Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 33
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the fact that the Emmy winner didn’t stand up for soap fans during Batali’s insult.
ONE LIFE diva Robin Strasser wasn’t impressed, either. The Emmy winner sounded off on Twitter, writing: “@LauraWright is WRONG praising the Chew, confusing protecting her own job with love/fun/or that bad food. 800 jobs lost when OLTL cancelled. My Toxic tweet now out there, I'll add that I think @LauraWright is talented, beautiful, and strong. Nobody's perfect-#Chew is the proof. RESPECT for the DAYTIME AUDIENCES and their enthusiastic loyal support of SOAPS should be part of JOB DESCRIPTION for working at any network.”
Weighing in, Wright’s co-star Nancy Lee Grahn tweeted: “Thought about going on The Chew to promote my whine, made from gripes not grapes, but was too afraid of Robin Strasser... and the rest of u.”
In addition, a handful of former ONE LIFE and AMC stars called me, aghast over Wright’s appearance. “I hope it’s a case of she simply wasn’t thinking,” says one former Llanview resident. “If the situation were reversed, I’d never have appeared on a show that replaced GH.” A Pine Valley hero opined: “It was disrespectful. Hundreds of people lost their jobs over THE CHEW and THE REVOLUTION.”
What do you think? Was Wright wrong or right to visit THE CHEW?
One thing is certain, however: The 2012 Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy nominee is lucky that judging closed weeks ago.
HAPPY PRIDE
DAYS Wins GLAAD Award!
Out of all the soaps, I never thought DAYS would ever win a GLAAD Award, but this weekend the NBC serial took home its first trophy for telling daytime’s best storyline and one of the best coming-out tales in soap history. Congrats! Now don’t fuck this up, Ken Corday!
By recognizing and honouring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards "serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans."
PRIME TIME UNCENSORED
VANESSA WILLIAMS: DESPERATE NO MORE!
When Vanessa Williams says, “you have no idea,” she means it! The Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-nominated singer, actress, and dancer just added author to her impressive and versatile resumé with the release of her book, YOU HAVE NO IDEA: A FAMOUS DAUGHTER, HER NO-NONSENSE MOTHER, AND HOW THEY SURVIVED PAGEANTS, HOLLYWOOD, LOVE, LOSS (AND EACH OTHER). Whew — take a breath here.
In the memoir, Williams dropped a bombshell: the 49-year-old stunner claims she was molested by an 18-year-old girl when she was just 10 years old while they were on a family trip. She also reveals that she had an abortion when she was in high school — another secret she kept from her parents.
Co-written with her mother, Helen, Williams says the book marks a new freedom and catharsis in her life. “Everything’s out on the table,” she exclusively tells UNCENSORED. “And it feels good. I didn’t need to be this honest in the book, but I decided to go for it. And I’m glad I did. It’s been liberating.”
While Williams signed off as Renee on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES last month, the N.Y. native is eager to see what life throws at her next because she’s never been more ready. No one can accuse Williams of being a desperate housewife! UNCENSORED recently spoke with one of the most beautiful women in the world about style, exercise, and her new TV project.
Congrats on the book, YOU HAVE NO IDEA! What were you thinking writing a book with your mother!?
I was thinking it would make a great book! It took about a year to write. My mom, Helen, is legendary. She definitely doesn’t hold her tongue and she’s a force of nature. Every time I talk to my friends about my life, they say, “What did Helen have to say about that? Can’t wait to hear what your mom thinks!” I figured it would be a perfect set-up to re-live my life with my mom’s perspective in the book.
Did you butt heads at all?
My mother hadn’t read my part of the book until it went to press. We were independent of each other on this book — although the concept of the book is a dialogue between my mother and me.
Is there a sequel already in the works?
[Laughs] We’d love that. It depends on how well the book does.
What did you learn about your mother?
Strength. I think I got her strength either from growth or osmosis. She told me early on in my life that I had to be better than anyone else just to be treated equal in the community. I was the only student of colour in my school. I took the advice to heart. I remind every minority child I encounter of that philosophy. In order to stand out, you have to overachieve. It’s the hard truth but it’s still the truth.
What have your daughters taught you?
As a mother, I have learned that you can’t take things personally. I have four kids. My son was pretty much a breeze but when my daughters went through puberty, the attitude change and detachment is very hard to deal with. But I learned not to take it personally when they roll their eyes at you and slam the door in your face. It’s infuriating but you have to understand their body is going through things they can’t change. My little one just turned 12 so I’m about to go through it all again!
What’s been the reaction from friends?
First, they say they can’t put it down and it’s a fantastic read. They say the voices are very clear and they can hear me and my mother perfectly — even without the audio book! It also proves that we actually wrote our own sections in the book. We used a writer to coordinate because my mother lives in New York and I live in L.A. Also, the writer helped us achieve a throughline, but they are all our words. The people who know us know the book is accurate in every respect.
One thing I admire about you is how you’ve stayed friends with your ex-husbands, particularly Rick Fox.
You have to! Divorce was something I didn’t want. I wasn’t running away from anything. It was heartbreaking and one of the hardest times I’ve ever gone through in my life. But if we couldn’t have a marriage that was going to last, I didn’t want my kids suffering. I’ve made a conscious effort to co-parent with both my exes. Everything in their lives — from celebrations, traditions and birthdays — are all shared.
What’s the biggest beauty secret you’ve learned?
In terms of makeup, I have to say blending. You need a great makeup brush. It’s so important. You can fudge around with different products but you have to keep your stapes. Blending is a real art form so perfecting blending is very important, especially if you want that red carpet look. If you want a natural look, you really need to know how to apply your makeup properly. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to watch and learn the experts do it up close and personal. Watch and learn!
How do you keep in shape? You love your curves!
I’m obsessed with Tae Bo and a body theory class called Drenched. I would go every day if I could. It’s a non-stop hour of cardio and weights. It’ll whip you in shape in no time. I’m also very conscious of my diet. I get that from my mother who has exercised for years. My mother taught me to respect my body — and that’s key.
How has your style evolved over the years? You keep reinventing your look…
It’s because I keep getting access to new clothes. When you’re a recording artist, you’re always pushing the envelope image-wise. In music, you have to look trendy and edgy. But as I’ve gotten older, I got to work with SEX AND THE CITY costume designer Pat Fields which really helped me cement my look as I age. She had access to everything immediately from London, Paris and Rome.
Are you bummed about DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES going off the air? You joined the show in the seventh season after your Emmy-nominated turn on UGLY BETTY.
A little. But another door will open soon and I can jump on to the next adventure. ABC has been really good to me from UGLY BETTY to DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. I’ve worked for them for the past six years — and I just shot a new pilot for them called 666 PARK AVENUE [which will air in the post-HOUSEWIVES spot this fall]. Working in TV is kind of like doing a Broadway show every day. I like that aspect.
Are you happy with your character, Renee’s
exit story?
Oh, yes! Marc Cherry did a great job with the finale.
Speaking of UGLY BETTY, does a part of your over-the-top fashionista character, Wilhelmina, live inside of you?
[Laughs] It depends on where I am and who I am with! Yes, I can break into her in a second! When I’m in the recording studio, I break out in a Barbra Streisand-like role. There is a definitely a bit of her inside of me. It’s made me a bigger gay icon! There’s a little bit of Wilhelmina in everyone.
Why do you think you work so well in the soap opera format?
Well, I like playing larger-than-life characters with a flair for fashion and attitude, for starters! I never saw myself as a soap actress per se, but I certainly love the genre. I did love DYNASTY and DALLAS back in the day. It depends on the project obviously. I lucked out with UGLY and DESPERATE because they were comedic soaps, which is more my strength. I like dramedy.
I was rooting for you to win Outstanding Supporting Actress a few times for UGLY BETTY at the PRIME TIME EMMY AWARDS. Are you submitting yourself for DESPERATE this year?
So was I! [Laughs] I remember you there rooting and cheering me on. You know, I chose dramatic material for my Emmy reel which I thought would work in my favour in the comedy