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From "Survivor" to Film Star
With Colleen Haskell
Actress
Thursday, May 24, 2001; 4:45 p.m. EDT
"Local Girl Makes Good." That's what the headline could be for Bethesda-born Colleen Haskell who graduated from Walter Johnson High School in 1994. She was on the first "Survivor" for over thirty days on an island in Malaysia and now she is starring with actor/writer and former "Saturday Night Live" regular Rob Schneider in "The Animal," her feature film debut. "The Animal" opens in theatres on June
1, 2001.
Colleen Haskell will be online Thursday, May 24, at 4:45 p.m. EDT, to talk about what it was like to be on "Survivor" and her experiences in making her first motion picture.
In "The Animal," she plays Rianna, Marvin Mange's (Schneider) new girlfriend in a comedy about a file clerk who wants to be a cop but doesn't have the athletic ability to complete police training school. His luck changes when he is injured in a car accident and an eccentric doctor uses animal organs to perform a "trans-species-ectomy" to rebuild him. He then becomes Mr. Popularity but his animal instincts seem to take over at all the wrong times.
A transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Washington, D.C.:
Colleen, congratulations on your movie debut. I really enjoyed the trailer for "Animal," especially that scene where Rob Schneider lusts after the goat. You must be so proud.
Colleen Haskell: Actually I saw the movie about a month ago and have been completely thrilled with it. And I'm so happy and proud of everybody and how the whole thing came together!
Washington, D.C.:
Colleen-
Did you find "Hollywood" to be as treacherous as so many people indicate it can be?
Colleen Haskell: Yeah, I think you have to think fast and be quick because people will take advantage of you. But i've been lucky enough to work with some really nice people.
Philly, Penn.:
What was the worst part about making the movie?
Colleen Haskell: The worst part was waiting around and sometimes you are ready at 9 a.m. and you don't start until the afternoon. Occupying your time while you wait is the hardest part of the movie.
Akron, Ohio:
Are you seeing anyone? And did you watch any
of this year's version of Surviror?
Colleen Haskell: I plead the fifth on the first question! I watched two episodes of it and I found it hard to watch the episode and not get emotional about it. So I didn't watch the second episode. I wish all the people from the show the best and i've become friends with some of the people
Washington, D.C.:
I read that you get your hair done at Salon Prive. Who is your stylist there? Man, I really want your haircut.
Colleen Haskell: Maggie, she's the best! The salon is on Old Georgetown road.
Schaumburg, Ill.:
After Survivor and "The Animal" you obviously now have an affinity for the screen. What next? More film? TV? Strand yourself on an island for some down time?
Colleen Haskell: I have no idea! I wish I knew what was next. I got this movie without planning to. I'm really excited to be continuing in film because it's a great job but I have my portfolio and resume for any other opportunity.
Beltsville, Md.:
(I'll admit at the outset that I was a big Richard Hatch fan from Episode 1.)
Was Rich really as "bad" as the producers wanted us to believe?
Do you still talk to anyone from your "Survivor" experience?
Colleen Haskell: I talk to a handful of people and I say that Rich is as bad as he is but that's because I like to tease him in the press. Like everyone else he's multi-faceted and he has a good side.
A fellow Tilden Trojan and WJ Wildcat:
Hey Colleen-
When you were at Tilden, whose Bar Mitzvah party was your favorite?
Colleen Haskell: In seventh grade, the whole year was filled with Bar Mitzvahs. I guess the best one was the one with the best food. They were all at the Bethesda Marriott!
Raleigh, N.C.:
Do you have any offers to appear in films?
Colleen Haskell: There's stuff but I just got back from vacation. This year was pretty weird and I needed a vacation. So I haven't looked into anything yet.
Reston, Va.:
Hi Colleen! Loved you on Survivor. I was wondering if you have any acting experience in your background, prior to Survivor? If not, are you taking classes/being coached now? Congrats on the movie!
Colleen Haskell: I am not taking any acting classes. The character I was playing was me and I wanted to keep that as much as possible. I worked in theater since I was 13 doing stage design but never acted before and acting was a way I could challenge myself.
Washington, D.C.:
Did you have any acting experience before? What is it like being a newbie on the set? Are people there stuck up or are they helping you out and giving you acting tips? What advice do you have for an aspiring actress who has no acting experience?
Colleen Haskell: People on this movie were super helpful and had lots of tips and advice to help me. I didn't even know the basic lingo and people explained them to me.
My advice is always have a positive attitude and if you love acting, take classes! If I were to do it all over, I would have taken classes.
Silver Spring, Md.:
Hi Colleen- When you did interviews after "Survivor," you said you still planned on pursuing a career in advertising, that you weren't going to "go Hollywood." So is this movie a one-off, or are you now going to pursue an acting/celebrity career?
Colleen Haskell: I still don't consider myself as going Hollywood. I did a movie because the opportunity presented itself and it was fun. When everything stops being fun, I'll go onto something else. Right now, much to my parents dismay, I'm not actively pursuing anything but mostly seeing what's fun.
Falls Church Man:
Hi Colleen-
I was really impressed with the way you carried yourself on Survivor 1 and with all the media hype afterwards. You seemed very down to earth. I have to say I'm definitely smitten with you if a guy is allowed to say that. I think the producers of the show tried to cast a "Colleen" for the Survivor 2 and didn't quite get it although I'm sure Elizabeth is nice. Did you think that was a conscious decision also?
Colleen Haskell: I didn't watch Survivor 2 so much to comment on that but people I heard were really nice on the second episode.
Any comparison to the cast, I'm flattered but I think that everyone is different and has their own personality.
Colleen Haskell: Thank you for having me and for your questions. Everyone's been really supportive and so great to me. I've been very fortunate enough to have met such wonderful people.
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