By Lara Flynn Boyle
Special to Fancast
First, I saw the comment Randy sent in yesterday. He asked, “Have you seen my damn keys? I don’t think you’ve been to my house, but I’ve got to start somewhere.” You’re right, Randy, I’ve never been to your house and I don’t know where you left your keys, but I suggest you look in the usual places. When was the last time you used them? If you can't find them, it might be a sign you need to open new doors."
Good luck.
Yesterday, I brought up the Rolling Stone cover Sherilyn Fenn, Madchen Amick and I did that first season of Twin Peaks. My mom, who is my partner in crime, has a copy framed on the wall of her office. It was a sign we'd arrived. People were talking about the show - and us. All I remember about that photo shoot with the great Matthew Rolston was my mom trying to make my boobs bigger. Of the three of us in the picture, I had the smallest chest and so my mom did whatever she could think of to try to help that situation look better for the camera.
As for the shoot itself, it wasn’t as cool as it looked. We just wanted to know where to stand, what to do. I don't want to speak for the three of us, but I'm going to. So much was going and happening so fast that everything we did felt like a dreamscape. However, now when I see that photo on my mom’s office wall, I go, wow, I was on the cover of Rolling Stone. It’s much cooler now than it was then.
[watch seasons one and two of Twin Peaks]
The photo reminds me of how well us girls got along Plus, I never knew anyone could look as sexy in saddle shoes as Sherilyn Fenn. With an ensemble cast, though, you don’t necessarily work with the same people very day. You do your thing. You have to memorize lines. Then you go home, wash off your war paint, and get ready to do everything all over again a few hours later. I never found there was enough time to be catty, and thank God all of the women I worked with felt the same way.
Actually, as I think about, the women were something special and new at that – young, beautiful, very intelligent, mysterious, unknowable. Perfectly glamorous and perfectly smart. I think that was captivating. Certain it was different. Television hadn’t seen anything like it. That’s part of what the Rolling Stone story was about – and all to David Lynch’s credit. We were his vision.
I was lucky in that the women I worked with on The Practice were people I also adored. I was in the birthing rooms for two different labors, Kelli Williams and Camryn Manheim. Talk about amazing experiences. But that was The Practice in general. An amazing experience. I worked with the most committed actors, the most brilliant writing, the most respectful, driven, talented crew. But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.
I got The Practice because I lost out on Ally McBeal. It was between me and Calista Flockhart. She got the job, and I didn’t. I was heartbroken. It was a terrific project. But that’s what you have to get used to in this business. Afterward, David Kelley called probably three times before I finally answered. Thank God he was a patient man. He said he had this other show called The Practice, and he wanted to write me a part. Of course I didn’t believe him. I said, um, okay.
I’d had my heart broken. What was I supposed to say? He was like, “No, I’m serious, Lara. I’d like to send you the script. I want you to come to work this week.” I said, “You’re fucking with me.” He said, “No, I mean it.” And he did. And that’s how The Practice happened.
[watch the pilot for The Practice]
The part of Helen Gamble was created for me. Someone once asked if I modeled her after anyone. No, the truth is, I was in a bad mood one day and I took it from there. I’d also seen both Helen Mirren, who is my idol, and Glenn Close play lawyers, and I loved their performances. I tried to stay strong and never blink.
It’s funny. Helen’s often called a pit bull. I’d always ask David if he thought I was that bitchy. In real life, I swear to you, I’m not. I’m afraid of my own shadow.
We had to get The Practice off the ground. It didn’t have the kind of overnight buzz that Twin Peaks enjoyed. But some shows are like that. Although the cast came together from day one, it took a while for the show to find its voice and for the audience to connect with it. Interestingly, the cast was committed like none I’d ever worked with.
The level of commitment to good work among the cast and crew was incredible. We had 12 to 18 pages of dialogue a day. None of us slept. Everyone wanted to be word perfect. We made bets during courtroom scenes about how many takes we’d need, if people would hit their marks. Everyone wanted to be perfect. All of us were entrusted with the security code to the stage, and I don’t remember a day during those seven years when one of the actors wasn’t staying late into the night or showing up hours early to rehearse their scenes and doing their blocking in the courtroom.
[watch full episodes of The Practice]
David Kelley’s an actor’s dream. The whole series is so poignant and powerful, just breathtaking in the scope of issues we took on and the kind of characters he created for us. I remember Hillary Clinton came to the set one day. She had lunch with everyone. She was just a fan of the show. I find it still resonates today. I still get stopped and asked legal questions.
Tomorrow, I’ll answer some of your questions. Till then…
Comments (11)
Hi Lara. Thanks so much for taking the time to blog and answer some our questions. I have so many. A few things that I wanted to know like all Twin Peaks fans is why you didn't do the Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me film? I would have loved you in the film and was so bummed out to hear that you weren't going to be in it. What did you think of the Fire Walk With Me film? What did you think of Moira Kelly's portrayal o the character that you made so famous?
As for Twin Peaks, many people think the second season was not as well written as the first. Did you feel a drop of quality in the storylines? Did you agree with the choices in how the writers changed your character in the second season to be more of a bad girl? Was there ever talk about a direction or storyline which your character would have followed if there would have been a third Season?
You absolutely rock Lara!
Kate
Posted by Katherine | June 19, 2008 1:46 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 01:46
I loved Twin Peaks and The Practice. Lara, would you be interested in reprising your role if there were a sequel or spin-off for one of these shows? Is there any chance that we could see Helen Gamble on Boston Legal?
P.S. How do you like my fan site?: http://www.lfbonline.com
Posted by Mike Walters | June 19, 2008 1:59 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 01:59
Thanks for a look into the Peaks phenomena. Were you able to take any souvenirs from the set? If not, what would you have liked to have taken?
Posted by Jason | June 19, 2008 3:10 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 03:10
Do you feel that your character and Sherilyn's had many in common and should be friends?Also,what's your take at why the school doesn't appear in the series except for the pilot and some of Nadine's scenes?
George,
Greece
Posted by George Trivizas | June 19, 2008 4:32 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 04:32
Was that really you, Sheryl Lee and James Marshall singing "Just You and I"? Regardless, how'd you keep a straight face during playback, having to hear the ridiculous falsetto vocals and mind-numbing lyrics over and over again? ("We go strolling together"? Come on!)
Posted by You're my daddy! You're my daddy! | June 19, 2008 9:18 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 09:18
Hi Lara! Thanks you so much for taking the time to reflect on Twin Peaks, especially being so honest (like saying Kyle was your first love).
You make an excellent observation about audience reaction. People react in so many different ways to Lynch projects. I am one of the organizers of the annual, weekend-long Twin Peaks Festival, which takes place in Washington state where they filmed most of the exteriors for the show, and we also have a Lynch movie night at the Seattle Art Museum during the festival.
At the film night, some people are laughing and other people are almost upset that the other people laughing. Some people see the realism and honesty, others see the quirkiness and find humor in it. No matter what Lynch film we watch (with an audience of like 300), there are always people laughing.
In most mainstream work, it's directed so you know if you're suppose to be happy, or sad, or scared. Lynch doesn't hand hold the audience and tell them what to feel or think, though. So the audience gets confused and reacts in many varying ways.
That's part of why he is so unique, for good or bad.
James Marshall, Charlotte Stewart, and Don S. Davis will be attending the festival this year. Do you have any funny stories that involved them, in particular James? Any comments you want me to pass on to them?
Posted by Jared Lyon | June 19, 2008 10:49 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 10:49
My Mum gave me and my husband the twin peaks DVDs this past Christmas and we had a lot of fun watching them. They are campy 20 some years later but the stories were great. We throughly enjoyed it and I have since been loaning them out to friends. It killed us how much longer an hour of television was, we have gained almost 10 minutes of ads since then which was funny.
Do you still keep in touch with any of the cast or crew? Were any lifelong friendships forged?
Posted by Kate | June 19, 2008 4:44 PM
Posted on June 19, 2008 16:44
Hi Lara, thanks for doing this! Is it true you disapproved of developing the storyline of Twin Peaks towards Agent Cooper establishing a romantic relationship with Audrey Horne? And if so, what was your reasoning? I've heard rumors that it was due to these objections that the story sidetracked into various interesting (and less interesting) sub-plots with numerous guest stars.
Posted by Mustafa Bacon | June 19, 2008 6:35 PM
Posted on June 19, 2008 18:35
Lara, you must have lots of behind-the-scenes photos from the set of Twin Peaks. Is there any chance we will ever see any of those? Also, what was it like filming the pilot up in Washington?
Posted by Mischa | June 20, 2008 1:28 AM
Posted on June 20, 2008 01:28
Laura: thank you so much for sharing your insights to Twin Peaks. I thought your character's investigation along with James (James Marshall) and Maddie (Sheryl Lee) truly anchored the show. The three of you were such an interesting triangle, and I liked the tension between you and Sheryl especially. How did you feel when Sheryl was killed off the show (again!) ? At the time I was devastated as a fan and to this day the scene when she is murdered remains the most shocking thing I have ever seen on television. But I wonder if you didn't miss her as well. I thought your storyline (not performance, but material) suffered once the murder was solved. Anyway, sorry to ramble, just curious about your thoughts. The relationship Donna had with Maddie was so interesting, did you miss it when it was gone?
Posted by Mark | June 21, 2008 10:08 PM
Posted on June 21, 2008 22:08
hi Lara
Wow...what an amazing display of talent!
you lost out to calista flockhart,but ...YOU MADE THE PRACTICE!!![dylan who??camryn what-heim??]
LARA FLYNN BOYLE..........
do you know calista?ive seen a pic of you two together...
i guess both of you are fed up with the weight debate?
but i do admire you for your cuts ...to be thin in hollywood!?[oh the shame...the agony...how disturbing...to beautifull and too thin???...oh my!!!!]
you know ...no one is thin in hollywood!!!every body just lets themself go!!!![ha ha....]
you are a bit too nice to the people!!!!
love u
Posted by Fred | June 26, 2008 7:34 AM
Posted on June 26, 2008 07:34