Photographer: Kristine Cofsky @theportraitsessions / Makeup: Win Liu @Winliu / Hair: Sabrina Fetterkind @sabrinafetterkindhair
How old are your kids and how long have you lived in Westport? Our two boys are about to turn 16 and 12, and we’ve been in Westport for 6 years.
How did you end up where you are now in terms of your job, or whatever passion project it is you might be doing? I took the leap to become an actress at the age of 29 after I took my first acting class. I knew I had discovered my passion and knew I had to do this and do it at any level.
How did you end up on A Million Little Things, the ABC TV show? I put myself on-tape in my house. My cousin, fellow Westporter, April Book, was my reader (she’s a great photographer so she knows how to work the camera and PERHAPS found my best angles). The producers liked the tape and I was asked to fly to L.A. the next day to test for the role (along with 3 other actresses). When I found out the show would shoot in Vancouver, too far for me, I decided to pass and didn’t go to L.A. People talk about “the power of NO”…. I don’t know if that’s what happened but the project went away for a few days and then, that Sunday they called back offering me the job without having to fly out to L.A. to audition again. My husband and I thought about it and finally made the decision together, to go for it, take the leap! I have the most supportive husband and would never have been able to be where I am in my career today if it wasn’t for his constant support, help and taste for adventure. He told me that Sunday “Do it! Take it! We’ll make it work, it will be an adventure for all of us”. It’s been an incredible experience despite the fact that I am back and forth all the time and far away when we are filming. It’s rocking our lives, making us uncomfortable but also making us grow as a family and let’s be real – it’s nice being missed by my kids sometimes!
What is your favorite family activity to do in Westport or the surrounding towns? We moved here from NEW YORK CITY and this is the first time I’ve ever lived in a house so I cherish nature, the birds singing in the early morning, walking in my yard, admiring the flowers, the wild life and of course, walking at Compo beach alone or with friends, family bike rides into town and playing golf at Longshore as a walk-on.. there is something so great about being paired up with someone you don’t know for four hours and getting to hear their story. Also, our first Memorial Day Parade felt so “American;” all these things made us feel very grateful that our kids would grow up here.
What’s your can’t live without beauty product? Lancome Bi-Facil (eye makeup remover); my mom used it when I was a teenager and still does to this day.
If you could pick one restaurant or store to come to Westport that isn’t here now, what would it be, and why? An art-house movie theater. I miss the Paris and Lincoln Plaza Cinema in NYC.
What are you most excited about in life right now? Being employed but on HIATUS! As an actor once a job ends, you never know when the next one is going to be or if you will ever work again and usually during that stretch you get a lot of “no’s”, dealing with rejection is a big part of the game. So now being done with Season 1 of “A Million Little Things” and being home with my family for a nice stretch of time yet knowing there’s a Season 2 and I have a job – that is a luxury.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I can throw a football with a tight spiral (my husband taught me before he proposed).
If you weren’t doing what you are today, what do you think your career path might have been? I’d like to think that I’d have eventually left corporate America and find my way to helping teenagers dealing with addiction. My brother was a heroin addict and passed away when he was in his 20’s and this is a cause I’d like to get involved with eventually.
What is your most marked characteristic? People say I’m child-like yet like to talk about “heavy stuff” as my son would say.
What was your most memorable family vacation and why? For 10 years, I went with my family to a ranch in Michigan. I discovered my love for horses that I have to this day. I was independent, basically didn’t see my parents, and had a feeling of complete freedom and connection with nature.
What is your proudest mommy moment? Perhaps these past several months: Working far away from my children to continue to pursue my dream, trusting that they will grow without me being there every day, trusting that a change in their lives will be good for them, trusting that everything does not need to be the way that I do it and that Daddy will be there for them, with new rhythms, new routines and that Natalie and Delphine our 20 something amazing sitters will expand their world and teach them invaluable things they otherwise may never be exposed to if they weren’t spending this time with them.
What do you most value in your friends? Trust, acceptance and being able to have deep, honest conversations sharing our vulnerabilities and their amazing support, assistance & love during these past several months.
