"CBS Production"

We caught up with Catherine Bell just before the cast and crew broke for their summer hiatus.

Q: Can you explain something for me? When you first appeared on JAG, you were a different character, correct? [note: Catherine Bell first appeared as Lt. Diane Schonke in the episode "Skeleton Crew." This episode never aired in the United States, but footage was used in the episode "Death Watch" (original airdate: March 31, 1998)]

Bell: Yes, it was a little part and I was killed at the end of the episode. This was the first year, then NBC canceled the show. And CBS picked it up and I heard they were going to hire a new female lead, and I just said "That's my part. I don't care, I'm getting it somehow." Which was weird, because I was already dead, but I was very persistent. And I wrote Don [Belisario, executive producer] a letter and said wouldn't it be interesting to have the new character look just like the old one. Because, basically, Harm was in love with the character that got killed. So I thought it would be interesting if Harm's new partner looked just like the deceased love-of-his-life. And Don said it wasn't such a bad idea.

Q: Did you have any favorite television shows as a kid?

Bell: Yeah, I loved all the silly ones...The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family. I lived with my grandparents so I used to also watch all the shows they watched, like Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I.

Q: Do you go online at all?

Bell: Yes, I do. Not as much as I used to, but I use the Internet for everything. I use it for information. Like if I'm planning a trip or something, I'll check out the place I'm going to. Actually, my husband uses it more than I do. He's really into video games so he uses it to find the codes, you know, the tricks for all the games.

Q: When you're not working, do you have any hobbies that keep you busy?

Bell: Sports, lots of sports...Wakeboarding, and dirt-bike riding, and all the stuff that gets people worried that I'm going to get hurt...But I'm really careful, I'm really safe. I'm not doing twenty-foot jumps or anything.

Q: Do you have any plans for the upcoming hiatus?

Bell: I'm still trying to figure that out. We have about seven weeks off, and I'm meeting with people and auditioning. I'm hoping to find something, like a neat little role in a movie or something. The trick is to find something that shoots right in those seven weeks. But I'm definitely going to be taking some time off, just hanging out with my husband and relaxing.

Q: I've read an old interview where you mentioned you rarely get recognized on the street, even though your ratings are great. Has that changed now that JAG has become a big hit?

Bell: It's changing a bit, but the thing in LA is everyone is either in the industry, or knows someone who is in the industry. So, they don't let on that they recognize you, that's what I've found out. Like, I'll be in a mall doing some shopping, something totally normal, and this person is helping me. And, at the end of about an hour or so, they'll sort of lean over and say [in a whispering voice], "By the way, I love your show." So they do know me, they just don't want to let on...But, people are recognizing me more. Sometimes fans just approach me on the street and say how much they love the show. It's great to get that kind of feedback.

Q: Was there a particular episode from this season that you thought was really fun or memorable in some way?

Bell: There is one it's coming up next week, "Second Sight" [original airdate: April 27, 1999], it's actually my personal favorite. It's about my parents, because we never really know what happened to them. I wouldn't say it was fun, but as an actress it was great to do, because I get to do every emotion there is.

Q: Any insights as to what is going to happen next year?

Bell: I haven't got a clue...I don't know. I'm kind of pushing for Mac to get a motorbike so she can pull up to JAG on a motorbike one day. But that's just my plan.

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