Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Acting Thing and Going Brunette

As a kid I grew up doing little community theatre plays and singing with my family but it is not something I was obsessed with. More than anything I wished I had been born at an earlier time so that I could sing and dance with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. When I was ten my most cherished Christmas gift was a large hard-back coffee table book with big black and white photos of Fred Astaire and whomever happened to be in feathers. I loved him. When I got to high school, our theatre director was drunk most of the time so I didn't do any acting. I had an amazing art teacher, Patty Post, my senior year of high school so that is what I gravitated toward.

I planned to get my portfolio together by taking classes at a community college so I could apply to art school but by my second year I ended up in the theatre department. And then I was obsessed. I focused on acting for many years but always had a sketchbook and camera near by. When I moved to L.A. I quickly ended up with a commercial agent (the same one I am with 18 years later!)

Yesterday on facebook, my old neighbor Lawrence Zarian "The Fashion Guy" had posted his promo picture for the "Countdown to the SAG Awards" Sunday Night. Crap! I forgot to vote! I looked at the postcard announcing the first ever online voting by 12 noon January 28th. I looked up at the clock in the upper right hand corner of my computer screen. 11:15 am. I began madly typing.

I love voting. The Screen Actors Guild Awards started only shortly after I got my S.A.G. card and I remember being thrilled, getting to vote for people I loved and respected. Although, it's not exactly as exciting as going to the voting booth for a big political election. I even cry voting for president. (so moving!) I think of all those women who couldn't vote and fought my right to do so and I am overcome. Anyway, voting for actors who make a living doing something they love doesn't get me quite so worked up, but I still like having my say!

There were 12 categories and I took myself out of 4. Best stunt ensemble? No idea.




Lovely Erin, from Erin's Art and Gardens, posted a comment the other day ... "I thought you were a blond." I was. Pretty much my entire life, with the exception of the 6 months following a mishap involving a box of Revlon "Auburn #49" from the grocery store when I was 20. To say I looked like Ronald MacDonald would be a completely justified description.

I have always wanted to be a brunette. Playing Charlie's Angels as a little girl? Jaclyn Smith.

I have always had fun dressing up for theme parties and photos (yes, drama girl!) It actually became part of my annual Christmas card ritual and if I could do dark hair in the photo? All the better!

Lucinda's Christmas Card 2006
Photo taken by my friend John Lennon
Cut and pasted over Japanese Woodblock Print


Someone (sorry I can't remember who!) had asked me recently about my acting life ... which I haven been all that focused on for awhile but I went on YouTube and found one of my commercials that I did in ... 2006ish? Not Shakespeare but it paid the bills!


Back to the brunette thing ...

I finally did it on Wedneday! I am finally a brunette! Just like Jane Russell and Cyd Charisse.
;) LOL!!!


Well, not exactly but it's fun! And I would now like to apologize for my longest post ever! Did you make it through??


And those were seen dancing were thought to be insane
by those who could not hear the music.

~Friedrick Nietzsche



Blond, Brunette
Grey
Black
or
Red
Have a beautiful weekend!



17 comments:

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Ok...I've gotta be honest...I didn't here a THING after bedonk-adonk butt!!!

Still laughing!

Joyce said...

I love your new look! Blonde, brunett, red... you are beautiful!! Off to see your commercial. xo

Candy said...

That commercial is a hoot!

You are just as pretty as a brunette as you are a blonde.

We love the same people - Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly. A local theater group is doing Singin' in the Rain in April. We have tickets.

I'm with Linda - still laughing over bedonk-adonk-butt.

KathyA said...

Yes, I did make it through!

You look beautiful as a brunette or a blonde -- and I bet as Ronald McDonald as well.

How exciting that is that you get to vote through SAG! And that you were in a commercial!!!

"And whoever was in feathers" -- funny!

Jen said...

No way! That was YOU in that commercial??? How cool? I've seen it loads of times but didn't realize it was you! Awesome job! :-) Oh, and you look great as a brunette! Thanks for sharing this with us...you're a great writer! :-)

Kerry O'Gorman said...

Darlink you look MARVELOUS! That ad cracked me up!! I never knew subway put out such a masterpiece! My dream career would be a singer and musician. I always envy those girls on stage singing gorgeous harmony whilst playing the violin.

Victoria said...

Yay Lu..loved this post..such a fabulous read..i love you as a dazzling brunette...gorgeous you are! Loved seeing the commercial ,rock on!
Thanks for sharing your adventures and stories..they make my heart smile! AWesome! Keep shining!
Victoria~

melissa n. said...

Welcome to the club!! (haircolor..) Love you Lu!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

ok...I'm past be donk~a~donk.

You are STUNNING as a brunette...and voting for SAG. Cool Baens!

Bedonk~a~donk.


Hee.

sue said...

Hahaaaaa--I must admit, I REMEMBER that commercial! I had no idea that was you. Hilarious. Great job. I remember laughing at that whenever it came on. Well, you look great as a brunette, so good for you.

Fun post.

Tammie Lee said...

so fun to see lovely you! love your part in the commercial, fun that you could say that line with a straight face!

Cobalt Violet said...

Thank you all for your hilarious and sweet comments!
Glad you liked the ad and my new locks. I still walk past the mirror and get startled about the brunette walking around my place! Anyway, thanks for the support ladies! :)

jane said...

holy crap i remember that commercial!! :):):)
i love you as a brunette!
hope you are having a great week!
xxx

Carol said...

Lucinda....I love the color...just beautiful my friend...always love to read you :-)

erin's art and gardens said...

damn, i am sloww to read blogs! o.k..... LOVE the hair in any color. aahhh, as a blonde you could be my younger self. love, LOVE the commercial...milk coming out of my nose funny!

Theresa said...

Very fun to read this. I live with aspiring actors. They keep me entertained, that's for sure :)

shayndel said...

You look great! And anyone who can talk about hair color and Nietze in one post is definitely someone who's got her colors right!!!
Best wishes,