Post by jag11 on Mar 12, 2008 20:24:40 GMT -5
March 11, 2008 Soap Opera Digest
Daytime and prime-time vet Joan Van Ark dishes about her life after soaps.
Fans of NIP/TUCK recently got to see Joan Van Ark portraying one of the "Beverly Hills Cougar Club," along with fellow KNOTS LANDING alum Donna Mills (ex-Abby) in a shocking episode where Mills's character was transformed to resemble a cat.
"It was nirvana," gushes Van Ark of playing a snooty, plastic surgery-addicted divorcée. "For me, after playing a goody-two shoes like Val, it was a breath of fresh air. NIP/TUCK has always been at the top of my wish list, so I was thrilled to be a part of it. But it was unnerving to see Donna made up to look like a cat, because she really did. I was like, 'You're freaking me out!' "
The guest appearance on NIP/TUCK is one of many projects she's been involved with since leaving Y&R. "I did an independent film called Icemaker with Tippi Hedren," she reports, "and I did another called Channels with Ed Asner. My proudest achievement was [in 2004] when I was at the Kennedy Center and there was a Tennessee Williams tribute. We performed one-act plays of his that were never done before. So, I got to create a Tennessee Williams character. I was so proud of that."
It was her devotion to the theater that partially prompted her decision to leave Y&R. "I adored everyone there, but my line is, 'It's a nice place to visit, but I didn't want to live there,' " she says. "I didn't realize that when you're a cast member, you're always there. It started out with me doing one day a week, then it went to two or three. I wanted the freedom to do theater and other projects."
Also, "It felt like I was a visitor," she admits. "Even though I created the part of Gloria, Y&R was a well-oiled machine by the time I got there. I did my own makeup because I didn't want to take the chair away from Jeanne Cooper [Kay] or Eileen Davidson [Ashley]. It was tricky coming to a show that wasn't starting on the 'ground floor.' "
Still, she had a great time. "I had three magnificent partners in Jerry [Douglas, John], Christian [J. Le Blanc, Michael] and Greg [Rikaart, Kevin]," she praises. "Greg and I clicked immediately and Christian is such a skilled actor. I also enjoyed working with Eileen. I loved that the Fishers were all misfits and that Gloria started off as being sort of 'trailer trash.' She wasn't your typical soap character."
She's thrilled that Judith Chapman (Gloria) is her successor and is sharing scenes with Van Ark's longtime pal Ted Shackelford (Jeffrey; ex-Gary, KL). "I don't want to hear about how well she's doing!" she jokes. "I met her when they threw a good-bye luncheon for me and she looks amazing! I saw the scenes when they killed off Ted's first character [William] and was so proud of both of them. They're wonderful together. Honestly, I'm not sure that they would've put me with Ted had I stayed. It seems as if Judith is giving Gloria a lighter touch."
She enjoyed her time so much, she'd consider giving soaps another whirl. "Imagine how much fun it would be if I did a guest appearance on Y&R?" she chuckles. "I'd love to come in and stir up some trouble--maybe for Judith and Ted [laughs]!"
Ark De Triomphe
by Naomi Rabinowitz
Daytime and prime-time vet Joan Van Ark dishes about her life after soaps.
Fans of NIP/TUCK recently got to see Joan Van Ark portraying one of the "Beverly Hills Cougar Club," along with fellow KNOTS LANDING alum Donna Mills (ex-Abby) in a shocking episode where Mills's character was transformed to resemble a cat.
"It was nirvana," gushes Van Ark of playing a snooty, plastic surgery-addicted divorcée. "For me, after playing a goody-two shoes like Val, it was a breath of fresh air. NIP/TUCK has always been at the top of my wish list, so I was thrilled to be a part of it. But it was unnerving to see Donna made up to look like a cat, because she really did. I was like, 'You're freaking me out!' "
The guest appearance on NIP/TUCK is one of many projects she's been involved with since leaving Y&R. "I did an independent film called Icemaker with Tippi Hedren," she reports, "and I did another called Channels with Ed Asner. My proudest achievement was [in 2004] when I was at the Kennedy Center and there was a Tennessee Williams tribute. We performed one-act plays of his that were never done before. So, I got to create a Tennessee Williams character. I was so proud of that."
It was her devotion to the theater that partially prompted her decision to leave Y&R. "I adored everyone there, but my line is, 'It's a nice place to visit, but I didn't want to live there,' " she says. "I didn't realize that when you're a cast member, you're always there. It started out with me doing one day a week, then it went to two or three. I wanted the freedom to do theater and other projects."
Also, "It felt like I was a visitor," she admits. "Even though I created the part of Gloria, Y&R was a well-oiled machine by the time I got there. I did my own makeup because I didn't want to take the chair away from Jeanne Cooper [Kay] or Eileen Davidson [Ashley]. It was tricky coming to a show that wasn't starting on the 'ground floor.' "
Still, she had a great time. "I had three magnificent partners in Jerry [Douglas, John], Christian [J. Le Blanc, Michael] and Greg [Rikaart, Kevin]," she praises. "Greg and I clicked immediately and Christian is such a skilled actor. I also enjoyed working with Eileen. I loved that the Fishers were all misfits and that Gloria started off as being sort of 'trailer trash.' She wasn't your typical soap character."
She's thrilled that Judith Chapman (Gloria) is her successor and is sharing scenes with Van Ark's longtime pal Ted Shackelford (Jeffrey; ex-Gary, KL). "I don't want to hear about how well she's doing!" she jokes. "I met her when they threw a good-bye luncheon for me and she looks amazing! I saw the scenes when they killed off Ted's first character [William] and was so proud of both of them. They're wonderful together. Honestly, I'm not sure that they would've put me with Ted had I stayed. It seems as if Judith is giving Gloria a lighter touch."
She enjoyed her time so much, she'd consider giving soaps another whirl. "Imagine how much fun it would be if I did a guest appearance on Y&R?" she chuckles. "I'd love to come in and stir up some trouble--maybe for Judith and Ted [laughs]!"