ER HEADQUARTERS.COM // Chat Transcripts
 

OnlineHost:  Copyright 1997 Oldsmobile; licensed to America Online, Inc.

OnlineHost:  Your host tonight is AOLiveMC10 (Rusti I) and AOLiveMC8 (SammiNJ).

OnlineHost:  Glenne Headly is best known for her role as pediatric surgeon Dr. Abby Keaton on the NBC hit series "ER" and as Iris Holland (Richard Dreyfuss' wife) in the film "Mr. Holland's Opus." She's appeared in various films including "Dick Tracy," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Nadine," etc. Welcome to America Online!

AOLiveMC10:  Welcome to America Online and AOL Live, Glenne Headly.

GHeadly:  Hi there.

AOLiveMC10:  Glenne, your fans are waiting for your answers. Ready to try some questions?

GHeadly:  Yes.

AOLiveMC10:  Our first is from HobgoodC:
Question:  Glenne, I am dying to see" Bastard Out of Carlina," but don't have Showtime. Do you know if it will be released on video? Thanks!

GHeadly:  I am not sure what the answer to that question is. I would think that it would be but I am not positive.

AOLiveMC10:  HobgoodC jammed the ballot box with a second:
Question:  Glenne, could you tell us a little about filming "ER." For instance, what were the greatest rewards, biggest challenges? Thank you!

GHeadly:  The biggest challenge was that I was pregnant in real life throughout filming "ER" and, as I was playing a pediatric surgeon, it was kind of hard to pretend that I was performing surgery on all these little infants when I was up to 6 and a half months pregnant myself. It was difficult but interesting and informing because there were real doctors there to help you.

GHeadly:  The most exciting thing was I enjoyed, even though it was scary, it was exciting to learn about how surgeries are performed and what really goes on in the "ER." And I had real scrub nurses who were actors too and that was interesting because I had to pass all the tools to them like a real doctor would and I was flattered because they told me I caught on real fast and they told me they thought I would make a great surgeon. That was really exciting and very flattering.

AOLiveMC10:  Fph213 has this question for you:
Question:  Do you prefer working in films, theater or television?

GHeadly:  I think I prefer working in films because for a few reasons:  one) I like not having to enlarge my performance a lot and you have to enlarge it to be on stage and, two) when you do a play, you have to do the same show every night for months and that can get tiring. And I think in TV, although if it is a TV movie, that is okay, but if it is a series, that can get difficult because you have to work really long hours for the better part of a year. On a film, it usually only lasts about 12 weeks, so even though you are working really awful hours, it is not so bad, and when I say awful hours I mean you work on average 12 to sometimes 18 hours a day.

AOLiveMC10:  Badfinger asks:
Question:  Were you ever a model? You are so pretty.

GHeadly:  No, I was never a model. Thank you though very much.

AOLiveMC10:  RSkiff846 would like to know:
Question:  Who do you hang out with the most on the set?

GHeadly:  I haven't been on the set since Thanksgiving ,because that is when my job was finished there. I was just a guest on the show for 9 shows, but when I was there I hung out always with Noah and Eriq.

AOLiveMC10:  Here's another from Fph213:
Question:  Is there anyone you'd like to act with that you haven't already?

GHeadly:  Yes, I would like to act with Robert DeNiro. There is a lot of people -- Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson. There are so many, really there are about 40 more people.

AOLiveMC10:  ShineboxE has this question:
Question:  Whom did you study acting with and do you come from a classically trained background, or did you get your start specifically in television? Do you find New York or LA more satisfying to work in?

GHeadly:  I started out in the theater and did plays for approximately 7 or 8 years. I studied in NY city and then I went on to Chicago and I studied there. I find LA more satisfying to work in just because it is not as expensive as NY and the weather is good all year around and there is probably more you go up to audition for than there was in NY.

AOLiveMC10:  Sunkissed would like to know:
Question:  Whenever she gets on will you ask her, how long does she plan to continue her present career?

GHeadly:  I don't know. I have been acting since I was a teenager really, so it is really the thing I know how to do the best. I would imagine I will keep doing it until I'm just not working at all anymore.

AOLiveMC10:  IceyCool9 sends this question:
Question:  How is working with George Clooney?

GHeadly:  I actually didn't have any scenes with George Clooney so I can only say that I saw him on the set and, even though we weren't in scenes together, he was extremely nice to me.

AOLiveMC10:  MAD3693 asks:
Question:  What is it like to work with such great actors? Especially Noah? Is he as sweet in person as he looks to be on TV?

GHeadly:  Yes, he is. He is pretty funny also
.
AOLiveMC10:  Mrs Smoop poses this one:
Question:  Will you be back on "ER" anytime soon? I miss you already.

GHeadly:  Well, I wasn't planning on it. I was just supposed to do the show for 9 episodes and that is what I did, so I guess I am not going to be coming back.

AOLiveMC10:  Fph213 has another question:
Question:  What inspired you to get into acting?

GHeadly:  As a kid I used to make up little stories and put on little shows for my friends and so I decided that would be a really good thing to continue when I became a grown up and so that is what I did.

AOLiveMC10:  ByronCono asks this:
Question:  How did Broadway influence your acting?

GHeadly:  It was exciting to do a show on Broadway because I had always wanted to do a show there, so I am not sure it really influenced my acting but it was a really fun time and something I always wanted to do so I felt like I accomplished that dream when I got to be on Broadway.

AOLiveMC10:  Pinklady0 wants to ask:
Question:  Hi, Glenne, I saw the movie "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and I loved it. What do you think of it? Anna

GHeadly:  I thought it was really entertaining and I thought it was funny. I thought it was a good looking movie also.

AOLiveMC10:  KAZIMOTO sends along this question:
Question:  Did you go to any Oscar events last night? If so, where? Kazi.

GHeadly:  I actually went to watch the Oscars with Anjelica Huston at a friend's house. It was really Anjelica's party but it wasn't at her house.

AOLiveMC10:  Here's another from ByronCono:
Question:  Do you have any motion picture plans?

GHeadly:  I have made 16, believe it or not. I have a movie that is going to come out on Showtime in a couple of months, it is called "Pronto."

AOLiveMC10:  LISABUG00 would like to know:
Question:  How did you get the part on "ER?"

GHeadly:  The man who runs that show just called and asked if I would be on it.

AOLiveMC10:  ChubMan asks:
Question:  First, I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed your work. My question is, having had a success in theater, film and television, which, if any, do you prefer, and do you plan to return to NY theater where you are much missed?

GHeadly:  I prefer actually making films but I would like to do a play in NY and would like to find a good new play to do there and, although I have been investigating old plays too, to see if I can find one I'd like to do. But it is going to depend on, because I just had a child, on how easy it is to go back to New York with him and do a play.

AOLiveMC10:  Fph213 wants to ask:
Question:  Does Glenne and Dr. Abby have anything in common?

GHeadly:  Probably that we are both kind of gentle people. Gentle, yet direct and frank.

AOLiveMC8:  CDC1335 asks:
Question:  Will you tell us about the pranks on the "ER" set?

GHeadly:  Actually, I was not witness. I have heard about them but I was not witness to them but I have heard that George likes to pull pranks on people, but nothing happened while I was there.

AOLiveMC10:  ByronCono asks:
AOLiveMC10:  Glenne, ByronCono would like to know how you choose your roles?

GHeadly:  I just try to find stories I like and then hope that there is a part in the story I like or sometimes I just do things because they are with a friend who is another actor.

AOLiveMC10:  Wearethir asks:
Question:  Glenne do you get nervous anymore before a performance?

GHeadly:  Yes, I do. It depends on if it is a live performance; if it is a play, I still do. If it is for film or TV, I don't because there isn't an audience.

AOLiveMC10:  CCIvyA asks:
Question:  I've been a fan of yours for a very long time. Thank you so much for coming on-line tonight to chat with us. Where can we write to you? Do you have a fan mail address?

GHeadly:  Thank you. You can send things to me c/o Cory Weisman, ICM, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

AOLiveMC10:  Here's another from IceyCool9:
Question:  How was it working with Steve Martin in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?"

GHeadly:  It was really great. Steve and I became friends after that and did another movie, "Sgt. Bilko" after that. He is really fun and really funny and I like him.

AOLiveMC10:  CCIvyA asks another:
Question:  Of all your roles to date, which has been the most challenging?

GHeadly:  The most challenging was probably "Mr. Holland's Opus," just because I had to age from 28 to 60 in it.

AOLiveMC10:  Wearethir sends this question for you:
Question:  Glenne you were fantastic in "Opus." The movie was great. What was it like to work with Dreyfuss?

GHeadly:  It was really fun. He has done a lot of theater so we had a lot in common. He was very easy to work with and very nice to me.

AOLiveMC10:  JTK356 asks:
Question:  Glenne, how did you find your experience making "Dick Tracy?"

GHeadly:  It was fantastic. Warren Beatty was so supportive of me and gave me so much freedom as an actress and I got to meet Al Pacino and Madonna, and they were very nice to me. I think the movie looked great and I liked it a lot.

AOLiveMC10:  Here's a question from Jwmgkjm:
Question:  In "Mr. Holland's Opus" you seemed to know sign language -- did you learn it for the film?

GHeadly:  Yes I did. I had a teacher who was deaf and she taught be sign. I practiced with her 3 to 5 times a week.

AOLiveMC10:  CCIvyA is back with this one:
Question:  Any plans to go behind the camera in the near future and direct or write?

GHeadly:  Yes I would really like to do both.

AOLiveMC10:  ShAi ili asks:
Question:  Glenn, congratulations on your child. What did you have by the way? And how does that interfere with your career?

GHeadly:  I had a little boy. He is 6 weeks old today so I am not sure how it is going to interfere, but I know a lot of actors who have children and I can bring him to work with him anyway because, unlike at a regular job where your boss says you can't bring your baby, on a movie set, they are a lot nicer about it.

AOLiveMC10:  Wright277 sends a question looking for advice:
Question:  Hi there. My name is Hunter, am taking an acting class here, my teacher wants me to research an operating doctor. What advice would you give to research a role for a doctor? Any ideas? How did you research your role?

GHeadly:  You have to contact a real doctor, of course, and I was in contact with a pediatric surgeon, a really good one from Pasadena, CA. And I had a lot of questions about medical procedure and terminology and I would call her for answers and pronunciation and meanings of things and she would give me all that information. But I would suggest going to a real hospital and speaking to the director about which doctors would be available to talk to.

AOLiveMC10:  Pandaposs asks:
Question:  Throughout all of your work and experiences with other actors/actresses, who impressed or inspired you the most?

GHeadly:  Probably Warren Beatty, and Michael Caine and Steve Martin.

AOLiveMC10:  JcmtmU asks this one:
Question:  Do you believe the view of women as doctors has been helped by the success of "ER?"

GHeadly:  I would think so, yes.

AOLiveMC10:  Anolis266 asks:
Question:  What was it like on the set of "And The Band Played On?" Great film by the way.

GHeadly:  It was pretty serious set because of the subject matter and there were a lot of guest artists on that show, so every day we got to meet with new actors and stuff. Because I played one of the main doctors, I was there pretty much the whole time and I got to meet 10 or 12 guests who came through, and that made it fun but it was a pretty serious set.

AOLiveMC10:  We have time for one more question.

GHeadly:  Okay.

AOLiveMC10:  Our last question for Glenne is from ChubMan:
Question:  Is there a role or type of character that you would very much like to play?

GHeadly:  I would really like to be in another western. I love westerns. I would also like to be in something where I got to play a medieval character.

AOLiveMC10:  Glenne, do you have any closing comments for your fans?

GHeadly:  I would like to say thank you all very much and I hope this was fun and informative for you, and I wish you all the best.

AOLiveMC10:  Thank you for joining us tonight, Glenne Headly.

GHeadly:  Thank you.

OnlineHost:  All good things must come to an end. Time is up for this event.

AOLiveMC10:  And thank you to our audience members for being here.

OnlineHost:  Thanks for joining us in the Oldsmobile Celebrity Circle this evening. Remember, Oldsmobile brings an exciting guest Online every Monday through Friday, and transcripts from the events can be downloaded using keywords:  "Oldsmobile" or "AOL Live" within 24 hours after the event has ended.

OnlineHost:  Copyright 1997 Oldsmobile; licensed to America Online, Inc.

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More about this Event: 

03/25 "ER's" Glenne Headly in Celebrity Circle (Bowl)

Glenne Headly, a fifteen year veteran of the entertainment business, has built a prestigious body of work that includes film, television and theatre.

Headly is currently a recurring cast member on the NBC series "ER," playing Dr. Abby Keaton. Also, scheduled for release later this year, Headly stars in Elmore Leonard's "Pronto," with Peter Falk and James Le Gros and directed by Jim McBride as well as "Bastard Out of Carolina," an adaptation of the award winning novel by Dorothy Allison, directed by Anjelica Huston and also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Headly has starred in over a dozen films. Most recently, she starred in the MGM contemporary drama "2 Days In The Valley," for writer/director John Herzfield, opposite Danny Aiello, Jeff Daniels, Teri Hatcher and James Spader. She also recently played opposite Richard Dreyfuss in the critically acclaimed film, "Mr. Holland's Opus." Other film credits include "Sgt. Bilko," with Steve Martin, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," with Steve Martin and Michael Caine, "Mortal Thoughts," "Dick Tracy," "Making Mr. Right," "Nadine," and "Eleni."

In television, Headly received an Emmy nomination for the CBS mini-series "Lonesome Dove." She also starred in the ground breaking AIDS story "And The Band Played On" for HBO, and "Seize the Day," opposite Robin Williams for PBS.

Headly began her acting career at an early age. Born in New London, Connecticut, she attended Manhattan's High School for the Performing Arts. After graduating, she studied at the American College in Switzerland, where she co-founded an accredited drama department and was awarded a scholarship. Upon returning to the United States, she enrolled at the Herbert Berghofs Studios in New York, and later joined the New Works ensemble at the St. Nicholas Theatre in Chicago, co-founded by David Mamet. Headly then joined the famed Steppenwolf Theatre company, where she starred in numerous productions, including "Born Yesterday," "Absent Friends," "Savages," "Loose Ends," "The House," and productions which earned her four Joseph Jefferson Awards:  "Say Goodnight Gracie," "Balm in Gilead," "The Miss Firecracker Contest," "and "Coyote Ugly." Other Chicago theatre credits include "Curse of the Starving Class," "Mother Courage," and "The Glass Menagerie." Headly then moved to New York where she starred in the off-Broadway productions of "Extremities," "The Philanthropist," which earned her a Theatre World Award, "Balm in Gilead," for the Circle in the Square, and the Broadway production of "Arms and the Man," opposite Raul Julia and Kevin Kline.

Event Keyword:  "Oldsmobile"


Transmitted: 3/26/1997 1:35 PM