Australian Herald Sun

[michelle]

waiting for transcript. . .

[Athame]

Sorry I didn't get this up the other day, homework's a pain in the butt.

Desperate Housewives might have steamrolled all before it last year, but the women of Wisteria Lane are suddenly dealing with a ratings migraine.
Houswives has lost viewers this year seemingly because it has lost it's first-season sheen and because its fans feel let down by a deterioration in plot structures and writing.
The high-gloss soap has also taken a hit because of the ratings resurgence of crime drama Cold Case, which stars Kathryn Morris.
When Who Wants to be a Millionaire was forced from air in April so host Eddie McGuire could concentrate on running Channel 9, Cold Case was moved from 9:30 pm to the cut-throat 8:30 pm timeslot--up against the once indomitable Housewives.
Beyond expectation, Cold Case has beaten Houswives in three of the past five Melbourne ratings surveys.
Morris, who plays Detective Lilly Rush, believes her show has won fans because its writers, production crew and actors supply such passion to their work.
"Particularly in the first season, I was so exhausted and emotionally drained at the end of the work day because of the subject matter we were dealing with," Morris says.
"I would leave the set in Manhattan Beach (Los Angeles) and I couldn't even listen to music in the car. I had a deep sadness about me and it really took me the hour drive home to decompress some of the issues in the show, like pedophilia and children being murdered. It's very emotional ... I'm usually pretty wiped out by it.
"The thing that never changes about this show is the level of care the cast and crew have for it. I've had jobs where there was no respect and people were yelling and screaming.
"But I remember sitting with the producers when I signed on for this and I said: 'I don't know what kind of show you want, but I really only want to be on a show where there's a family environment'."
Morris also feels there's an appeal in the fact Rush looks as though she's jumped straight out of bed and into her clothes.
"I decided to take the role because I felt good about the show, which was about a real woman doing work that is unique and special."
"It has universal appeal because it's about a working woman who is passionate about what she does."
The was a time where Morris felt she was failing in her career.
She has been in films opposite Gary Oldman and Tom Cruise, but in the early '90s she couldn't get a break. As hard as she tried, Morris couldn't get a part on shows such as Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, or Doogie Howser, M.D.
"I auditioned for 90210 and Melrose I would say nine times," she says with a laugh.
"I'd get feedback like: 'She's very intense'. The best one was when Ian Ziering (who played Steve Sanders on 90210) wanted to work with 'a really hot chick'."

Morris, 37, can joke about it now, but back then she was confused.
"It puts doubts in your head'."
However, one casting director reassured her after several rejections she shouldn't think she was crazy for giving acting a go--she would be one of the few women left standing when the "little girls" fell away.

Wandering Young Minstrel

Born in Cincinnati, Kathryn Morris had a nomadic childhood.
A big part of her upbringing, she says, was singing with her family's gospel troupe.
"It was very sweet, kind of Partridge family0like."
After her parents divorced, the pre-teen Morris went to live with her father in Connecticut.
"When I was growing up, I was called Kathy Questions by my family because I was so inquisitive.
"It's funny, because now I play a character who asks a ton of questions."
While studying at college, Morris used the income from several part-time jobs to take acting classes and travel to Manhattan for auditions.
She is engaged to financial adviser Randy Hamilton.

[tiger_lilly]

Thanks for putting this up Athame! It was a fun read .

This is so funny:

athame said:

The best one was when Ian Ziering (who played Steve Sanders on 90210) wanted to work with 'a really hot chick'."

[/b][/quote]

Well, she IS hot .

I love your new icon btw . That python looks so big compared to little you!

[michelle]

What an incredible woman to keep going after so many years of one rejection after another! Says a lot about her. A wonderful character trait. . .

The best one was when Ian Ziering (who played Steve Sanders on 90210) wanted to work with 'a really hot chick'."

Ouch! What a slam! Who was the "really hot chick" who got cast, does anyone know?

And to get turned down for Doogie Howser? Good Heavens! Poor Kathryn!

[longislanditalian2]

thanks Athame for the transcript

[LillyKat]

Really great article. That casting director was right - the little girls have fallen away, and Kathryn is in her moment. Kudos to her for her determination and drive; she never gave up. I also think it's quite cool that her own true story of how she came to be at this point in her life professionally is just as good - if not better - than most fiction. Her success is truly well-earned and well-deserved.

Thanks, Athame!

[michelle]

the little girls have fallen away, and Kathryn is in her moment. Kudos to her for her determination and drive; she never gave up.

Well said Lillykat!!

[Athame]

I love your new icon btw . That python looks so big compared to little you!

You're all welcome, and thank you, Tiger_Lilly! The photo was taken at Australia Zoo (home of Steve Irwin) in 2003, and from memory, it was only a young snake! ;D