PRESS ARCHIVE
Now Magazine- September 2007

Was it hard for you when Ally McBeal ended?
We had a big lunch on the last day of shooting. People cried. It felt like the end of an era. But it was definitely the right time to stop and I feel fortunate to have been part of something to provocative and unique. When I said goodbye to Ally, I felt sad for a while, but I had a baby to take care of and that helped me get on with things.

You took a lot of flack for being too thin. There were rumours that you were anorexic...
When the first stories came out, I was shocked and I was afraid they would damage my career. I was scared to say anything for fear of how it's be twisted. I'd only been in Los Angeles for a year and wasn't used to the kind of scrutiny that comes with a hit TV series.

Many of the stories held you up to ridicule...
They said I'd become so obsessive about food that even my dog Webster had become anorexic. It all began to detract from the hard work we were doing on the show. Viewers were looking at me to see if there was any credibility to the stories. Somehow I stayed strong enough to ignore them.

So d you eat healthily?
I eat what I want, whenever I want. I don't have a messed up relationship with food. For breakfast I have oatmeal with a banana and honey, egg whites, spinach and yogurt. I like going to sushi restaurants, pasta joints and especially Mexican spots because I love margaritas.

How do you feel that people perceive you?
Because I'm small and softly spoken, people tend to think I'm fragile and subservient. And for some reason, they think they need to protect me, which is so condescending. It used to send me into a rage, but I've learnt to be patient with it. I'm happy with who I am - and that's all that should ever matter. The rest is irrelevant.

After five years away, were you nervous about returning to TV?
I was only concerned about how my son would react to me going to work. But Liam's adjustment has been very smooth. He's in kindergarten seven hours a day and having a lot of fun. It was harder for me to adjust to the new routine than for him. But I still get to out him to bed and take him to school almost every morning.

How did you feel when Liam started kindergarten?
It was a huge milestone and I wasn't quite prepared for it. It was an end of an era, the end of my baby being home with me and I had to let go. It was wonderful, but it wasn't easy. It was a very emotional time.

Do you pamper yourself?
I like being massaged - someone really digging into my neck to get all the tension and kinks out. I tend to dress according to my mood. I'm very basic and simple and consider myself to be extremely low maintenance. I also like to look good and have fun with clothes. I like Audrey Hepburn's look - very elegant and appealing. I don't care who made the dress just as long as it looks good.

What look makes you feel sexy?
I feel sexy all the time. Sexy isn't about clothes, it's about attitude.

You don't like to talk about Harrison Ford, but what do you find attractive in a man?
I'm drawn to people who are talented and hugely attracted to people who make me laugh - like Harrison.

Do you have a fitness routine going at the moment?
Sort of, but it's light. I go for a run or have a 30-minute workout with a personal trainer. I also take weekend bicycle rides and the occasional spin class. Another thing I enjoy is walking along the coast and looking at the ocean. It's very relaxing. I keep it all very simple because that's just the way I prefer my life to be.
Date of this item added :
2007-09-13