1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: You're listening to I Choose Me with Jenny Garland. Hey, everyone, 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: welcome back to I Choose Me. We are going to 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: jump back into my conversation with Julie Ben's. We ended 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: up connecting on something that so many people face, whether 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: or not to have children and what happens if things 6 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: don't go as planned. I love sitting down with people 7 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: and finding the parallels in our lives. Because my husband Dave, 8 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: and I tried to have kids as well. It didn't work. Yeah, 9 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: I did the IVF yep. Did you try IVF? 10 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 2: Yes? 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: And how long did you try it? Because I was like, 12 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: I didn't do it for very long because I couldn't 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: handle it. 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 3: We did a handful of rounds. I mean when we 15 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 3: got married, I was forty, So when I got divorced 16 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 3: at thirty four, I knew possibly I was walking away 17 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 3: from my fertility. But I had tried in my late 18 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 3: twenties to get pregnant with my ex husband and it 19 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 3: didn't happen then, so I kind of knew that. I 20 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: started accepting the fact that it might not happen for me. 21 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 3: And I remember, like my both my obg y N 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 3: and my therapist at the time they wanted me to 23 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: freeze eggs, and they also wanted me to freeze embryos. 24 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 3: And I went through that whole process, and I went 25 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 3: through the whole like donor sperm questionnaire, like hair color, 26 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 3: eye color, he wait, like all the all the questions. 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 3: And I told my therapist, I was like, you know, 28 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 3: I keep looking for the box that says with the 29 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 3: man who loves me, and there's no box to check 30 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 3: when it comes to a donor sperm, right, And so 31 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: I made the choice that I was going to see 32 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 3: what life would bring and not freeze embryos or freeze eggs. 33 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 3: And I thought, you know, because I was like, I 34 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 3: don't I don't want to do it on my own. 35 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: I'm not. 36 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 3: Just being a mom on my own. Just wasn't it 37 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 3: just wasn't something I wanted to do alone. 38 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 2: So I took that risk. 39 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 3: And then once we got married, we started trying, and 40 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 3: we did a handful of rounds and we made a 41 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: couple embryos, and then we did the genetic testing and 42 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 3: they all came back back and basically I remember the 43 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 3: doctor called and was like, you know, you probably all 44 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 3: always had old eggs. 45 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 2: Yeah. 46 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: I love this conversation. 47 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 2: Right, And I remember this so vividly. 48 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 3: I I was really I was crying, and I went 49 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: and I was living in West Hollywood at the time, 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 3: and I went and walked my dogs and I got 51 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 3: paparazzied walking my dogs, and I'm bowling, but I start 52 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 3: smiling because it's you know, I don't want the paparazzi 53 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 3: to catch me crying. And I'm like smiling and waving, 54 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: and then like, I remember that photo ran in some 55 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 3: tabloids saying, you know, you know Dexter star Julie Ben's 56 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: outwalking her dogs. 57 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: Doesn't she look great? 58 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 3: And I was like, he only knew what I was 59 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 3: going through in that moment. But you know, for me, 60 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 3: we explored other options. And then by that point, I mean, 61 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 3: I was forty four and I really did some soul 62 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 3: searching and was like, first of all, I always thought 63 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 3: I'd be the hot young mom. 64 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: In second, I don't want to be sixty with a teenager. 65 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. 66 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 3: So you think if Rich my husband and I, if 67 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 3: we were in our thirties, we would have explored other options, 68 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 3: egg donor Saragi, adoption, all of that. 69 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: But I think I had. 70 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 3: To be really real about where I was in my 71 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 3: life and say, like, I mean, having a baby is great, 72 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 3: but they turn into teenagers eventually, and I don't know 73 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 3: if that's sixty that's for me. I don't know if 74 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 3: i'd be a good mom at sixty. I'm gonna be tired. Yeah, 75 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,799 Speaker 3: so how old is your husband? 76 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 2: He's a year younger, that year younger. 77 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 1: And you said he was never married before, so he 78 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: didn't have kids, no coming in Okay. 79 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 3: He's an identical twin and he has two nephews. And 80 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 3: then he has another brother that has a niece and 81 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 3: a nephew and we're very close to them. And then 82 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 3: my best friend has four kids that were the godparents 83 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 3: of so we have a lot of children in our life, right, 84 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 3: So we decided to pivot then and just be like, 85 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 3: let's be let's be the best aunt and uncle and 86 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 3: let's do that. 87 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: I love that though. It's admirable that you sat down 88 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: and really waited out, because it sounds like like naturally 89 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: you wanted to be a mom. You're one of the 90 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: people that was like, yeah, sure, I'm going to have 91 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: a family, I'm gonna be a mom someday. And then 92 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: as your life rolls out, for one reason or another 93 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't go as you thought it would. Yeah, and 94 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: you know, just hearing you say that, you know that 95 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: paparazzi experience where you were going through something so painful. Yeah, 96 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: and then you had to fake like you were happy. 97 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 98 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 3: It was so surprising, was the photo. Like you could 99 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: see like tears coming down my face, but nobody ever 100 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 3: said anything. 101 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 2: I was like, you're a good actress, fake it till 102 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: you're feel it. 103 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: I mean, but a lot of women, you know, struggle 104 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: with the same thing, and that decision to change gears 105 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: can leave them feeling somehow empty, somehow unuseful, or some 106 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: way of like feeling bad about themselves. 107 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 3: It was I mean, I would say for the first 108 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 3: year after, it was really tough. And I didn't share 109 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 3: it publicly because I'm just not that like, I just 110 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 3: didn't feel comfortable sharing it publicly. And I remember we 111 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 3: would be at dinner with people like friends, like work, 112 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 3: colleagues of my husband's and their wives, and their wives 113 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 3: would be like, oh, you gonna have kids, and I'd 114 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 3: be like no, and they'd be like, oh my god, 115 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 3: you have you have to have children, like you have 116 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 3: to Oh my gosh, the best and they go into 117 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 3: this whole thing, and I started getting to this point 118 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 3: where I would just be like, I can't have children, 119 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 3: and my husband would be like, why. 120 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 2: Are you so mean about it? 121 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 3: And I'm like, because I don't want to have the conversation, 122 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 3: Like I don't want to have to have the conversation 123 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 3: with people that I don't know very well, and it's 124 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 3: the only way I know how to shut them up. 125 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: Really, it was just me like I can't have kids, 126 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 2: and they'd be. 127 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: Like, oh, yeah, next subject, let's talk about something else. Huh. 128 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: So yeah, I know. For me, I had was blessed 129 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: with my three daughters in my first marriage or second marriage. Sorry, 130 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: now let's get technical. And then with Dave, I felt 131 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: like I really wanted to have a child for him 132 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: and I felt like he was such a great dad, 133 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: and we tried and tried, and then it didn't work, 134 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: and I had that period of time where I was like, 135 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: it's me, My eggs are old. Yeah. We went so 136 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: far as to have his sperm checked and he like 137 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: got the top of the highest rating you can get 138 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: and he was like oh yeah, and I was oh 139 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: my god, and I was like, Hi, I'm over here 140 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: with old eggs. Thinks that feels great. But that whole 141 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: period of time of just like letting that sink in 142 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: and finding your way around the shame or the disappointment 143 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: and the morning honestly, the grief. 144 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 3: It was the There was definitely a lot of grief 145 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 3: and a lot of mourning. And then I made a 146 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 3: very superficial deal with myself, very vain, superficial deal. Tell me, 147 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 3: I said, well, if I'm not going to have kids, 148 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 3: then I'm going to be the sixty year old with washboard. 149 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: Apps and Hi, I've seen your apps. 150 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 3: And that's when I really I started working out a 151 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 3: lot because I was like, all right, I can't have kids, 152 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 3: then I'm going to have a killer body. And sometimes 153 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 3: you just have to make whatever that superficial deal is 154 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 3: with yourself, and god, it just sounds I mean, it 155 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 3: sounds terrible. 156 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: But it helped me. It doesn't sound terrible. 157 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 3: It helped me focus on something else and it helped. 158 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 3: And it also helped that my best friend had four 159 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 3: kids and that's a lot of kids. 160 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you were like, maybe this is such a 161 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: this is a good thing. 162 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: Outa Yeah, like I can help you. 163 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: Out, Yeah, and you have this freedom and this like 164 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: sort of care free ability with your husband. Yeah, you know, 165 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: there's some things. Once I settled into the fact, I 166 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: was like, we're going to just have so much fun 167 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: together and it's not gonna because it does. The kids 168 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: bring stress in and there's so much responsibility and it's 169 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: just so layered when you have a family and you're young, 170 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: you're raising them. 171 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 3: I also don't know how anyone survived the pandemic with 172 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 3: kids at home. 173 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: I really don't. 174 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 3: I mean, it was tough just the two of us 175 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 3: that I couldn't even imagine having children and navigating it. 176 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: So, you know, I was a little relief. 177 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, luckily mine we're a little older. But 178 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 1: I did sit and think, ooh, how is this screwing 179 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: them up socially and you know with their development? Yeah, 180 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: it was doing a number on everybody. So I love 181 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: that your relationship is thriving, Thank you, and everybody would 182 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: want to know the secret to that success. And it 183 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: sounds like it's kind of you guys allowing each other 184 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: to be independent. Yeah. 185 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 3: I think it's just we allow each other to be 186 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 3: who we are, right, you know what I mean, and 187 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 3: we support each other through it. 188 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love each other. 189 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 3: And we I mean, we did do therapy early on 190 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 3: to help with our communication, and I had to learn 191 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 3: that there's a tone in my voice that if I 192 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 3: hit it, he can't hear me right, and it's more 193 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 3: destructive than helpful. So now when I get upset, I 194 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 3: write it down and I hand it to him, but 195 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 3: I write it in funny ways, like sometimes I'll do 196 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 3: tiny little post it notes, like one word on each 197 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: little thing and put it up all in the wall, 198 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 3: and then they make him read it out loud, or 199 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 3: I'll send him an email, or you know, I'll do 200 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 3: something and then he has to read it out loud 201 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 3: to me. 202 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: Just to let you know that he's really understanding when 203 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: you're hearing me. So that is an interesting hack. Yeah, 204 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: for those of us that struggle with communications, confrontation, and marriages, 205 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: that's a great idea. 206 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, it works really well. I might try it, especially 207 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: the post it notes. That always makes him laugh when 208 00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 3: he sees like a bunch of posts and. 209 00:11:59,200 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: He's like, oh, you. 210 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,479 Speaker 2: Need something better than the text message. 211 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: You know what. They don't like those, they don't like 212 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: those text messages. I want to talk a little bit 213 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: about your work, because I was a huge fan. As 214 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: I mentioned of Dexter, your character Rita, thank you, you 215 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: were so good. Thank you and you did more makeup 216 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: right or you were very. 217 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 3: Season one no makeup at all? Right, it was amazing. 218 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 3: I remember it was freeing. 219 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, look at this beautiful natural woman. 220 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 3: It was no hair, no makeup, and it was like, 221 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: for the first time I got to experience what it 222 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 3: was like to be a guy on set. 223 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, like my call time was rehearsal. 224 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: Oh no more two hours earlier. 225 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: It was amazing. Yeah, I loved it. 226 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 3: Season one, Rita was my favorite and the I just 227 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 3: loved her so much. And of course then she had 228 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 3: to grow and change, and then they had to have 229 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 3: hair and makeup calls and. 230 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: Oh man, well that subject matter was dense, tough, heavy, yeah, 231 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: really scary and just like your character alone had her 232 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,599 Speaker 1: all her own stuff. Yes, but then she's married to 233 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: a serial killer, which she never knew, she never knew, 234 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: so that did you ever? You know, we are all 235 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: part of the characters we play, I think as actress 236 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: as it comes from somewhere inside of us. And did 237 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: you ever take her home? Did you ever have trouble 238 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: leaving work and keeping work at work? That was kind 239 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: of energy. 240 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 241 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 3: So when I was playing Rita, I you know, during 242 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 3: the months we would film, I was definitely more emotional 243 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 3: in life, Like I would be crying over like a 244 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 3: coffee commercial or something like that. 245 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 2: Things would hit me more deeply than normal. But I think. 246 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 3: So season one, I was still married to my ex 247 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 3: husband and that's when I was making the decision to 248 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 3: get divorced. And so I think in a weird way, 249 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 3: Rita helped me. 250 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know what way do you think? 251 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 3: First of all, having a bit of job security stability. Second, 252 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 3: I think she was so damaged and beaten down that 253 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 3: and you know, my ex husband was not abusive at all, 254 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 3: like that is not But I really could relate to her. 255 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 3: Feeling that that apology after every sentence they like I'm 256 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, you know that I don't know. That really 257 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 3: resonated with me, and I was like, I don't, I don't. 258 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 3: I don't want to be that, you know. So I 259 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 3: think in some ways she gave me the strength to 260 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 3: really look at my life and be like I have 261 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 3: you know, I need to move I need to get out, 262 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 3: I need to move on. 263 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: I can see how she would motivate that because what 264 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: she endured, you know. The character was so strong, yeah, 265 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: but so weak at the same time, so vulnerable and 266 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: or like a raw nerve. So it makes perfect sense 267 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: how you would go home feeling like you could cry 268 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: at any commercial. It makes such sense. But that's a 269 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: really must have been a really interesting time in your life. 270 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 3: It was, and I really loved playing her, like I 271 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 3: really and I loved working with Michael. Just being on 272 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 3: the show was It was amazing because coming off of 273 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 3: the WB for Buffy and Angel, which even though we 274 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 3: were doing incredible work over there, most of Hollywood wasn't 275 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 3: really looking at it or recognizing right it was considered 276 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 3: a teen show. So I felt like Rita was my 277 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 3: time to finally be a woman, yeah, and be a grown. 278 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: Up and work on good material, yeah, like really good writing. 279 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 3: And I thought it was so funny because I remember 280 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 3: during season one, everybody was I was getting applauded for 281 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 3: going on camera with no makeup on, and I was like, 282 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 3: I mean, I run around my house like this, like. 283 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 2: It isn't this a very old deal. 284 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,359 Speaker 1: I'm not a completely wipe. 285 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: I was like, it's not that big of a deal. 286 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 3: I mean, but people like everyone's like it's so amazing, 287 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 3: And I was like, so amazing because I don't have 288 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 3: to go in two hours earlier. 289 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: I know, they killed Rita very upsetting. What season was 290 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: it four? Season four and four and you said that 291 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: you wished you had advocated for her more, Yes, what 292 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 1: would you have said? 293 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 3: So my opinion is season one and two I had 294 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 3: very strong story arcs, and then one of our writers 295 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 3: left and he was the one who really captured the 296 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 3: voice of Dexter and Rita. And then in season three 297 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 3: and especially in season four, I mean, I just the 298 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 3: storyline was just not there. But that's the nature of 299 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 3: episodic television. Like some years you have a great storyline 300 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 3: and then some years you have to take a backseat 301 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 3: while other actors get. 302 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: Their great storyline. 303 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 3: And I just wish I had advocated more for her. 304 00:17:54,760 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 3: I wish I had stood up more and you know, 305 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 3: challenge them to come up with more creative things to 306 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 3: do with her rather than just accept, well, this is 307 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 3: the nature of the beast. And I had a great 308 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 3: season one. In season two, there were other actors on 309 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 3: the show who didn't like their season one in season 310 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 3: two who all of a sudden now were being elevated 311 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 3: during season three, so. 312 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: It was like, you know what I mean? 313 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 3: So I was like, but maybe I should have challenged 314 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 3: the writers more and said, hey, guys, this is kind 315 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 3: of silly, like can I do something like can we 316 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 3: come up with something a little more interesting? 317 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: So did you not feel like it was your place 318 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: to do that or did you not feel comfortable? 319 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 2: I didn't want to be difficult. 320 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: You didn't want to be difficult. 321 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 3: Meanwhile, I watched other actors during season one and season 322 00:18:55,040 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 3: two do the same thing, like speak up, advocate for 323 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 3: their characters, and they weren't deemed difficult, but I just was. 324 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 3: I just didn't want to be difficult. 325 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: Where do you think that comes from? 326 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 3: Oh? I mean obviously being the youngest child in the family, 327 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 3: I think, and just being the good girl. 328 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: You know. 329 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've learned since then that there's a way of 330 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 3: doing it. I mean I watched when I worked on 331 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 3: Desperate Housewives. After I was doing a scene with Marsha 332 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 3: Cross and I was a huge fan of the show, 333 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 3: so I knew the characters inside and out, and we 334 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 3: were rehearsing this scene and Marsha's like, this doesn't make 335 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 3: any sense, and I was just I mean, I was 336 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 3: just recurring on the show, so I was just sitting 337 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 3: there and she was talking to the director and she's like, 338 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 3: this doesn't make any sense for my character, and she 339 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 3: was going through the reasons why, and then she turned 340 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 3: to me and she's like, what do you think? And 341 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 3: I'm like, you are one hundred percent correct. It makes 342 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 3: the scene makes no sense for your character. And I 343 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 3: went through it because I'd been such a huge fan, 344 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 3: and I watched them. They went off and then they 345 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 3: shut down set for like an hour and they rewrote 346 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 3: it and they called us down to the writer's room 347 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,239 Speaker 3: and they read it to us and it was so 348 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 3: much better, and it just made it made her storyline 349 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 3: so much fuller and richer. And I watched how she 350 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 3: did that. It wasn't she didn't raise her voice. It 351 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 3: didn't come from a place of anger or frustration. She 352 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 3: just really was like, this just doesn't make sense. And 353 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 3: they heard her and they changed the script. It was incredible, 354 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 3: and I was like, Oh, that's how you do because 355 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 3: I always thought speaking up. 356 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 2: Would be confrontational. 357 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: So yeah, I've seen it all different ways in my career, 358 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 1: but you're absolutely right. It's just better when you are 359 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: calm and you know what you're talking about, you know, 360 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: and it makes sense. It makes sense, and it's a collaboration. 361 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: It's not like you suck. 362 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 363 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: I mean I've shown up in all different ways since 364 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: I told the writers off a few times in my past. 365 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: But now it's just so much easier to work together, 366 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: right and hopefully you have that team right. 367 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 3: And I wish I had had that experience before Dexter. Yeah, 368 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,719 Speaker 3: you know, because I'm Buffy and Angel. The writing was 369 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 3: incredible and we just said the words right like there 370 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 3: wasn't especially my character was amazing, Like I never I 371 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 3: never had a moment that felt false as the carecharacter, 372 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 3: so you didn't have to say yeah, so I didn't 373 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 3: really know how. 374 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: Yeah that's and so moving forward in your career, have 375 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 1: you sort of been able to utilize that in your 376 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: current work, your recent work? Yeah. 377 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 3: I mean when I was on Defiance, I remember season one, 378 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 3: my character was the hero of the piece, she was 379 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 3: the mayor, she was the hero she was, and I 380 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 3: really wanted them to you know, I really kept asking 381 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 3: like what's her achilles heel? Like what is it? What's 382 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 3: her deep dark secret? And they're like, but you're the hero. 383 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 3: There's no deep dark secret. You're the hero. So I 384 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 3: remember being on set during the pilot and the prop 385 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 3: guy we're in my character's office and he brings me 386 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 3: a coffee mug and I look at him and I'm like, 387 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,959 Speaker 3: how about every time I in here, no matter what 388 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 3: time of day it is, it's a glass of scotch. 389 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 2: Don't bring me coffee, Bring me scotch. 390 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 3: And I created an alcohol problem for wasn't written and 391 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 3: in season two they leaned into it, but it was 392 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 3: me going, I want to give her something. I want 393 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 3: to give her, Like what does she do at night? Yeah, 394 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 3: when the world is falling apart and it's all on 395 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,440 Speaker 3: her shoulders to make the decisions. 396 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, because being a hero is hard. 397 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 2: It's hard. So she drank. 398 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,479 Speaker 1: That's genius though. You made your own storyline. Yeah, with 399 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,719 Speaker 1: one simple prop change. Yeah, I love that. I just 400 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: want to ask you about maybe some advice for women 401 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: our age, you know, who are are dealing with the 402 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: same things that we're dealing with and the life changes 403 00:23:55,560 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: and all the things. Yeah, what is what is the 404 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: piece of advice that you could pass down, pass on 405 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: some sort of you know, I believe in you message 406 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: that you're so good at giving. 407 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 3: Well, I believe in you. I think there's a couple things. First, 408 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 3: protect your bone density. 409 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: First and foremost. 410 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: By jumping. 411 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 3: You can do it by jumping, you can do it 412 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 3: by walking with a weighted vest. Ye. Do everything you 413 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 3: can to protect your bone density, because that's the most 414 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 3: important thing as we get older, especially as women. And 415 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 3: then I think it's so important to have your alone time, 416 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 3: like the world can get really big and crazy, and 417 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 3: to have that quiet time for yourself and whether it's 418 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 3: meditation or journaling or working out or yeah, or going 419 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 3: for a walk or being out nature, just making sure 420 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 3: you you have those moments to breathe and recenter yourself. 421 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 3: You know. 422 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, you don't really realize it's how important that is 423 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: until you do it. Yeah, and then you feel this 424 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: sense of like, why haven't I done this sooner? 425 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? 426 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 3: And there's all types of like breath work apps. There's 427 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 3: I like to do box breathing, me too, really into 428 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 3: the box breathing. 429 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: What's your count? Wow? 430 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 2: You know I'm good at four. 431 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 3: I try to do seven and then I feel like 432 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 3: I'm gonna die. 433 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: So do you do four? 434 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 3: In hold for four and then out for four, out 435 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 3: for four and hold for four and then in for four. 436 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. 437 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 3: I try to push it to seven, but that holding 438 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 3: it for seven is like, wait, there's. 439 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,919 Speaker 1: Something so magical about If you know what box breathing is, 440 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: you're gonna enjoy this. If you don't, you're what are 441 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 1: you talking about? But I breathe in for four, hold 442 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: for four, and then breathe out for eight, and there's 443 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 1: something so magical in that last four count of that 444 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: eight out breath. 445 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 2: I'm going to try that. 446 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:03,199 Speaker 1: You go into another space and time. I'm gonna try that, 447 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: and it feels scary at first, but it's like it's 448 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: like a drug almost. 449 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 450 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: So all here for the box breathing. 451 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 2: Yeah. 452 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 3: I just think it's so important that you you check 453 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 3: in with yourself yep. 454 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: And that's great advice. 455 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 3: And if that means you're gonna cry, then cry let 456 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 3: it out, let it out, let it out. 457 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 2: I'm big on that. Feel your feelings, feel your feelings. 458 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: Yep. That's such great advice, great advice. 459 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:29,439 Speaker 2: Thank you. 460 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: I love getting to know you. Thank you. 461 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 2: I'll make you dinner, okay,