Jennifer O'Dell - Lost World Actress
Hollywood & Film Industry Interviews

A Pizzazz Magazine Exclusive

Publisher Don Lemmon

Pizzazz Magazine: First of all, what is a day in your life like lately? What do you do from waking to hitting the hay each day?

Jennifer O'Dell: That's a big question! These days I'm sleeping in a bit more ( on my days off ) because I'm pregnant and growing like a balloon! Fix myself a cup of Chai Tea or Earl Grey and sit for a bit of news or sit on my computer and check my morning e-mails. About an hour or so later I fix some breakfast which consists of a piece of toast (which again is because I'm pregnant, I usually don't consume much bread) w/ peanut butter and jelly and some egg whites, or a bowl of granola with fresh fruit. After letting my tummy settle a bit, I strap the dogs up and take them to the local park for a good 40 min walk or take them up the canyon for about an hour w/ a good friend, that way we can gabb all the way up and down. Its always funnier to work out w/ a partner. Come home throw myself in the shower and sometimes the dog's too! And run my errands for the day. These days it mostly about doing or fixing up the house still, since we just moved in. I would love to go to work on my back yard, but with the rainy season coming, I thought I'd wait. So we're fixing up the baby's room and decorating as much as we can so the house will be finished by the time the baby arrives. God, know's after that I won't be doing much but attending the little one. Now,,,, If I'm working....I get up throw myself in the shower, grab a cup of tea or coffee and drive to work.... (right now I'm shooting General Hospital) and film for the day.

Pizzazz Magazine: What's Window Theory about? I love those sort of madcap films, that is if I got the right idea...

Jennifer O'Dell: http://www.windowtheory.com/Trailer.html The film is a bit hard to explain so here is the web site for you to see the trailer.....

Pizzazz Magazine: Who was the first person to tell you getting into your profession was a crazy idea? At what point did you agree (even if it was momentarily)?

Jennifer O'Dell: My parents told me years ago when I was in High School. Even though my Mom got me into the biz when I was a kid. But, they are realistic people wanting me to have realistic goals in life and doing what I do is hard and trying, mentally and physically. Its bruises your ego, your soul. But, to survive you have to have an extremely strong will to keep going and pursue what you want. Always go after whatever makes you happiest. And I knew I'd never be happy doing anything else. And I've never agreed with them. Or if I agreed on their 'look' at the biz, I agreed, but there was always a yeah, BUT......involved.

Pizzazz Magazine: Have you made contacts using the internet that you know you wouldn't have made if it weren't for the web being so accessible?

Jennifer O'Dell: I use the Internet morning noon and night and yes, it makes accessibility to others much easier. But, I was always good a keeping in contact with someone. And its always easier to express yourself in a letter and think about what your saying or put it in eloquent words.

Pizzazz Magazine: Funny how it usually works. We grow up wanting to be firefighters or nurses, then due to the glory of media, rock stars, actors, or millionaires and then reality sits in... We always end up being ourselves... Good or bad... What's your story?

Jennifer O'Dell: My story is pretty easy..... My Mother got me into acting in commercials when I was 8 years old and the first audition I booked for a national Brach's candy commercial. Ever since then I've always loved the idea of being an actress. I've never been the shy type.

Pizzazz Magazine: You were on several TV shows on different occassions as different characters. Beverly Hills 90210, Silk Stalkings, Renegade... Didn't anyone notice it was the same girl playing someone else? Why not just have you back as the same characters?

Jennifer O'Dell: Who knows! That's not really my choice. Its the writers.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me one of the negative aspects of your field you think everyone should know. Do not say there are none!

Jennifer O'Dell: There are too many to mention. The competition. The famine or feast aspect. One day your hot the next day your not. The ridicule by people who don't even know you. Constantly having to watch your weight. Hiding your private life or keeping your family out of the spot light.

Pizzazz Magazine: What was a day of shooting that had to be directly from hell and what went wrong?

Jennifer O'Dell: Things go wrong all the time. The weather plays a big factor in putting things behind schedule. Especially when your shooting on a mountain or in the rain forests. Having to shoot entire scene's over again because the camera wasn't operating correctly and we thought it was. I could just be having a bad day and not feeling good, but having to put on a smile.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me something people do not realize about you, maybe it's not a secret, maybe it's not anything special, but it could be something no one else has ever asked you about until now. What's boring to you is news to everyone else...

Pizzazz Magazine: I sent a friend to your site to come up with a question or two and he emailed back and asked if you were a Playboy Playmate. I told them no but they were convinced you were one. Does the way you look sometimes cost you work?

Jennifer O'Dell: What do you mean. Because I'm blonde? If they want a good actress then they will see that in my work and not be swayed by the way I look. No, I havne't been a playmate! They have put me in the magazine, but I have never posed for them. Look at Charlize Theron who did a fantastic job in Monster. I think everyone was a bit overwhelmed by it because she is such a beautiful person. Another example would be Nicold Kidman in The Hours. We are called Actors for a reason.

Pizzazz Magazine: Anything embarrassing happen when YOU were trying to look cool? What? Embarrassing and crazy are different things!

Jennifer O'Dell: No, not too me. I'm always a smooth grace...... Hu! There are too many to mention. I'm such a clutz.

Pizzazz Magazine: The biggest lie about your industry ever is (this is not necessarily a negative):

Jennifer O'Dell: We make so much money! Yes, our pay checks are a bit above normal. But, unless your a huge star making movie after movie after movie things aren't as good as what people make out. And then you not only have to pay your taxes, but your agent, your managers, your business manager,,,, shall I keep going???? And you never know when your next job will be. You might go through a dry spell for years!

Pizzazz Magazine: The biggest PLUS FACTOR about your industry is:

Jennifer O'Dell: The people and the traveling. I get to meet and work with so many wonderful people and see all different walks of life. Its facinating.

Pizzazz Magazine: You're friends with a friend of mine Marjean Holden. How did you two meet? Got any inside jokes you want to share?

Jennifer O'Dell: We met in Australia. She was working on Beastmaster and I was on The Lost World. We shared the same sets and a lot of the same directors, as well as the same Producers. We also shared a mutual best friend who happend to be our set nurse, Jeffery Woods. MJ and I became friends immediately and loved having a buddy being so far away from the U.S. Our lives seemed to parallel quite a bit.

Pizzazz Magazine: What is your most frequently asked question and/or what question makes you crazy whenever asked but you somehow remain composed enough to answer?

Jennifer O'Dell: Anything sleezy, uncooth or just plain impolite.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who do you see on TV or hear on the radio that just makes you wonder how in the hell they got where they are today or who in the hell does that person know?

Jennifer O'Dell: I admire the people who stick to the business of Hollywood and make Hollywood a better operated business to be in. I admire great Directors/Producers like Ron Howard and Clint Eastwood and their tenacity and class to showbiz. I admire the longevity and faithfulness of true actors, such as Meryl Streep and Al Pacino. No matter what they do or who they work with, they seem to, with such ease, shine in every project they undertake. I admire creative writers who make my job so enjoyable and tasty to dive into everyday. My only prayer is that I get the chance to work with all of Hollywoods creative and that they allow me to do my damndest to make their work something great.

Pizzazz Magazine: I know an insider from the Britney Spears camp and he has a running joke. Ask him, "Who really sings on the Britney Spears albums?" He will always reply, "Not who you think." He says, "Not always the guys on the cover," when asked about a certain boy band... You sang back up for the Backstreet Boys. Which one is tone deaf?

Jennifer O'Dell: I never sang back up for the Backstreet Boys. I was in one of there videos and wasn't featured hardly at ALL.

Pizzazz Magazine: What is your favorite music album of all time and what music group do you listen to most often?

Jennifer O'Dell: Don't have an All Time fav. I get sick of music very easily and have to constantly change things up. But, i do love the Gypsy Kings right now. And I can always listen to jazz.

Pizzazz Magazine: If you had the funding to produce your dream project, now, you can't run off with the cash, what would the project be?

Jennifer O'Dell: I would really love to make a Romantic Novel come to life. There are so many. I have to think about that one. But, I love the feeling I get when I swept away into a film that makes me cry and laugh and learn from the mistakes of others. To see love that lasts for a life time. I'm a bit of a fairy tale girl.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me your favorite movie genre, name a few titles too, and maybe the video or dvd you have watched the most:

Jennifer O'Dell: I love original romantic comedies or drama's The Notebook and suspense thrillers that you can't figure out. Haven't seen a good one in a long time.

Pizzazz Magazine: What TV show do you miss from childhood... I used to love Land of the Giants and Dance Fever (kidding on that one)....

Jennifer O'Dell: I was a Lavern and Sherly girl through and through. I even love pepsi and milk together, just like Lavern. Oh, and I use to race home to watch McGyver! I'm an avid watcher of all the CSI's, Medical Investigation, Nip/Tuck.... And I've fallin in love with the Reba show. Great cast chemistry.

Pizzazz Magazine: Ever had someone from your past try and track you down after realizing what you do for a living now and bug the tar out of you?

Jennifer O'Dell: Yes, actually. My parents have the same phone number since I was in high school and lets just say some old friends or class mates have called looking for me. I don't mind the one's I was really close to calling, but the weird one's who want to be your best friend all of a sudden and get together, that sort of freaks me out. So I've had to sit down w/ the parents and tell them not to give my number out to anyone who calls.

Pizzazz Magazine: If you were anyone else besides yourself, who would you be (even for just a day, on a good day of course) and did you emulate them growing up?

Jennifer O'Dell: Can't think of anyone at present time, but I do, I'll get back to you. Oh! Sandra Dee from Grease. Oh , I wanted to be a pink lady so bad! My sophomore year I got the unfortunate luck of playing Patty Simcox in the high school musical of Grease. She's the girl the pink ladies hated. But, I did manage to get one of those satin pick jackets of it, which is held hostage in my parents house somewhere.

Pizzazz Magazine: Does Anheuser-Busch r-e-a-l-l-y make the best beer?

Jennifer O'Dell: No comment!

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