While at UCLA Bell had done some modeling; she got into an acting class by
"accident", once she was in she found that she "really,
really loved it. It was a way to overcome my shyness, to express my
feelings and emotions. And within six months to a year, I was
hooked." Catherine says that when she did make the decision to become
an actress that her mother and the rest of her family were very supportive
of her and her decision; she also claims that she was not
"discovered" and that it took nine years to "get that big
break." Bell advises those with desire to act to "take acting
classes.
Watch as many movies as you can, and if
you have the chance at all, do theater. It's a great training ground. I
didn't do a lot of it, but I know David had theater as his background and
highly recommends it." When asked who the greatest role model in her
life was, Bell chose her uncle. "We grew up in the same house, and he
was a really great, hardworking, ethical person. A great role model!"
In an online chat event, Catherine told her fans that part of her hiatus
would be spent in Jamaica, and that she would "do everything from
staying home and watching movies, making dinner with my husband - to motor
bike riding, water skiing, all different types of sports." She also
mentioned that the next spot on her vacation list is Italy because of its
"museums, and the old buildings, and the history." She said she
loves cold, rainy weather, and would like to have homes all over the
world, because she cannot choose where she would like to live. "It
was a very unusual experience. I loved it though!"
Catherine said of her playing two roles
on JAG, Lieutenant Diane Shonke, in an episode of the first season, and
then coming in to take a regular role as Major Sarah "Mac"
MacKenzie. "I couldn't have been more thrilled that I was killed off
in one episode and brought back as a series regular in the next." In
her visit with her fans she also gave a peek into the antics that happen
on the set. "David's a great jokester, and there are just fun, silly
things happening all the time!
The main prank we play with props is for
the people's birthday. The special effects people will put a little
explosive in the cake so it blows up in their face. That's always great
fun to play on a guest star, or one of the trainees or someone who's
new." The actors are on set from fifteen to eighteen hours a day, ten
months out of the year, filming and rehearsing; and filming for the fourth
season begins the first week of July. Catherine and her husband, Adam
Beason, recently bought a new house and have a puppy. Her husband used to
be a stunt man, but currently he is working in computers. A former
"squid" asked Catherine if she preferred Marine Green or Navy
White, to which she answered, "Don't tell any Marines I said this,
but I do think the Navy uniforms are pretty sharp! Our technical advisor
is a 22 year veteran of the Corps and he's a real stickler!"
She also told those in attendance that
her favorite episode was "The Stalker" because she was able to
do more in depth acting than most episodes permit, because her character
was dealing with he death of a loved one, was being stalked, and got drunk
and fell off the wagon. Bell got to explore many different emotions that
she doesn't get to explore on JAG on a regular basis. Catherine devotes
some of her precious time, when free of filming, to charities and other
causes.
She spends most of her time with
Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, California, and the Buoniconti Fund,
which is trying to find a cure for paralysis. The Buoniconti Fund was
formed by Marc Buoniconti, who was paralyzed in a college football
accident, whom Catherine describes as "an amazing man with an amazing
spirit and zest for life!" The fund, like the American Paralysis
Association, conducts massive research to find a cure "and they are
getting very close." They have been successful in regenerating the
nerve cells in lab mice, and actually making them walk again. Amazing
isn't it? Catherine has also participated in fundraisers and auctions with
the Children's Hospital in L.A. Although it has been tough with her
schedule, she tries to stay involved.
Bell has meet several actual JAG lawyers,
and most often hears that their job is nothing like what Mac and Harm do
on the show; mostly, they say, they just behind desks and do paperwork.
"But they love that we make them look so glamorous!" Bell claims
that the most memorable thing that she will forever remember was getting
the phone call that she had gotten JAG. "This huge life-changing
moment of going from zero to ninety in two seconds! I don't have much of a
personal life anymore. I miss having free time to just relax. Getting
recognized is fun, and so far it hasn't gotten overwhelming. Learning to
live with less sleep, and less of the fun things I like to do has been
part of the change."
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