8 Questions With … Brooke Elliott

1. What has been your strangest fan encounter?

Brooke Elliott: I was walking through Nordstrom at The Grove in L.A. and all of a sudden I heard this bloodcurdling scream. I stopped and some girl who had just walked by me was screaming [slips into a perfect Valley Girl accent], “Ohmigod, that’s Drop Dead Diva!” and telling everyone around her, “Drop Dead Diva! Drop Dead Diva!” I was like, “Shhhhhhh!” Then I kept walking because I didn’t know where she was going and I was a little frightened.

2. What’s the better story — the first time you were starstruck or the last time?

Hmmm. The first time was probably Barbra Streisand — and I didn’t even talk to her. I just got to go to her concert when I was 17 years old and I sat in the audience and was so starstruck by her and everything she was doing. And honestly? I’m starstruck every time we have a star come on this set. Every single time. I’m like, “Oh my God, that person’s here?”

3. When was the last time you felt like crying?

Probably over the weekend. I was just tired. So tired. Overwhelmed. Tired. [laughs]

4. If your TV only aired three shows, which three would you want?

Modern Family. The Office. And I’m going to throw Grey’s Anatomy in there for a little soap opera-y drama. Oh wait, maybe The Bachelor. That’s my guilty pleasure, The Bachelor. Yeah, throw The Bachelor in there.

5. Speaking of soap opera-y drama, if the guy who showed up on Jane’s doorstep in the Season 1 finale is really her husband, how come Stacy doesn’t know him?

I don’t want to blow what it is, but I do want people to be excited about the second season. So let’s just say a basic theme for Season 2 is that just when Jane thinks she has stuff — like at the end of the finale, even though she was leaving the law firm, she was like, “I got this; even though I’m leaving the firm, I know how to be in Jane’s body” — challenge after challenge knocks her off her game and she has to learn a little more about herself and where she is in this new life. But without giving too much away, we do find out what that relationship was — and, to me, it’s very touching.

6. Don’t you love that a show that began with a pair of untimely deaths is one of the most feel-good shows on TV?

It’s one of the most important themes of the show, and it’s one of my biggest goals of the show! We’re constantly told throughout our lives that we’re never good enough. We’re not pretty enough, we’re not smart enough, we’re not thin enough — or, God forbid, we’re too thin. The reason I love the show is that we’re saying, “You’re already gorgeous. You’re already wonderful.” I think people are begging to go, “Aren’t I OK, already? Aren’t I good enough just the way I am?” Our show is — hopefully — telling them that they are.

7. Will we get to hear you sing again this season?

We did a whole recording studio thing with “Would I Lie to You?” for the premiere episode. It’s really fun.

8. If you could wake up in someone else’s life — a la Deb, except you get to choose — who might it be and why?

I would like to be in a man’s body. Doesn’t matter, any man. I would like to see how they think and what they feel. They’re so mysterious!

About Lori Acken 1195 Articles
Lori just hasn't been the same since "thirtysomething" and "Northern Exposure" went off the air.