Interview with Mädchen

Her name: It is pronounced MAY-chin (or MAY-chen) AIM-ick. Her mother is named Judy, her father was Bill; they wanted a 'different' name for her.

On meeting her husband, David: When she moved to LA at age 16, she had a one-track mind, focused on her career. She really didn't think about dating. David lived across the street, and was similarly focused on his recording and songwriting career. They have been together ever since.

When asked what she gave up by marrying and having children at an early age: "Nothing, it just added to my life. And I had people saying 'Ah, well, you had such a good career going', as if it's gonna stop? This is just, you know, another love in my life, and it's not gonna stop me."

When asked what obstacles she had to overcome in her inter-racial marriage (David is black): "I never saw any, you know, I mean everybody warned me of it but it seems like the people who warned me of it were the [only] ones that were causing any problem at all."

Regarding her "Central Park West" role, when asked if she likes playing a bad girl, and if there is anyone as manipulative who is self-aware. "Yeah, I think she's [Carrie's] self-aware. I think she's a good actress, because she changes from situation to situation to turn it around to benefit her.".

When asked "Did you always want to be an actress?", she replied "I always wanted to do something in show business, and my father was a musician, and he had a band - he's passed away a couple of years ago - but, he had a band, so I've always grew up around entertainment, I wanted to either dance or play music or model or act, and at 14 I started in theatre in school and decided that I really loved it and was really attracted to it, so...".

On working with David Lynch: "It was a great experience. That was really one of my first experiences starting out, 'cause I got that when I was probably about 17 at that point - so that was sort of my schooling and David Lynch was sort of my teacher, and what a great teacher 'cause he really encouraged you - he would set the stage and he would encourage you to then create and become...".

There was more conversation about David Lynch.

Regarding "Dream Lover", she said that she was eight months pregnant when she tried out for the role of Lena, and started filming four weeks after delivery.

On what happened after "Dream Lover": "And then from that - it's hard to find good scripts and I was fortunate with 'Dream Lover' and like you said my looks - I would go out for things and a lot of times it's like my looks would supersede me..."

"And so there were a lot of parts that I was attracted to that actually had interesting things and was intelligent they weren't seeing me as and the parts that was being offered didn't have anything to them because they were the good-looking parts, and so I just started pursuing independent films because of that - because I'm attracted more to independent films because you know it's usually more intelligent and artistic and it just seems like the studio films have that formula and they want you to do a certain thing, you know, and you don't have as much creative control.".

On whether it is "politically incorrect" in Hollywood to be happily married and have children: "Well, you know, I've always thought that if somebody's not going to hire me because I'm married or I'm taken I don't want to work with them. I want to be hired because you think I'm good and I'm gonna bring something to the part or to the film or to the show."

At first, she was hesitant about doing "Central Park West" because of the long hours that go with TV production.

Her parents divorced when she was 2-1/2 years old. Her mother worked for doctors and dentists as an office manager.

On her idea of an ultimate leading man: "An ultimate leading man? No - no one specific. I want to work with a lot of people just because there are a lot of very talented people that will bring different things and it's always a challenge and it's always exciting and interesting to get a different mixture. I love diversity - I just did a romantic comedy - 'French Exit' .".

I did a web search on that title and got only one hit - the film was listed in the program for a film festival.

On her acting motivation: "I think that I'm really just a good mimicker." She said that when she was little, when her mother had a party, she would sit in the room with the grown-ups and listen to their stories.

While working in New York City on "Central Park West", she was a mugging victim. It happened outside the townhouse where she was living. She had just gotten out of a cab at 2 A.M. when two guys came up, one grabbing her and the other her purse. She called out to her husband (who was inside) and the attackers ran off.

Overall impression: Madchen is very intelligent, unpretentious, and personable. Unfortunately, she seemed uncomfortable and inexperienced with TV interviews, which is hardly surprising since the media pay so little attention to her. The interview didn't provide a lot of new information or insight, this failure being largely the fault of the questions asked.

by
Albert

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