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TV role all an act(Continued from Page 1) personality, a look. In theaterPart 3.” Shakespeare it wasn’t.■wWhen the part of Robin Agretti“That was the hardest experience I came up, she went for itaudienceYouhave a good look, but that's nevermost important thing.Her first job was in the feature film “Racing With the Moon.” She played a rich girl who fought with her boyfriend in a bowling alley. She spoke only two lines in the movie, but it served as an ice breaker for subsequent roles, including guest appearances in television series such as Silver Spoons,” “ and “Airwolf.”Loveever went through, says Howard. “I tried to do the best work I could, but I don’t like that type of movie. I felt 1 had betrayed myself when I made that movie, even though it got me a lot of other things. I don t know how the movie affected my career, but I do know how it affected me. I came back to Chicago after it opened and stayed for about a month. 1 didn't want to talk about it.While she isn't proud of her part inThey wanted someone who was likeable but could also be bitchy and manipulative, selfish and strong. They thought I was too sweet for the role. But I went in and did two readings and got it. It’s an interesting part. Robin isn’t a sweet. all-Ameri-girl, which is exactly what I didn’t want to be because I can always play those parts ”Howard wanted the part, but she didn’t want it forever. So she held outcanthe film, Howard learned a few les- for a one-year contract, even thoughFor an actor who learned her tradeby auditioning for stage roles in the “demanding and unlucrative arena of ingChicago theater, the quick money and deavariety associated with film and tele- nuc vision work in Los Angeles can be out enormously appealing. The temptation for a newcomer often is to get as much work as soon as possible. In a business where each performance is another notch in the resume, that can present some uncomfortable dilem-sons from ittfwas a good exercise she said. “I asked i f money and I woul f. Sometimes a goodtooand assume you won’t get it. I learned a lesson If you really don’t want to do something, don’t negotiate.”Lorimar asked her to sign for two.I want to keep growing more than anything,” Howard said. “I don’t want to settle into things that are very safe. I want to keep doing roles that challenge me.”But can anyone do that in episodic television?“There’s a real danger, especially since television production is so fast, that an actor can fall into what I callobjection to disrobing was re- general acting,’ where the work is almaslated icause she considered it to bebe-ways fine but never great, never exciting,” she said. “We shoot our show44try to have a lot of integrity ploitation movie. But Howard is gen- in seven days. I go in, rehearse onceabout the type of work I want to dosaid Howard, sitting up a littlestraighter in her chair. “I have standards.”Her standards, however, are not inviolable. She’s done a number of commercials to pay the rent, including spots for McDonald s and Jack in the Box. And she did one picture she wished she hadn’t — “Friday the 13th The Final Chapter.’ The 1984 feature was a variation on a slasher theme that had already been fully and presumablyopposed to performing movies. Nice eirls don’t doskin has gotten thicksince “Fridav theft44lived for a long time on the mon-for lighting and camera, then we do it. Usually, everything is in one take.You learn the lines and that’s it. The difference between good actors andactors is the choicesey from that film,” she said.Long enough to get a job on con Crest.”greatmake.”they44Fal-companytime' Lorimar, the production that produces the CBSprime time soap,Howard for a role as aproduces■ had auditionediisweetAmericanshort-lived NBCHoward isn’t clear about the choices she wants to make, except that she wants to do more feature films. And she’s recently put out some feelers for stage work in New York.“I was never surprised she becameprime-time sudser called Ber- an actress, said Pam Emmer. “Sheedtf 44Fridayrenger’sftIn’t get the part, bui impression on LoriPart 2” and “Fridaymar executiveswanted the attention. She wanted the audience. She wanted to achieve. Barbara was clear on her goals.”
Newspaper Details
Arlington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
Arlington Heights, Illinois, US
Mon, Mar 10, 1986
Page 18
Full Page
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AL, USA 20 Apr 2020
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