Geneva Carr: Exclusive Interview
You probably know Geneva Carr best as the actress who plays Faith Yancy -- AKA Nancy Grace -- way too well on Law & Order.
What you probably don't know is that Geneva Carr grew up in Atlanta, appeared frequently on Hope & Faith with Kelly Ripa (where Wynonna Judd taught her to sing), worked with Liza Minnelli on the infamous Law & Order episode where she played the mother of a murdered child beauty queen, and even delivered Miranda's baby on Sex and the City.
We sat down with Geneva Carr to talk about growing up in Atlanta, playing Nancy Grace, and ultimately working with some of the most well-known divas in show business...
You're from Georgia just like Nancy Grace, right?
Yes, I went to high school at Paideia in Atlanta -- at the time it was run by hippies where we could pretty much do whatever we wanted. Now I understand it's a really good college prep school.
Was it a culture shock when you got to New York?
Yes. When I lived in Atlanta I lived in Inman Park, then I lived in Paris for four years. But New York is a crazy city and everything is on the go. It doesn't stop.
Tell me about working on Law & Order.
Oh my god, it's a dream come true. It's so fun to work there -- everybody's so funny, nice, and considerate.
Did you know who Nancy Grace was before you got cast as Faith Yancey?
Yes -- and I think that's what got me the part. I used to watch her all the time, and being from Georgia I could do her Southern accent and mannerisms really well. I also look a lot like her. It's a serious show, but when I went in for the audition they just kept laughing. I was like "what are you all laughing at?" and they were like "you do her really well." They just let me roll with it.
I have this one friend who is obsessed and watches her twice a day -- and it's the same show! I put on tons of black eyeliner and tease my hear and wear my clothes a little smaller than they should be because you know that's what she does. They even brought in the same makeup artist she uses on her show to show us how to do it.
She once told me she asks them to make her look like a drag queen.
Yes, that's what he said!
Have you ever met her?
I haven't met her yet, but I know a lot of people are starting to play her now, so I'm not sure if she'd want to meet all of us or not.
When you're playing her, do you see her as good or bad?
I see her as someone who's taken a bad situation and used it to her advantage -- as a springboard for what she wants to do. You know her fiance was mugged and murdered when she was young and she's still using that story. But she's no longer a lawyer -- now she's trying to get viewers. But I respect her. She's a loose cannon and basically says what everybody is thinking. Like when she accused that young mother of doing something to her child, and then the mother ended up killing herself and Nancy got all of the criticism. That wasn't fair. Everybody was thinking she probably had something to do with it but they just didn't want to say it. I respect that she never apologized or said she was sorry.
Are you going to keep coming back?
They've told me that as long as Nancy is in the news they'll keep having me back.
You also did a commercial for CNN.com -- was that strange?
That was BEFORE I started playing Nancy Grace. I'm not sure if I was playing her at the time I would have gotten that job! But it was so fun -- Lou Dobbs is hilarious.
And you got to work with Liza Minnelli?
Oh my god, Liza is a fucking trip! They told me she was going to come in, and they were like "when you meet her she's going to be like 'oh darling, how have you been?'" and she was just like that. I've never met the woman before in my life! It was a reunion like that all afternoon. She had a little trouble remembering her lines, but once she got them she was really good.
Tell me about working on Hope & Faith.
That was a trip. Kelly Ripa is exactly how she is on Regis & Kelly -- it was the happiest set I've ever been on.
Wynonna Judd taught you to sign on an episode?
Wynonna is a trip. Her husband was there -- he used to be her bodyguard. They're very spiritual -- she's one of the coolest people.
What was it like delivering Miranda's baby on Sex and the City?
Actually it was 10 babies! A baby can only work 10 minutes -- it was hysterical. It was one of the last episodes of the season right before September 11th, and it was called "I Heart New York." So it aired after 9/11 and was just so nice that it was named that. But Sarah Jessica Parker is so nice -- she eats with the crew. She's from Ohio and one day she brought in this famous icecream from there for everyone for dessert.
You also worked with Cynthia Nixon on One Last Thing.
I'm surprised she remembered me, but because I had delivered her baby she found me and asked me to be in it.
You were also in Then She Found Me with Helen Hunt?
Yes. I play a woman on a talk show -- they accidentally used my real name so I hope they keep that in there! Helen Hunt is so quiet -- she would just follow me around and whisper in my ear. I also had as scene with Bette Midler who has this rocking body and a really great personality and just looks great for her age.
What are you working on now?
Speaking of Sex and the City, I actually had a meeting with Darren Starr yesterday. I don't think I'll get it, but I have another meeting with Spike Lee this afternoon so hopefully that will go well!
- To see more of Geneva Carr's work, visit her official Web site at GenevaCarr.com .
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