to be.”
Anyone who’s seen the 2010 camping trip she and Winfrey took in Yosemite for The Oprah Winfrey Show, merrily bickering the whole way, knows this. (Highlights are on oprah.com.) Though King will continue in her position as editor at large of O, the Oprah Magazine, saying yes to CBS meant giving up her radio program and the two shows she has hosted on Winfrey’s OWN network. She was nervous her new job would prompt “tabloid stories about Gayle and Oprah fighting,” she admits. “But Oprah said, ‘Are you crazy?’ She was adamant that I begin the conversation. You couldn’t find a better cheerleader for me.
“Someone just said to me, ‘There’s only a small group of people who’ve done this,’ ” King adds about her big leap to morning show host. “And we have nowhere to go but up. I intend to go up!”
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KING'S PLANS FOR 2012
1. “I’m going to get better organized. That always seems to elude me.”
2. “At some point I’ll go to Shanghai to visit my son. I’d also like to see Egypt, and I’ve always wanted to go to the Mall of America—I love a good mall!”
3. “I’d like to do a wall of black-and-white photographs. Black women and children, or couples, a great collection.”
4. “I will continue to hope for someone to design hot-looking high heels that don’t leave you crippled by the end of the evening.” -
'Dragon Tattoo' Star Rooney Mara on Her Lisbeth Salander Transformation
Rooney Mara first emerged years as one of Hollywood’s rising stars with memorable roles in the remake of The Nightmare on Elm Street (2005) and later in The Social Network (2010).
Now, the 26-year-old Golden Globe nominee is creating brand new buzz as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
“I spent over a year with the character and there are so many different things that I love about her,” Mara told Parade.com. “I think the thing that makes her such a compelling character is that you do sort of fall instantly in love with her, but at the same time you don’t always agree with what she’s doing and you also question her and you get frustrated by her. She’s just an incredibly multi-layered character.”
Mara talked to Parade.com about landing the coveted role.
On the audition process.
“The casting director was calling girls in to read a poem in a Swedish accent, a poem they thought represented the character. A few days before I was meant to go in, she had called up and said she actually wanted me to read scenes from the film, and that I was going to be the first person to do that. Initially, they didn’t want to see me. They were like ‘We’re not going to bring you in. You’re not right for it.’ Then, all of a sudden, they were like, ‘You’re going to be the first person to read scenes from the film.’”
Photos: 8 Amazing Movie Transformations
She was confident in her ability to play the tattooed, body-pierced techie.
“I thought I did an OK job, and then a few days later I got a call from the casting director and she had shown [director David Fincher] my tape and he really responded to it. Because we had worked together for a few days on The Social Network, he wanted me to know what I was getting myself into if I were to get this part. So he gave me this laundry list of all the things I would have to do. I’d have to become a smoker, I’d have to be naked, I’d have to ride a motorcycle, all of this stuff. From that conversation, I knew that I had a really good shot at getting it.”
On getting into character — piercings and all.
“I think me in the movie is different than me outside of the movie. I don’t think most magazine covers would put me in character. That part of society hasn’t changed. I think people will go into the movie sort of repelled by the way that I look. I’ve certainly read enough online about people saying ‘Why did they make her so ugly?’ But I think those same people go into the movie feeling that way and they come out of it thinking she’s quite beautiful. And I think that’s with most people — the more you get to know them, the more beautiful they are. I think that she’s someone you learn to love and appreciate. Looks are sort of secondary to that.”
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On leading man, Daniel Craig.
“He’s such a gifted actor and I just can’t imagine anyone else in that role. You know someone’s done it right when you can’t imagine anyone else playing a part. He was incredibly patient and kind with me and he’s a very generous actor.”
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'Bachelor' Host Chris Harrison: 'I'm a Shoulder to Cry On'
Bachelor host Chris Harrison has been intimately involved in some of the biggest hookups and breakups in pop culture. From Trista and Ryan's eight-year marriage to Jake and Vienna's tabloid-fueled split, Harrison knows that while love may be easy to find on a fantasy TV date, it's not easy to keep.
Harrison, 40, talked to Parade.com about the Jan. 2 premiere of The Bachelor with Ben Flajnik (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). Plus, how he's changing things up with a new hosting gig on the heartfelt game show, You Deserve It.
On the toughest part about hosting The Bachelor.
"I guess what I find the most challenging is just keeping up with our Bachelor or Bachelorette and staying in tune with them emotionally and trying to say and do the right things for them and be a friend. I'm a host, but more importantly, I feel like I'm a friend."
Photos: The Most Memorable Bachelor Stars
Same drama, new Bachelor.
"Fans will absolutely love this season. I've very happy this is our tenth anniversary and I'm glad that we have a homerun to bring to the table. It is very good and it will definitely live up to the Bachelor name. Ben was great. Obviously, it really helps to have a great Bachelor, but the women are dynamic and fantastic and catty and emotional. At the same time, it's this great evolution of a man. You watch Ben go through this change. It started with Ashley and that proposal in Fiji, but it really continues throughout this show."
On Bachelor Ben.
"Ben and I — and you'll see this in the show — it's much more organic. Our deliberations became very casual and we did them actually before the cocktail parties even started. That's just the kind of relationship we had. It was really like going through this with a friend and feeling their pain and pushing them in the right direction and trying to help them if I feel like they're about to make a huge mistake. Kind of like what I learned with Ashley: I try to help these people save themselves from any grave errors, but at the same time, you have to let them live their life and make some mistakes."
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On the Bachelor breakups.
"Our couples don't face anything tougher than anybody else in the real world — your neighbor, your mom and dad, yourself. I think that's why the show is so popular. It has been able to sustain for a decade when no TV show in modern history really does because everybody can relate to it. Everybody can relate to Ali and Roberto and what they just went through — falling in love and then the breakup. I think everybody has been in that position. Obviously, we take things to a different level with our dates and the escapism, but at the base of it all, I think we represent what everybody wants and that's love and a relationship. We've all been through some bad ones and we all hope for the great ones. We all want to know what happened with Ali and Roberto, but the answer is there's nothing that simple about it. They fell in love, they lived together for 18 months, and then decided that it can't work. But at the same time, you see Ashley and J.P. loving and living their life in New York, and they seem to be close to getting married, so we hope for them."
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On his newest role on You Deserve It.
"It's a game show that has a huge heart and is all about giving. What sets it apart is that the contestant is trying to win as much money as possible, but they won't take a dime away from this. It's all for somebody else, for somebody in their life who deserves it. That's what made it special for me. The people we're playing for are not sitting there with their hand out. They are people who would never in a million years ask for help. For me, it was a no-brainer to come host it."
On his hosting duties.
"It's not completely unlike my Bachelor and Bachelorette role in that I'm not a game show host who is screaming and yelling. That's not my style. I'm more the friend and the confidant, and in some cases, a shoulder to cry on. Yes, I'm hosting and there is a game element, but I'm more concerned with the human element and the emotion in it and kind of reminding everybody who we're playing for. Some of these people have really fallen on hard times. I love The Bachelor and I love The Bachelorette, but some of those shows are sensational and this is definitely a very different show. This show proves that TV can just be good. It can be altruistic and still be entertaining at the same time." -
Jennifer Carpenter: Gigs Like 'Dexter' Don't Come Along Often
Jennifer Carpenter stars as Debra Morgan on Showtime's hit show Dexter, which just wrapped its six season Sunday night.
As Dexter's adoptive, foul-mouthed sister, Carpenter has become a fan favorite. But unlike her Dexter character, you won't find her dropping one curse word (especially around her family).
"I think they were a little disappointed when I took it on in my own life! My father made me aware of my bad mouth over one Thanksgiving meal and I corrected it right away. It is incredibly unattractive in my opinion," the actress told Parade.com.
Carpenter, 32, dished on the success of Dexter, her relationship with co-star Michael C. Hall [the two recently finalized their divorce after separating a year ago], and the one show she'd love to be a guest star on.
On playing Dexter's smart aleck sister.
"I love playing her because I learn a lot from her. She sort of acts without thinking, which is a luxury that I don't really have. I like that she is always operating from her gut. I really admire her. She's good at her job and she's relentless about making sure her personal life is in tact. She does a lot of work on herself as a woman, as a friend, as a sister, and as an aunt."
Michael C. Hall on Dexter's 'Earthshaking' Finale
On Deb's colorful vocabulary.
"I made an early decision that I had to write my own dictionary in a way and make sure there were infinite definitions for the F-word. That way, it wasn't so repetitive to me and didn't feel like a crutch. She needs to think of herself as a very expressive person. Although her vocabulary seems limited, I think that she is actually a pretty excellent communicator."
On her relationship with co-star [and ex-husband] Michael C. Hall.
"It's sacred for an actor to keep their personal life personal. I would like to reassure all Dexter fans that the show is and always has been paramount. We've always done a nice job of protecting it and each other. We play important roles in each other's lives and always will. Our friendship is true and strong and always will be as far as I'm concerned."
On the success of Dexter.
"I think I might have been the only cast member shooting the pilot thinking that it wasn't going to go well because I couldn't imagine that a network would champion a serial killer or that audiences would either. But I guess they were the smart ones!"
Photos: See Couples Who Met On Set
On the serial killer with a heart of gold.
"I think people might be attracted to the character Dexter because they get to exercise some of their own demons through him and live vicariously through him. I think it tests audiences in a way that a lot of other shows haven't until now. Audiences enjoy being in the know. They get to be in the head of the serial killer and the other characters are in the dark. It's interesting television. It makes you gauge where your moral center is and sometimes it surprises you that you lean so far from one side to the other."
On what she's looking for in future roles.
"I made a very solid commitment at eight-years-old that I wanted to be an actor, and I never deviated from that decision. I truly did feel like it was a calling, so at this point in my career, I have to decide if I have something new to say as an artist and ask why I am still so hungry. I think it's because I just love working so much. It's hard for me to say no to roles that people automatically associate me with — like darker things, horror things. I need to make sure that I'm taking roles that I feel like I can communicate through."
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On the big screen vs. the small screen.
"I never thought that I would be so attracted to television, but I don't think gigs like Dexter come along too often. I love that there's a beginning, middle and end to a film and you can craft what the whole journey is going to look like. And then I always love the whole open-endedness of television. I feel like I hear a lot of actors say this — but I know why — you just want to work with really great people. I just want to be with great teachers. If that means I'm in a horror film with good teachers, I'll do another horror film. But I would love to branch out and do more comedy or just more straight dramas."
On her dream role.
"I'd love to jump on Modern Family. I think that would be a lot of fun. I can't imagine anyone in the world who wouldn't want to just hang out on that set for a day!" -
Michael C. Hall on 'Dexter' Finale: It Won’t Be A Happy Ending
After season six of Dexter concludes this Sunday (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET), the show is slated for only another two seasons.
PARADE spoke to the Michael C. Hall about the much-anticipated finale and saying goodbye to Dexter Morgan, the oddly endearing serial killer he plays on the show.
Calling in from New York after a breathtaking trip to New Zealand to support the show, Hall tiptoed around details, but one thing was clear: There will be many surprises ahead.
“There is a sense of resolution, but there is some pretty fundamentally earthshaking things that happen as well,” says Hall about Sunday’s finale. Acknowledging that his statement left one wanting more, he added with a laugh, “I'm like Dexter's press secretary, so I have to saying something without saying anything.”
On a Deb and Dexter romance.
“The story has certainly been moving towards some sort of epiphany or recognition on her part. I think from the beginning, storytelling-wise, Dexter and Deb had a relationship that is as central to the story of the show as any. To the extent that they've been moving towards each other one way or another. That's been in the cards since the beginning. Obviously, we've been through things personally [the two recently finalized their divorce after separating a year ago], but we remain dear friends and fiercely committed to our work as actors on the show.”
Photos: See Couples Who Met On Set
Can Dexter have a happy ending?
“I don't know about a happy ending. I think the question is what happens to him. Is he done in? Does he do himself in? Does he get away with it? But even if he gets away with it at this point, there have been a lot of ramifications for his behavior already. What the final verdict will be for him specifically, I can't say. As for a happy ending, I don't think we're in that territory.”
Dexter gets in touch with his emotions.
“I think we're meant to be skeptical about Dexter's claims of inhumanity when we first meet him. At this point, especially given Dexter's seemingly authentic connection to his role as a father and to his son. I think it's difficult to argue that he's without the capacity of human emotion. But his ability to compartmentalize has probably developed as much as anything.”
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Life post-Dexter. -
Tim Gunn: 'I Love Real Women'
Tim Gunn, co-host of ABC's new daytime show, The Revolution, has a lot to say when it comes to "making it work" in the fashion world.
The style guru is used to giving advice to the designers on Project Runway, but now he's helping a Weight Watchers contest winner get fashion-fabulous.
Gunn, 58, talked to Parade.com about styling 26-year-old Abby Dale, who lost 100 pounds in the 'Inspiring Stories' Weight Watchers contest. He also dished on his new show, The Revolution, premiering this January.
On styling real people vs. celebrities.
"To be perfectly honest, I love real women. I love women who are navigating the world outside of the red carpet and who just want to feel better about themselves. At the core, I'm an educator, and when I work with a woman to recalibrate her style, it's a collaboration. I don't believe in making women into my dress-up dolls, so we do it together. I much prefer real women and not celebrities."
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On his upcoming show, The Revolution.
"It definitely is different. When it comes to the whole category of makeover, this is a lifestyle makeover. It's your weight, it's your health, it's your nutrition, it's your relationship, it's your home, it's your style — it's one-stop shopping. There are five co-hosts: me, Ty Pennington, who certainly represents home, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a leading women's health expert, Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry, a therapist and relationship expert, and Harley Pasternak, who is a trainer and nutritionist. By watching The Revolution, you get all that in one package. We follow a woman's journey over five months. There's a huge amount of take-away for audience members. It's about information, inspiration, education. I'm hugely proud to be part of it."
On the next season of Project Runway.
Yes, season 10 has been announced and we're doing it in New York.
Does he ever get tired of hearing his famous catchphrase: "Make it work"?
"Are you kidding? It's music to my ears. I love hearing it. I started to say it on the Project Runway set in the workroom only because it's what I said for years in my classrooms. I didn't know it would come out as a catchphrase!"
On working with the 'Inspiring Stories' Weight Watchers contest winner.
"Weight Watchers is grounded in the real world. It's about being realistic about what your lifestyle is and recalibrating your life, as opposed to feeling like you're joining some cult. We had thousands of women write in with inspiring stories and before and after pictures. We chose Abby Dale because her story was very emotional and very real. She was having tremendous heart palpitations and weighing almost 100 pounds more than she does today. She was frightened and thought, 'I'm 26 years old. I need to change my life.' You wouldn't believe her today. She looks like a movie star. She looks like she should be walking the red carpet at the Oscars.'"
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On styling women who experienced major weight-loss.
"To begin, they're brain hasn't adjusted to the new body. This happened with Abby when we had her fitting. I had clothes that fit her, but she kept saying that they were too small. She's used to clothes that have more volume. Women who are larger tend to want to wear larger clothes because they feel like they are hiding underneath them, but I say, 'The more volume your clothes have, the more volume you appear to have.' That's the first psychological hurtle they have to go through."
On the one item of clothing they're most excited to wear.
"For most women, it's about getting into a dress. They've been confined to separates and wearing great big tops and great big bottoms. They haven't been wearing a dress and they probably haven't even been wearing a heel, so it's being able to dress up that seems to excite them the most."
On his best holiday party style tip. -
Meredith Vieira: 'I Don't Believe That You Can Have It All'
Meredith Vieira may have bid farewell to the Today show in June, but she's just as busy as ever.
From her role as a special correspondent for Today to her hosting duties on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, plus her upcoming gig on Rock Center with Brian Williams, the "R" word doesn't seem to be part of Vieria's vocabulary.
"It's funny. When I left Today and people asked me what retirement was like, I said, 'What are you talking about? I'm not retired!'" she told Parade.com.
Since stepping down from her role as co-host on the popular morning show, she also has more time to donate to causes that are close to her heart, like the Pajama Program.
Celebrating its 10th year, the Pajama Program has given over one million new pj's and books to children in need. The non-profit, which benefits children living in group homes and shelters nationwide, honored Vieira as Mother of the Year in 2004 for her devotion to her three children — Ben, 22, Gabriel, 20, and Lily, 18 — and her husband Richard Cohen, who has been battling multiple sclerosis.
Vieria, 57, talked to Parade.com about the Pajama Program, life after the Today show, and how she's enjoying more time with her husband.
On teaming up with the Pajama Program.
"It's so simple and it speaks to the basic needs of children. I have three children of my own and when they were growing up, what they loved more than anything in the day was a bath after dinner and putting on a nice pair of warm pj's and reading a book. I'm convinced that it gave them a strong sense of security and of home and of being safe and loved. Every child deserves that and that was the concept behind the Pajama Program. It's so wonderful and so easily accomplished."
On embracing the empty nest.
"I sometimes feel guilty saying it, but I think the empty nest is great! We did our job, as my husband points out repeatedly. You're supposed to give your children roots and wings, and their roots are firmly planted in the ground and they have a sense of themselves and of place and purpose. They have the ability to fly away from home and to test those wings and to start their own lives separate from us. The fact that our three kids are launched, so to speak, and seem to be very happy, young people, makes me feel good about what we accomplished. That is the goal, and I feel we accomplished it — knock on wood!"
See exclusive photos of Meredith Vieira
She's looking forward to one-on-one time with her husband.
"It's time for us to sort of recapture our lives and enjoy it and I look forward to that. I had a lovely summer and I look forward to doing more things with Richard. I miss my kids tremendously, but I also love when they come back and we're able to sit there with a glass of wine and talk about politics or whatever else is going on in their life, and I see these young people and I go, 'Wow, these are nicely baked kids!'"
On how she keeps her personal life and marriage strong despite a hectic schedule.
"If you look at my career path, it's been always about prioritizing. I don't believe that you can have it all. You have to set priorities for yourself. I've always felt that family was the most important thing. That's not a putdown of people who work very hard and are juggling very high-pressure jobs, but you have to figure out what works best for you, and for me, that meant switching off different jobs through the course of my career to find ones that provide better balance for me. I think it is all about balance and juggling and also maintaining a certain sense of humor along the way and knowing that if you drop a ball here or there, it's OK, you're human. You have to take the time to really assess where you are in life. I really believe in following your heart."
On life post-Today.
"It's a little bittersweet. I miss my friends a lot, but I love my schedule now. It's a lot easier when you're getting some sleep. I get into pj's with a book in my hand and I know I don't have to get up two hours later to do the show, so that's very nice."
Read an interview with Meredith Vieira from her first days on the show
On her new gig, Rock Center with Brian Williams.
"I start Rock Center on January 1. I've already got several pieces that I'll be shooting in January, so I'm keeping myself busy, but it's a schedule that's much more flexible. For example, I was able to spend a big portion of the summer with my husband on Cape Cod. We have a home right next to his mom and she is going to be 90 in February and we were able to be with her almost every day. She's doing great, but my point is that you can never get that time back, and I'm lucky that I have that. I'm also spending more time with the kids and that's great, too."
On what she has planned for 2012.
"I never plan particularly for the future. I like storytelling very much. I have a background in that that goes back many years. I pretty much like all kinds of stories, so there are a few that I'm working on now that I'm not allowed to talk about, but I'm looking forward to some adventures. The thing about Rock Center is that they're willing to let me do what I want to do. So I'll know it when I see it. I'm also going to be doing the Olympics in London and I'm very excited about that."
On what she likes to do during her downtime.
"I love hiking and I just love being out in nature. We have a crazy dog, with the emphasis on crazy, and Jasper and I spend a lot of time taking very long walks. I love being out and sort of in the world per se, maybe because of the number of years I spent in jobs where you're surrounded by people and there's an intensity to them and I love it, but when I was doing the Today show, I really loved the fact that I was able to go home to a place that was green and quiet where I could sort of disappear. I very much value solitude. I love it, actually. It recharges my batteries."
Learn more about the Pajama Program and find out how you can make a donation. Supported in a big way by Carter's and Scholastic, the non-profit serves children living in group homes and shelters nationwide, many of whom are abandoned or neglected. -
Doris Day Gives a Rare Interview
Doris Day is 87 years young, and you could still fall in love with her, even over the phone. Her buttery speaking voice, which kind of purrs as she recalls her halcyon days as a screen star and singing sensation, has not aged, despite her protestations. She laughs a lot in our conversation about her extraordinary career.
Long before Julia Roberts or even Barbra Streisand, the Cincinnatti-born Day was the reigning queen of the box office—the No. 1 money-making star for four years in the early to mid 1960s. Nominated for an Oscar for the comedy Pillow Talk (costarring her buddies Rock Hudson and Tony Randall), Day has some knockout dramatic performances on her resume, too: Love Me Or Leave Me (which Martin Scorsese later used as the inspiration for New York New York) and Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, with Jimmy Stewart. Many of her films were made at Warner Bros., which, unlike MGM, was not known for its musicals.
"At Warner Bros. they had serious films," Day tells me. "All the dramatic actresses were there. When they hired me, they didn't know what to do with me. The first thing they put me in was Romance on the High Seas, a little comedy. The next one was My Dream Was Yours—I don't even know what that was about."
She did know about singing, and she had hit after hit for two decades.
This month, Day released a new album in the US, already a Top 10 hit in Britain in the fall. My Heart—all the proceeds from which go to the Doris Day Animal Foundation—features 13 tracks, 9 of which were produced in the 1980s by her late son Terry Melcher, famous for his work with the Byrds and the Beach Boys. wo highlights of this sterling collection are "You Are So Beautiful" and the Beach Boys classic "Disney Girls." On the day I spoke to her, Day's most famous song, "Que Sera, Sera," was selected for the Grammy Hall of Fame, where it joins her recordings of "Secret Love" and "Sentimental Journey." She also has a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Day was married four times. After her third husband, Marty Melcher (also her manager), died in 1968, she learned she was in financial straits and went ahead with a TV series Melcher had committed her to, which became the top-rated Doris Day Show. After five seasons, she bowed out and went into semi-retirement.
The star has lived for 40 years in Carmel, California, where she's a well-known animal rights activist and owner of a popular inn. Fear of flying has kept her from going to New York, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C. to accept the many awards she's been offered. Her return to the spotlight with My Heart could not be more welcome. Modest to a fault, Day—who continues to receive hundreds of fan letters each week—doesn't seem to fully appreciate her place in popular culture. But recently a visit from a Beatle provided further evidence of her vast influence.
PARADE: Paul McCartney interviewed you recently for a British newspaper about My Heart. What was that like?
I think it went well. I was out walking my dogs, and the man who works here came out and said, "It's Paul McCartney on the phone." I said, "All right, tell me who it really is." I thought it was someone playing a game. He said, "Will you please tell her that I want to know her and want to come and see her." It was Paul, and he did come, with his new wife. We had hours here. It was really nice. And he's really cute.
One night the phone rang around 2:30 in the morning; I thought something terrible had happened. He said, "Hey, what are you doing?" I said, "Well, I was sleeping." He would call at all hours just to say hello. He got a big kick out of that.
Your new album, My Heart, was mostly produced by your late son, Terry. Most people don't know he cowrote "Kokomo" for the Beach Boys.
And they didn't win [the Grammy] that year. That was a crime. [The song lost in 1989 to Phil Collins's "Two Hearts."] That year, that was so terrible. At the table we were really....I thought was an insult. I loved "Kokomo." It was so popular.
And you covered the band's song "Disney Girls," which he produced. How was that?
I loved it. If it's a good song, I love singing so much. I get so involved.
Do you sing much now?
I can't now. I could still sing until I got bronchitis. I had a very, very bad attack a couple of years ago; I thought I would never get over it. That's why I sound different. But sometimes I sing along with something, and I think, "That wasn't bad." I wonder sometimes if I could start vocalizing.
I'm interested in your technique as a singer. Your phrasing is so elegant and simple. Did you think about what you were doing?
No. I knew the songs that we were going to do. We would put them together at my house. We would all decide what to do. The words were there, and the words told a story. I can't say any more than that, except I loved singing.
Was the label always suggesting songs to you?
They used to tell us what to do. The album I did with Andre Previn [1962's Duet], I picked my own then.
A great favorite is "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps," from the Latin for Lovers album.
I loved making that album. At first I thought, "I'm going to do this? Me?" But I fell in love with all the songs. It's maybe one of my favorites of all time.
Were there songs you weren't thrilled with?
[long pause] "The Purple Cow." When they tagged that one on me, that was it. "I never thought I'd ever see a Purple Cow." Isn't that terrific? Great idea. Oh lord! I don't like to fight with people and say I won't do that! But you also get a lot of good things to do.
What was it like singing with Les Brown and His Band of Renown?
It felt good. And if you liked the song, it was wonderful, because people came right up to the bandstand and it was great fun. They wanted to say hello to you.
Did the band kid around with you a lot?
I had a great time. The guys were so nice to me--they looked after me and helped me, they took all my baggage. They were all like my brothers.
Was it a big change for you when you went solo?
The first time I ever worked alone, I had two shows a night at the Little Club on East 55th St. in New York. I opened it. My mother was with me, and my little baby. It was something so new for me. I thought, "What am I doing?" I was so used to having the guys behind me. But it turned out to be really nice. The people kept coming back! I was surprised! A lot of the women were Vogue types, models, all dressed up like crazy. They would say, "Come on over and have a drink." But I wasn't drinking. I would go back to my apartment between shows.
You were not a drinker?
No.
Other singers—Billie Holiday, Judy Garland—had terrible substance problems. How did you avoid it?
Easy—I didn't do it.
Many other performers would party all night.
Party all night? Oh lord! No, no no! I don't even like parties.
When acts like the Beatles became popular, did you resent it? It's been widely acknowledged by many singers of your era that rock groups hurt your careers.
Not at all. Weren't they entitled? I thought when I heard [the Beatles] that they were very good. That never occurred to me. And Paul was the one who got in touch with me!
Tell me about your costars. What was Jimmy Cagney like?
I loved him. He as a wonderful person, just adorable. Not in that film [Love Me or Leave Me], he wasn't. Oh, he was nasty!
Tony Randall?
He was so superb, so funny. He was always in New York after that. I just loved him. Did we ever [have fun]! We laughed.
James Garner?
We keep in touch. He's funny.
Rock Hudson? The two of you had such great chemistry.
We really liked each other. He named me Eunice, just for fun. I was always Eunice with him. I was up here filming a show [Doris Day's Best Friends, July 1985] when all of a sudden he appeared. At first I didn't know who he was. I looked at him and was almost in tears. He was so thin, just gaunt. It was just unbelievable. But we walked and laughed together. He was so seriously ill, but he was still funny. It just about put me away—it's so hard to be funny when you know what's going to happen.
Jimmy Stewart?
Wonderful. I had a great time with all the gentlemen I worked with. Really.
Looking back, all your costars were men. Was there ever a woman you would have liked to be in a movie with? An actress you thought was funny? Or would you have done something like Thelma and Louise?
No. [pause] Yes, if there was a really great script and a reason. But I always thought the women should be with the men.
Don't miss more of Doris Day's interview in the December 25 issue of PARADE, in your local newspaper. Click here to buy Doris Day's new album, My Heart.
See personal photos of Doris Day through the years -
J.R. Martinez: 'Inspiration Is Everywhere'
Dancing With the Stars champ J.R. Martinez has captivated the country with his story of strength and courage.
While serving in Iraq in 2003, the Army soldier suffered severe burns when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. Following his recovery, he traveled around the country speaking about his experience to veterans' groups, schools, and other organizations. He even took his talents to the small screen in 2008 with a starring role on All My Children.
Now, the 28-year-old star is turning the attention on other local heroes, joining some of Hollywood's hottest stars as a presenter at the American Giving Awards (AGAs) airing on NBC Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET.
The AGAs are the first-ever televised celebrity tribute to community heroes, offering five charities an opportunity to share in $2 million in grants from Chase bank so that they may continue their work helping others.
Parade.com talked to Martinez about joining the star-studded lineup, which includes performers like will.i.am. of the Black Eyed Peas, country music stars Rodney Atkins and LeAnn Rimes, and singers Taio Cruz and Jackie Evancho, as well as presenters Miley Cyrus, Terrence Howard, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and more. He also dished on life post-Dancing With the Stars.
On the American Giving Awards.
"Anybody that knows me, knows that I'm all about helping and giving back, so for me to be asked to participate in this event is an honor. I love helping out good people who are doing good things."
On what inspires him.
"Inspiration is everywhere. But when it comes down to one thing, I would have to say that the thing that inspires me is my mother. My mother has persevered through a lot and she raised me and my sister, and she's an amazing person. She's definitely my inspiration."
Famously Donated Paychecks
On his favorite experience post-DWTS.
I would have to say being able to go back to Fort Campbell [his former unit in Kentucky]. I've been able to go to a lot of events and hang out with a lot of people, but to have the opportunity to visit troops and their families at the first base that I deployed with was the greatest."
On the positive reaction from the military community, especially Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
"It definitely was amazing to not only get a letter from him, but I also got a call from him the day after Thanksgiving. We spoke for a good 10 minutes, and he said to let him know if I was ever going to be in D.C., and I was actually going to be there the following week. To be able to go to the Pentagon — I mean, he has a lot of things going on and everyone in that building has a lot of things to focus on, and for them to take the time to receive me the way they did, which was like a rock star, was amazing. The military really does stick together. They supported me throughout this whole experience. It was a tremendous honor."
Photos: Stars Who Served in the Military
On dealing with newfound fame.
"I have gotten used to it, actually. For the 10 weeks on the show, I didn't do any traveling because I was so busy doing rehearsals, so I was kind of secluded from the audience watching the show. In my mind, I was just entertaining the people in the ballroom. I forgot about the millions of people that are on the other side of that camera, so it's been an eye-opening experience. I've taken the time to sign every autograph and take every picture."
On support from his girlfriend Diana Jones, a production assistant he met on the set of All My Children.
"She's like, 'This is crazy! Just four months ago, you were an actor and some people recognized you, but nobody cared about me or cared about our life. Now we're in magazines!' It has been surreal. At the end of the day, she's very supportive and just very excited that these opportunities are coming to me."
He may be the dancing champ, but don't ask him to show his moves on the spot.
"It's funny because as exciting as it is to win, it's almost like a curse, too. Now, everywhere I go, everyone wants me to dance. Sometimes I'm going through the airport and I don't want to dance, I want to board my flight and actually sit in my seat and play Angry Birds on my iPad! I'm actually doing a little dancing though. I did an event in West Palm Beach recently where they auctioned off a dance with me. It's definitely no Karina [Smirnoff, his DWTS co-champ], but my feet are still moving!
J.R. Martinez's Most Memorable DWTS Performance
On his plans for the future.
"I'm working on writing a book right now. I'm planning to get that out sometime next year. I'm also meeting with my new agent to continue acting and seeing what roles are out there for me. I'm getting into hosting as well or maybe having my own talk show or something along those lines. It's one of those things that I always thought I'd do. I'm also continuing motivational speaking and heading to people's cities, so come out and see me!"
On what would surprise people about him.
"Everyone saw me on the show as happy and positive, and I definitely am, but I do have a serious, emotional, dark side of me. I'm an emotional guy. There's a lot that I've been through, so it doesn't take a lot for something to choke me up and get me emotional. Sometimes just reflecting on what I've been through really gets me emotional. At times, I could be a serious guy, but there's a lot of different sides to me. I think I'm a lot funnier and goofier than people were able to see on Dancing With the Stars."
On staying true to himself. -
Michael Bublé Talks Holiday Album and Tacky Christmas Sweaters
It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas thanks to Michael Bublé. In addition to his No. 1 Christmas album, the Canadian crooner will be rocking the small screen with his own holiday special airing Tuesday, Dec. 6 (NBC, 8 p.m. ET).
A Michael Bublé Christmas is the singer's first-ever holiday special, and the event will include special appearances by Justin Bieber, Kellie Pickler, and many more.
Bublé, 36, talked to Parade.com about his new album, his favorite holiday tunes, and his love for tacky Christmas sweaters.
On his Christmas album.
"You want to write something that comes from the heart and that you feel can stand up to those great songs of the past and I think we did. Knowing that I'll be invited into people's homes for such an important holiday, it's a big deal to me. It's a huge honor. I'm really sentimental about that holiday."
On the recording process.
"It was fun and dangerous and a pain in the butt, but completely worth it. We did everything we could live. We set 50 to 90 musicians up in a room in a huge studio space and opened up all the doors and just played. What you get is an old school record. It's not perfect, but you get that live and very present sound."
On his favorite holiday song.
"It's probably 'Jingle Bells.' I like 'White Christmas,' too."
On his least favorite.
"I know people love it, but 'The Little Drummer Boy.' I don't know why it depresses me! It doesn't make you want to get up and go, 'It's Christmas! Get some eggnog and let's dance!'"
Watch the singer's hilarious rendition of 'The Little Drummer Boy'
On his affinity for tacky Christmas sweaters.
"I love Christmas sweaters! I've got one that has a big Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer embroidered on it. It's horrible, but it feels so right!"
On the holiday traditions he's looking forward to sharing with his new wife.
"We've had a couple Christmases together and it's been awesome. Our families were all together. Sometimes I look to other people to try to borrow traditions or think about doing things that I've never done before."
Start a new holiday tradition with Michael Buble's risotto recipe!
On his album going head-to-head with fellow Canadian Justin Bieber's holiday album.
