(2005) Between TV shows, Alexis Bledel works on a new career
By BRUCE WESTBROOK
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
It's Alexis Bledel's favorite time of year.
The Houston-born star of TV's Gilmore Girls gets three months off between seasonal grinds. She uses her hiatus to rest, visit her family in Houston and pursue her next career: making movies.
Bledel's first film was 2002's Tuck Everlasting. Her latest is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, opening today.
"It's extremely tempting to take a break during hiatus," said Bledel, 23, who's trying to take time off before Gilmore Girls resumes production in July. "But interesting possibilities pop up."
That's why she's spending two weeks making an unnamed indie film — and spent last summer making Sisterhood and the Austin-shot action film Sin City.
"I really like working on movies," Bledel said. "It's appealing to do different roles and stay interested."
For five seasons on her WB dramedy, she's played Rory Gilmore, a smart girl who lives with her zany single mom (Lauren Graham).
In Sisterhood, Bledel plays Lena, a shy, aspiring artist who's among a tight group of female friends. She could almost be Rory's younger sister. A bigger stretch was Sin City's Becky, a hard-edged gal in a gory story.
Bledel got Gilmore with no professional experience. While growing up in Houston, she acted in school and modeled for the Page Parkes agency. She was studying at New York University when she tried her first audition — and won her career-launching role.
Suddenly, the 18-year-old was engulfed by work. She was due on the set at 6 a.m. daily, and at week's end she often didn't leave until 6 a.m. Saturday.
"I hadn't planned to work this hard, this young in life," Bledel said. "I was shocked. The hours are insane. I'm excited for when I can just do movies, which are so much more reasonable."
Bledel knows she must strike while the iron is hot, which is why she makes movies when she can. "I'm just trying to set it up so when the show's over, I can still work. People on TV often have a hard time translating into the film world."
During her rare free time she lives quietly, avoiding the party scene and tabloids. Recently Bledel made a major grown-up move: She "purchased, gutted and remodeled" a house in Los Angeles.
"I'm very laid-back and do normal stuff," she said. "I like seeing my friends, having dinner parties, going to movies and going shopping." Her dates have included former Gilmore co-star Milo Ventimiglia.
Bledel has advice for guys asking girls for dates: Take them to see Sisterhood. "They'll be the hero of the day, and it'll do them some good, too."
Bledel believes guys "see girls getting into cat fights and back-stabbing" too often in teen movies. "In reality, female relationships are a lot more about love and support than guys might think. And guys can relate to this. It's about human experiences."
Sisterhood departs a bit from Ann Brashares' best seller, especially with Bledel's character.
"It would have been far too heavy — too much crying and emotional stuff," she said. "They lightened my story and made it this beautiful summer romance (set and shot in Greece), but still in keeping with the character."
Also "shy growing up" and also "quite a klutz," Bledel related to Lena. But she was first drawn to the project without a role in mind.
"I was impressed they were going to make a movie with actors, not teen pop stars," she said. Also, director Ken Kwapis "wanted to tell the story right and wasn't afraid to ask questions about girl stuff he didn't know."
Though she sounds ready to move on from Gilmore, "basically I have to do the show until the studio and network decide they're done with it," Bledel said. "I think it'll end nicely when Rory graduates from college," which could come in two years.
Until then, at least her on-the-job training is paying off.
"I feel pretty confident about myself," Bledel said. "Now I'm ready to see what else is out there."
bruce.westbrook@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/features/3205487
Submitted by Trisha
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
It's Alexis Bledel's favorite time of year.
The Houston-born star of TV's Gilmore Girls gets three months off between seasonal grinds. She uses her hiatus to rest, visit her family in Houston and pursue her next career: making movies.
Bledel's first film was 2002's Tuck Everlasting. Her latest is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, opening today.
"It's extremely tempting to take a break during hiatus," said Bledel, 23, who's trying to take time off before Gilmore Girls resumes production in July. "But interesting possibilities pop up."
That's why she's spending two weeks making an unnamed indie film — and spent last summer making Sisterhood and the Austin-shot action film Sin City.
"I really like working on movies," Bledel said. "It's appealing to do different roles and stay interested."
For five seasons on her WB dramedy, she's played Rory Gilmore, a smart girl who lives with her zany single mom (Lauren Graham).
In Sisterhood, Bledel plays Lena, a shy, aspiring artist who's among a tight group of female friends. She could almost be Rory's younger sister. A bigger stretch was Sin City's Becky, a hard-edged gal in a gory story.
Bledel got Gilmore with no professional experience. While growing up in Houston, she acted in school and modeled for the Page Parkes agency. She was studying at New York University when she tried her first audition — and won her career-launching role.
Suddenly, the 18-year-old was engulfed by work. She was due on the set at 6 a.m. daily, and at week's end she often didn't leave until 6 a.m. Saturday.
"I hadn't planned to work this hard, this young in life," Bledel said. "I was shocked. The hours are insane. I'm excited for when I can just do movies, which are so much more reasonable."
Bledel knows she must strike while the iron is hot, which is why she makes movies when she can. "I'm just trying to set it up so when the show's over, I can still work. People on TV often have a hard time translating into the film world."
During her rare free time she lives quietly, avoiding the party scene and tabloids. Recently Bledel made a major grown-up move: She "purchased, gutted and remodeled" a house in Los Angeles.
"I'm very laid-back and do normal stuff," she said. "I like seeing my friends, having dinner parties, going to movies and going shopping." Her dates have included former Gilmore co-star Milo Ventimiglia.
Bledel has advice for guys asking girls for dates: Take them to see Sisterhood. "They'll be the hero of the day, and it'll do them some good, too."
Bledel believes guys "see girls getting into cat fights and back-stabbing" too often in teen movies. "In reality, female relationships are a lot more about love and support than guys might think. And guys can relate to this. It's about human experiences."
Sisterhood departs a bit from Ann Brashares' best seller, especially with Bledel's character.
"It would have been far too heavy — too much crying and emotional stuff," she said. "They lightened my story and made it this beautiful summer romance (set and shot in Greece), but still in keeping with the character."
Also "shy growing up" and also "quite a klutz," Bledel related to Lena. But she was first drawn to the project without a role in mind.
"I was impressed they were going to make a movie with actors, not teen pop stars," she said. Also, director Ken Kwapis "wanted to tell the story right and wasn't afraid to ask questions about girl stuff he didn't know."
Though she sounds ready to move on from Gilmore, "basically I have to do the show until the studio and network decide they're done with it," Bledel said. "I think it'll end nicely when Rory graduates from college," which could come in two years.
Until then, at least her on-the-job training is paying off.
"I feel pretty confident about myself," Bledel said. "Now I'm ready to see what else is out there."
bruce.westbrook@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/features/3205487
Submitted by Trisha
posted by MissCoffee @ 12:16 a.m.
