In recent years, filmgoers have seen Jennifer Beals in a series of well-received independent features, including Roger Dodger and The Anniversary Party. Those movies seem to be a far cry from Flashdance, the film in which most people saw Beals for the first time 20 years ago. Now, in addition to being paid homage to in a recent Jennifer Lopez Flashdance-themed video (about which she says, 'My quote about it is, 'What a feeling!''), Ms. Beals will be seen in the eagerly anticipated Showtime series The L Word, which follows the lives of a group of lesbian friends. Ms. Beals will also be one of the speakers at the annual Human Rights Campaign gala in Chicago Sat., May 31 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel. For more event information call 800-494-8497 or visit the Web site at www.boxoffictickets.com/hrc. I spoke with Ms. Beals while she was on location in Vancouver, B.C.
Gregg Shapiro: Every lesbian I know is looking forward to the Summer 2003 debut of The L Word on Showtime.
Jennifer Beals: Good. I'm so glad to hear that.
GS: What has it been like to film the series which focuses on a circle of lesbian friends?
JB: We're in the midst of filming it right now. We filmed the pilot already and we're now filming the first 13 episodes. So far, it's been an amazing experience. It's very different being able to work on a project with primarily women. It's very interesting and people are much more open to each other's ideas.
GS: The series was originally going to be called Earthlings. How do you feel about the name change— from Earthlings to The L Word?
JB: It's not my domain. I'm not there to name the show, I'm there to play the part. But I really love it. I think it's great.
GS: It's a little catchier, don't you think?
JB: Yeah. Earthlings, you'd have to explain what it meant. The L Word has a beautiful kind of mystery to it. Where the uninitiated ask, 'What does the L stand for?' (laughs)
GS: Because the L could also stand for love.
JB: Right. Or lust or latent or longing or lickety-split, or all sorts of things.
GS: What are some of the aspects of The L Word that you particularly excited?
JB: Predominantly in the way that it breaks down stereotypes. The women are not just defined by their sexuality, as no one is just defined by their sexuality. They are defined by their ambition, their love, their dysfunction, their joy. Everything all at once. I know that a lot of people will watch this show who are not familiar with the gay community and start to reconsider their notions of identity, their own and other people's. I'm really excited about that.
GS: Like you, The L Word director Rose Troche is also from Chicago. What is it like working with Rose?
JB: Working with Rose is great. She's directing the first couple episodes. She's very clear and very open with us. And very intuitive. It's been a great experience.
GS: You're also working with Pam Grier on the series.
JB: (enthusiastically) Yes!
GS: What is it like working with Pam?
JB: She plays my half-sister. Originally that wasn't her character and then she and I did this scene where the relationship between us was so kind of clear, so they decided to change her character and make us half-sisters. It's been a lot of fun. She has really great stories and she's really funny. She loves talking about her horses. She's a very accomplished horse-woman. She has all these beautiful horses.
GS: Does your character in the series get to have a love interest?
JB: Yeah. I'm in a partnership of seven years, and we're in the midst of trying to have a baby.
GS: Are you looking forward to reaching the cable TV viewing audience, which may be different than the audience who has seen some of your recent independent features?
JB: I'm not sure what the difference is. The people that I know who do or watch independent films also watch cable. I think it's much different now. The same people who would have watched Roger Dodger also watch Will & Grace and Six Feet Under.
GS: Do you think that the presence of Six Feet Under and Queer As Folk and Will & Grace have helped to pave the way for The L Word to exist?
JB: I think they certainly have. What's interesting to me is that at no time has it been more important to have these shows on television because we have such a right-wing administration. The propaganda of the media towards conservatism and the right wing is so powerful right now that we're not given access to any kind of information about other people, including our own population, not to mention Iraqis or people from the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. To be able to put a show on that perhaps isn't reality television—it's not going to please everybody in its portrayal—but at least it gives the population at large an opportunity to experience something that is different from them in some way. I also think it's very important to give the gay community images of themselves. They talk about the fact that history is written by the victors, but if you can make yourself victorious by writing your own history and supplying your own images, then you've done yourself and the world a great service. I'm really hopeful about the show and really thankful that it's coming out at this time when we have such a restrictive culture.
GS: The 1997 movie Twilight of The Golds dealt with the subject of the genetics and homosexuality.
JB: Among a million other things (laughs).
GS: Right. But, did the experience of making that movie have anything to do with your support of the Human Rights Campaign?
JB: No. I didn't really know of the existence of the Human Rights Campaign until relatively recently. The part of the reason that I wanted to do that movie (Twilight Of The Golds) was to bring together all the people who have ever felt like they are on the outside and have it be made clear that everybody belongs and that there is no true inside. We're all conjoined and connected by love and the transformational aspects of love.
GS: Now that you are aware of the HRC, can you say something about the types of things have you been doing for the organization?
JB: I went and I spoke at the last event that they had. I spoke about the show and cultural politics. It's not like I'm out doing bake sales or anything.
GS: Presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry will be addressing the attendees at the HRC gala in Chicago. Have you had a chance to meet him yet?
JB: No, I haven't. I met [presidential candidate] Howard Dean at the last event. He is a very interesting man.
GS: Do you consider yourself a political person?
JB: I think by nature of being born, especially being born biracial, I'm a walking politic. I'm not that involved with politics per se, in terms of petitioning people to do this, that or the other. I have to say that coming from the Watergate generation that I'm a little bit suspicious. Especially watching this administration, I'm truly suspicious of politicians in general. I think it's so hard. Every turn is filled with compromise. My hat is off to anybody who takes that mantle on of trying to change the world through that means.
