Interviewing Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Nash's cool daughter in Nash Bridges, Rich girl in She's All That and Whatever it Takes, psycho fodder in Halloween H2O, temptress in The Crow: Salvation, and upcoming star in teen movie Teacher's Pet.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe. Candies model with Mark McGrath, sexy girl in magazines like Maxim and Stuff, fiancée to the luckiest guy in the world.

Jodi is many things, but above all, she's a dreamer and an achiever. After a childhood spent in the modeling and entertainment industry, the young woman is coming into her own—a serious actress looking for a long career in Hollywood.

TeenHollywood.com recently found Jodi Lyn O'Keefe with some spare time and asked her a few questions. This is what she had to say...

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Hi Jodi, do you have any acting projects going on right now?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Actually no, I'm on hiatus, taking a break.

How long will this hiatus last?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Usually about three months unless I do some other work but I haven't done any other work this summer.

What was the last movie you did?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Teacher's Pet.

The last movie I saw you in was Whatever It Takes.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Oh, did you like it?

Yeah I did, and I wanted to ask you if you're anything like your character in that movie?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Not at all.

Many people describe the modeling industry as cutthroat and shallow, yet it led you to a fulfilling career. Can you tell us about your modeling experience and how did it lead to your role on Another World?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Absolutely. I started modeling when I was about eight years old so it wasn't so cutthroat, it was like little kids, and I did it until I was about 14. My modeling agency merged with a talent group called Jay Michael Bloom and I guess it was kind of an accident that I got an audition. They called me up one day and said, "Who are you?" I said "I'm one of the models over at Ford," and they asked if I wanted to sign some contracts and I said, "Why don't I have a couple more auditions," so the rest is history.

And this was in New Jersey?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Yeah that was in New Jersey.

Shortly after that you moved from New Jersey to Hollywood, undoubtedly a scary and new experience for you. What can you remember about those days starting out in Hollywood?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I remember I thought, "What am I doing here." I was the youngest cast member (on Another World) and I had my mom come with me. I looked around this room at all these faces I had only seen on television and it was kind of scary.

You got into the groove of things after that?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Absolutely.

What's your favorite movie or TV show that you've made so far?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Favorite movie that I've made. I think I'm going to have to say Teacher's Pet.

Why is that?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Well, I was definitely the bad girl, you know? I got to be crazy and it was a lot of fun doing my own stunts. I did a lot of fighting and I got to do a lot of running. I got to fire a gun, which was great! The bullets were blanks and it was so loud, it scared me. You can't believe how loud it is. I don't want to give it all away but I kill a few people.

So your fighting scenes, were you trained by a martial arts expert or anything like that?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: No, I just worked with the stunt coordinator.

So I'm sure you had to pretend punch and kick the bad guys. How close do you get to actually hitting these people?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Umm, well, you're supposed to get really, really close and one time I think I got too close. It's kind of rude to say it but I had to knee somebody in the groin and I kind of knocked into it a little too hard.

I've heard you recently got engaged. Are you able to see your fiancée on a regular basis?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Absolutely, I see him every day.

And I've heard he was an actor on Nash Bridges as well?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Yes, he was.

You've worked with some veteran actors, from Jamie Lee Curtis to Don Johnson. Who did you like working with the most and what did you learn from them?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Hmm, let's see, I'd have to say Cheech Marin.

Cheech and Chong?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Absolutely. The main reason is that he taught me how to do some physical comedy. He's got great timing, you know? And he always had a really good joke for me every day on the set.

I'm sure physical comedy is a hard thing to learn.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Oh my God, it really is. I had no idea.

Any pointers you can give me?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Don't be afraid to fall on your face, don't be afraid of fake blood, and always wear padding when working with retractable knives.

Jodi, what do you do in your spare time?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Oh my gosh. I don't have so much of it. I like to read a lot.

What type of books?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Anything. From mystery to horror to romance, you name it and I want to read it.

Any books you'd like to recommend to your fans?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I'd recommend She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I love that book.

That's being made into a movie if I recall.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Is it really?

Well, it's either She's Come Undone or his other one. Jodi, can you describe your career as an actress in one word?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: One word?...adventure.

I'm sure it is an adventure.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I think my whole career has been an adventure. I started really young; I went from modeling to acting which was a really great step for me.

Are you happy with your career at this point?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Much happier than I ever was. When I was modeling it was "Shut up, stand there and look pretty," and then when I started acting people began to say, "Well, what do you think?" That's what made me want to do it. I finally found a place to voice my opinions.

Do you prefer acting to modeling?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Absolutely.

Do you model any more at all?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: You know what? Not really. I do some ads and promotional things. I just did an ad for candies and that's about it.

What about computers and the Internet? As you know, this is an online magazine that you're being interviewed for, and I'm wondering if you spend a lot of time on the Internet?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I try to but I'm not very good at it. I'd love to send more email but I'm really slow with the typing, I'm getting better though.

Oh, you're a slow typist, is that the problem?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: (laugh) Yes. Practice, practice.

I've read one of your favorite actors is Humphrey Bogart. Are you an old movie buff?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I am. My favorite old movies are Giant and Casablanca, I love them all.

What do you like about old movies?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: When I was young I'd watch them with my grandfather, and all those actresses would look so beautiful on the screen. I couldn't get over how glamorous they were.

It's a very classic look.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Yeah, it is. There was so much glamour in those times.

What have you discovered about yourself in the past year?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Hmm...ok, this will be a good one, I really miss sleeping. I try and get eight hours a night, but once or twice a week I'll only get four. I hate that so much.

Is that because you're working all the time?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Yeah, especially when we do night shoots. I get all turned around and my body clock goes crazy.

What's the most adventurous thing you'd like to do in your lifetime?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I'd like to travel. I've only been to Mexico and the southern United States. I need to see the world.

Do you hope to do that as an actress or on your own?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: I think both. But I'd like to travel and not have to go to work at six A.M.

That's an interesting point because I think a lot of people outside of Hollywood think that actresses and actors spend all their time traveling, going to Europe and to Paris, and it seems to be a very glamorous lifestyle. Whereas, in reality, you're up at six A.M. and getting four hours of sleep per night. Is there a big difference from this perception?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: Oh, absolutely. That's what I've noticed. I thought it was going to be very glamorous, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. I mean, I love the work that I do, but you work all day and people say, "Oh, you're in such a beautiful place," but as an actress you don't really get to see anything—just the set and that's it.

Do you look forward to a long career as an actress or are there other things you plan on doing?

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe: No, that's what I'm hoping for. That's number one on my list.