Star of "Rude Awakening"

Showtime presents

November 27, 1999

Page 2 of 7

HapP1: What role did you learn the most from playing?

Sherilyn Fenn: I learned a lot doing the Elizabeth Taylor story. I didn't meet her, but she had such an extraordinary life, going from a strong man to a weak man, endlessly believing in love. She is pretty powerful. But it's hard to say, at the same time. I think that you grow from every role that you do, and certainly I'm growing a lot from doing Billie. I've learned a lot about comedy. This is the first comedy role I've done. I'd dabbled in it, but Billie sort of "set me free" in the comedy world. She's wonderful that way.

EZGuest133637222: Hi Sherilyn. Love the show, one of the funniest on TV. Is there anything you'd like to do with the character of Billie that hasn't been done yet?

Sherilyn Fenn: Yes there is! I'm interested in her beginning to explore sobriety more, and her spirituality--what that program brings in terms of self-empowerment and a higher power. I'm interested to see who she's going to become, because I think she deserves to grow more.

JHarley: David Lynch once described you as "five feet of heaven in a ponytail." What's up with that?

Sherilyn Fenn: (laughing) You'd have to ask David. He's such a sweetie. I loved working with him. He's a wonderful director and taught me a lot. He taught me not to be afraid to shine a bright light into the dark corners of my mind.

H8red: I loved your film "Boxing Helena?" What can you tell us about that production?

Sherilyn Fenn: Well, it was probably one of the hardest movies I've ever made, emotionally. It required me to reveal things about myself that another role up to date had not. This is all that, ridiculous court case aside, when I read the script, I couldn't put it down. I could see this woman, and she sort of scared me. In reading it, I felt I could get to her vulnerability at the end of the film, but I wasn't sure who she was with all that anger and abusive behavior towards the man. It was hard for me to understand who she was. I believe it was the first time I had worked with a woman director--Jennifer Lynch, David's daughter. She's an amazing woman. She wrote the script when she was 19, and fought to do it for five years. The project was on again, off again during that time. Sets were literally being bulldozed.

Peakfreak: If Lynch and Frost were to want to bring Twin Peaks back on the air in 15 years, would you consider reprising your role as everyone's favorite rich girl?

Sherilyn Fenn: Yeah! 100 percent! I can't imagine where Audrey would be in fifteen years, but I bet they would come up with something exciting!

Jon: What was it like working with David Lynch, is he a nice guy?

Sherilyn Fenn: He's an extremely nice person. He's very much of a collaborator. He'll come to the set and say "Oh, I don't like this scene--let's order cappucinos and talk," and he'd rewrite the scene. A fun scene was how Killer Bob had been discovered on Twin Peaks. Basically, when we were making it, David and Mark had some idea of whom it would end up being, but nothing specific. The process for David is organic, in that he lets things come together. He believes something else is at work. He's kind of egoless that way. During dailies, they saw a props guy hidden behind the couch, and said "That take won't work," but David decided he should be Killer Bob. So whereas most people would consider that an accident, he considered it a gift. It was pretty cool to be able to work that way.

No Tact: You grew up around female musicians - did you ever consider taking up music?

Sherilyn Fenn: No, again it's the non-extrovert in me. I can sing, and I love to dance, but I had no desire to ham it up that way. My mother and my aunts and grandfather tried to encourage me, but it wasn't something that appealed to me.

Page 2 of 7