Rock Bottom Interview: Helen Slater

June 5, 2005
By Tim Nydell

Helen Slater
 

Helen Rachel Slater (born December 15, 1963) is an American actress and singer-songwriter.

She appeared in the title role in the 1984 film Supergirl. In the following years she starred in several very successful comedy-drama films such as Ruthless People, The Secret of My Success, and City Slickers. Since then she has found regular work as an actress in various film, television, and stage projects, including guest appearances on the series Smallville.

In the 2000s she recorded two albums, on which she sings her own compositions and plays the piano.

 

 

Related Links:
 IMDB Resume
 Official Site

What have you been up to these days?
Helen:
  I have been promoting my new CD "CROSSWORD".  It is for sale at CDBaby.com or through my website Helenslater.com.

Tell me about yourself - how'd you get involved in acting and singing?
Helen
:  I always loved musical theatre as a kid especially at sleepaway camp.  Eventually I got some good parts in the school pays and that led to auditioning for Performing Arts High School in Manhattan.  While I was there I wrote musicals for the Bus and Truck shows.  It was a very creative experience where all the students helped form the show around a theme or a fairytlae ( The Emperor's Nightengale is one example also teasing/picking on kids as another.)

Tell me about your music career - how would you define your music?
Helen:
  This last CD "CROSSWORD" I made is more jazz oriented whereas the my first CD, "ONE OF THESE DAYS" has amore folk feel.

Which song really defines who you are?  And why?
Helen:
  Gosh that is such a hard question to answer.  I really feel that my compositions define different aspects of myself but not imperically one side.

Are you still acting - or are you only focusing on the music right now?
Helen:
  I just finished an acting job with Lea Thompson. She directed her first movie for the Hallmark channel. It is aprt f a series called Jane Doe.  I don't know when it will air.

What do you like to sing about?
Helen:  Love, longing and going to the Amazon!

Are you on a major label?
Helen:
  Nope.

When you take a part in a movie do you find it hard to take on the role of someone else - or does it come naturally?  How do you do it?
Helen:
  I still really enjoy acting and the wonderful use of imagination it takes to believe what you are doing.  It also takes everyone to believe in it too.

What do you look for in a script?
Helen:
  There has to do be something that  hooks me in...has some meat on it...

You act, sing, and did theatre - how do you unwind when you have some time off?
Helen:
  Reading, hiking, yoga.

What is the highlight of your career?
Helen:
  I haven't had it yet.

Do you ever have time to go to the movie theater - are there any movies you're looking forward to this summer?
Helen:
  Not really...

What is your favorite all time movie, and why?
Helen:
  Oh my...that is so hard.  If I had to say though I think it is Woody Allen's "Crimes and Misdemeanors".  I think it is such a wonderfully constructed morality tale.  Where at the end of the movie even though Woody Allen's chara ter has nothing and seeming is the faiulure of the play you still believe he is the ehro...I lvoe that.  Also I LOVED Manahattan Murder Mystery.  In that movie you are watching this couple going through a midlife slump and how do you keep marriage alive after twenty - odd years and I jsut lvoed how he ultimately made it a happy ending about staying with your beloved...

 
Do you have anything you'd like to add (any news or upcoming events)?
Helen:
  I just performed at Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles (this past Saturday night).  My hope is to do more of that.  I had a great time playing with a band!!!

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