- Chat Transcript -
- Chat Transcript -
Yahoo / TVGen Sentinel Special Chat with Leigh Taylor Young
Leigh Taylor Young (Naomi Sandburg), May 20, 1999
TVGDave:
Welcome Leigh, glad you could chat with us this evening.
Leigh Taylor Young: I am just delighted to be here!!
Nofxcrazy: What was it about The Sentinel script that made you decide to do the show?
LTY: It was very serendipitous. My agent called me. I was in Aspen at the film festival. He read me the description of the character. I loved the description so much I just said yes. It was the first part I have ever taken without reading the script. The description was just so wonderful.
sentinel_pumpkin: Thank you for coming and chatting with us. What's your favourite thing about Naomi Sandburg?
LTY: Her joy. Her resourceful optimism and her love of her son. And she is willing to be outrageous.
ShayneM333: Do you identify at all with the character of Naomi? Were you a flower child?
LTY: The 60s was certainly my generation. I was 20 in the late 60s and I would say Naomi would be the adult version of the hippie I played in the movie, I LOVE YOU ALICE B. TOKLAS with Peter Sellers.
akablonded: Leigh, what was your first acting job?
LTY: Where I was paid? My first acting job was a walk on in a daytime soap opera handing a doctor a thermometer. I don't even remember the name of the soap.
Chris_Lisi: One of your early roles was on the soap opera Peyton Place. Do you see The Sentinel as having some soap opera aspects?
LTY: No, not really. My definition of soap opera is high drama in human relationships. The action is all in the interaction in daytime characters. In The Sentinel, it is all straight action--danger, etc.--as well as wonderful characters.
NO_Nightowl: Since The Sentinel films in Vancouver, do you have any favourite places in that city?
LTY: Oh yes. I like all the health food stores. I love going to health food stores and I just love walking that entire city. Rain or shine and there is a lot of rain.
abercrombies 1892: I liked the show Picket Fences, What happened to it?
LTY: It got canceled.
allie828: I love watching Jim watch Naomi, and Blair watch the whole situation. Jim seems to find her quite attractive. Do you think anything could ever or would ever happen between them? Or does Jim make the comments he does just to aggravate Blair?
LTY: I think there is a twinkle in Jim's eye that is sincere about Naomi. However, he also likes to tease Blair and I think if the show goes on it is unlikely there will be a relationship. However, in tv the producers and writers are gods, so what is in their minds, I haven't a clue.
flip_mode999: Where were you born and where do you live now?
LTY: I was born in Washington DC and I now live in LA, quite near Universal Studios.
OpticalDelusion: In the event that TS were to be picked up for first run syndication would you be willing to play Naomi again (if asked)?
LTY: I would be utterly delighted to play Naomi again.
_lulu_2: What was the best part of playing Blair's mother?
LTY: She gets to be 50, outrageous, loving, great clothes, and wonderful dynamics between her and Blair and her and Jim.
Electra _Girl_555: What is your kind of man?
LTY: Personally?? Ha ha ha. Loving, compassionate, lots of humor, intelligent, generous. It is a long list, we will have to start with that.
Masterpiece19: Leigh, do you enjoy filming shows? Do you ever watch them when they are aired and try to correct things you could have done better?
LTY: I seldom watch my work once I have acted it. Mostly because there is nothing I could do to correct it anyway and I don't feel I would learn anything after the fact. I prefer the direction and correction while I am doing it.
princess1_15: what advice do you have for teens who want to become actors and actresses.
LTY: To get involved in any kind of local opportunities, be they classes, workshops, etc. Really become a student of what they would regard as good performance. Realize that there is great highs and lows in an acting career and be psychologically prepared to meet them and have other interests that feed into acting, but that are satisfying unto themselves.
eckk2000: Who were your influences?
LTY: Sir John Geilgud, Peter Sellers, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, that is a good start.
allie828: What role are you most recognized for (by fans)? Which role or project that you have done is your favorite?
LTY: My fan base if that is what you call it, covers 30 years, so it depends on what they saw. I notice that people love Picket Fences -- by far the most recent long success. And I did win the Emmy which gave me a lot of satisfaction. And people respond to Peyton Place with great affection. The character I played on Dallas for a year was absolutely delicious and outrageous to play and got a lot of response. And this role on The Sentinel.
weirdgbs: What is your favorite part about acting?
LTY: I think the moments of the unexpected. You can do and do do a great deal of preparation for any role for which learning the lines is actually the least of it. But it is the moments on the set when you surrender all your preparation and jump into the character--it can be very exciting and very disappointing. It is sort of magical thing. It is usually very exciting.
weirdbgs: When did you discover your wonderful talent for acting?
LTY: That is a sweet question. I think at college--at Northwestern University. I had a lot of wonderful encouragement from my environment there. And it was seeded there and fueled there. And I had a tremendous amount of focus and intention and passion and it unfolded beautifully and quite quickly. And actor always realizes that there are many greater depths to plum.
akablonded: Leigh, have you ever wanted to direct?
LTY: No. Not yet.
bhayling: Richard and Garett seem to do a lot of ad-libbing as they run scenes; did you get to join in with them?
LTY: Oh yes. Let's put it this way. No. And the reason is that I was quite often stunned and in complete uncontrollable laughter.
allie828: We've heard that practical jokes are the order of the day on the Sentinel set. Have you ever been a victim? How bad is it really?
LTY: I was never a victim. I escaped narrowly, but they could get pretty outrageous. It was truly one of the most fun sets I have ever worked on. I think the producers and directors were occasionally covering high levels of annoyance, but we all had great fun.
Lizbeth49: Richard, Garett and Bruce seem to be fun guys to work with. Do you have any memorable moments on the set that you could share with us?
LTY: Yes. Once scene that was very serious scene of a psychic comforting a grieving mother at the disappearance of her young child. Richard and Garett went into a form of "stand up" repartee with absolutely no regard for the other actors or the pathos of the scene. It was horrendously funny. And I am usually quite disciplined when it comes to other actor's performances and I am afraid to confess that I partook with glee. The other actors in the scene survived with admirable performances.
sixstringsk: Which ep of TS was your favorite and why?
LTY: My first episode was my favorite . I felt Naomi's character bloomed the best and the scenes were the best written.
bhayling: Was Naomi Sandburg pretty well fleshed out when you were given the script, or did you get to add elements to her personality?
LTY: I definitely added elements to her personality. The architecture of her character was well established in that script, however the dialogue was a little cartoonish in the hippie vernacular. Having been there in those times, I made that more real.
Swellison: Did you audition for the role of Naomi, or were you asked specifically to play the part? Do you know if anyone else was up for the role?
LTY: I don't think anyone else was up for the role and I was offered the part.
angel_85226: Do you ever wish that you could just quit acting and do something else for awhile?
LTY: Absolutely. I do do other things. I know now that I will never give up acting completely, but in the times when I am not acting, I am so creative, I need to direct my energy into other things. So I am starting a business, I am writing. I do creative visualization meditation tapes.
_lulu_2: Have you done any more narration for mediation tapes.?
LTY: The last one I did was called the Spirit of Peace and I haven't done anything for a few years. I am now writing one for children that is almost done.
sixstringsk: Was there any other interest you had growing up? Career wise?
LTY: My first passionate desire was to be a ballet dancer which I pursued at a young age and at 17 I realized I would never be great. But it gave me a great foundation of movement and my love of classical music and a great discipline.
bryanmmm: Did you ever do any stage acting?
LTY: Yes. My first big role (after the little role described in the first question) was in a Broadway play called Three Bags Full. I adore theater. The last work I did was in 1982, 1983 off Broadway in The Beckett Plays. Also Sleeping Dogs in 1985.
coupede: What are the components of the most 'perfect' role you could ask for?
LTY: For me the components would be a character who is greatly challenged with great opportunities in the writing for the depth of who they are to be revealed. And very specific choices in the writing where the character both deals and overcomes the challenges, where the outcome is inspiring or uplifting. A character that would be very authentic and vulnerable and strong. Good writing is Everything.
coupede: Hi, Leigh. You've played so many types of roles in your career -- is there a particular role that's your favorite?
LTY: I would have to give several favorites. Nancy in Alice B. Toklas; The Kimberly Cryder, the woman in Dallas, Rachel in Picket Fences and Naomi in Sentinel.
akablonded: Leigh, have you done much comedy?
LTY: Not as much as I would like to. To me Naomi is a comedic character. And there was always comedy as an undercurrent in Picket Fences. But I would love to do more comedy.
alwaysthereforgals: do u have any website or homepage, leigh...may I have its address please?
LTY: I do. It is http://www.lty.com/
NO_Nightowl: I really enjoy all the personal touches at your website. Is there any possibility that you will be putting up some news there about this coming week's appearance on TS?
LTY: Oh gosh. I have been very remiss in updating my website over the last couple of months. In June, I will be attending to it, but not until then.
akablonded: Leigh, did you enjoy attending CouverCon, the Sentinel convention last year?
LTY: Yes, I loved it. It was a revelation to me. I have never been to a fan's convention before.
Kevin_M001: Do you have long workdays and what do you do relax?
LTY: The work days vary. But in tv they are often quite long. Maybe 5 am to 8 pm on a long day. I relax in my trailer by meditating. It helps me stay centered in my character when I have to wait for my next scene or shot. And also it does relax me.
jsnlfn: Do you ever just take a day off and lounge worthlessly around your house and just eat and watch tv? Or do you just wish you could?
LTY: What a novel idea!! It is very unlikely I will do that. Even though I don't have a structured job at the moment, I am very oriented towards work and being productive so I will self-motivate.
angel_85226: What do you think has been your greatest achievement???
LTY: I think my greatest achievement has been the experience of raising my son. And my other greatest achievement is a quiet one. My nurturing of my relationship with God.
debraw633: How is show biz today different from 30 yrs ago?
LTY: First of all, the roles for women are dramatically different. My first tv character in 1966 was an abused girl. The only other roles -- and this is a generalization but fairly accurate--for women then were objects of desire or victims. And then we jump to Rachel Harris who is the mayor of a town in 1994 who takes on the leadership of a town, runs a business on the side and has a prominent love affair with a younger man. Other differences are actors today have to be tremendously involved with all parts of their career in a very responsible way. Actors in the 60s and 70s depending greatly on other people for everything except acting. Today actors need to be very involved to get the work. They are not as protected. Needless to say, actor's privacy has shifted greatly since the 60s and 70s.
coupede: Do you find that Hollywood's ageism has affected you and your ability to land desirable roles.
LTY: I don't really know. I know that that consciousness is a problem for women my age and it is out there. However I do manage to keep working and I do think ageism is a problem in our culture, let alone the film business. I now actually see people in other jobs in the making of a film or tv show being affected by the age standard. The focus being so much on youth. In fact in this last pilot season, there were almost no roles for men or women over 40--predominately women, of course. I truly feel deeply that this has to change. The largest financial demographic in the country is the baby boomers and they are not being offered programming that is appealing. So it is something that has to be addressed at some point.
huteva: How many Oscars would you like to have?
LTY: Well, we will start with one and build from there. And I have a good intention in that direction. I like overcoming odds.
JulesBrianne: Since this episode is supposed to be the series finale, what was the mood of the cast and crew?
LTY: I think it was mixed. Sadness and a family that would be separating after 3 years. And also some relief because the work is very demanding. But I think the greater emotion is the regret and sadness that it is ending.
Chris_Lisi: Can you give us any hints about the season finale?
LTY: Naomi's great support for her son runs amuck in good intentions, and she publishes information in her enthusiasm and innocence that reveal The Sentinel to the world at large. The rest needs to be watched!!!
TVGDave: Leigh, thanks so much for joining us this evening. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors (i.e. that first Oscar), and please come back and chat with us again.
LTY: Please send all my love and gratitude to the people who enjoy my work. It is so delightful to talk with everybody. Please watch The Sentinel, Monday May 24th. Check your local listings. If you want to support the show going on, please write UPN. You can write them in care of Paramount Television Group. The address is 5555 Melrose Ave. Hollywood, CA 90038.
So please check my website for further information on my meditation tapes and other stuff. I will update after June.
TVGDave: Thanks again, and thank all of you for joining us and sending in your questions. We wish we had the time to answer more of them.
Thanks again!
Photo of Leigh Taylor Young from her website http://www.lty.com/