Invasion's
"Mommy You Smell Funny?" tag has become one of the unforgettable
lines for this years new TV line up, but it's Kari Matchett, one of the
stars of Invasion who is becoming one of the unforgettable faces.
On
the show Kari plays Mariel Underlay the ex-wife of Russell and who is
now remarried to the town
Sheriff. Mariel Underlay is Chief of Staff at Homestead Hospital and
helped take care of my wounds after I was attacked by a
"gator." She went missing the night of the hurricane, but
luckily was rescued and fully recovered. Mariel's kind of
overprotective when it comes to her children, Jesse and Rose, though
the kids say she's been acting a little off lately. I wonder if it has
anything to do with that night that she disappeared...
I was able to chat with
Kari about her character, love of acting and her ongoing crush on
Hardy Boys' heart throb Shaun Cassidy (who also created and writes
Invasion). I tried to get uncover some INVASION scoop...well...read
on.. to see if I got any.....
OK! First
question... have you
kissed Eddie Cibrian yet? and how was it???
(laughs!) I haven't kissed Eddie. So I don't know how it was!
How big of a
crush did you have on Shaun Cassidy
(Iaughs) Actually quite a big one. I had his poster on my wall when
I was growing up, I did truly loved him.
I assume you
watched all those Hardy Boys episodes?
I watched some of The Hardy Boys, but it was mostly his music & the
satin jacket. Where have those stain jackets gone?
I'm sure they
will come back in style a couple of years from now!
I'm trying to build up the courage to actually ask him if he has a
couple of extras lying around. I would really love one.
So has Shaun
come to the set singing the "Do Run Run" yet?
Not yet, but there is always the future
So
how was it meeting Shaun Cassidy?
When I
went in for the meeting I saw "Shaun Cassidy" and I thought
it can't be " THE SHAUN CASSIDY." Come on it has to be another one,
but what kind of fool would name himself Shaun Cassidy! So I went an
meet with him, and then auditioned and at the end of my audition
Shaun actually said to me "You Rock." and I was really cool and went outside the door, and
basically did a
"totally Tom Cruise from Oprah" an absolute joy
dance!
Does Shaun
plan to do a guest appearance on Invasion?
Oh wow, I actually think I will make that suggestion, That's a very
cool thought!
What do you
like most about your character "Mariel"?
You know, the best thing for me in playing any character is someone who
is three dimensional already on the page. Because of the conflicts
on so many
different fronts that Mariel is going through it's really a full journey
on so many levels of conflicts and obstacles to try to work through.
Which makes my work infinity interesting, because there are lots
of puzzles and knots to untie.
That's what you want, you don't want a simple character with no
conflicts.
I think your character
has lots of conflicts.
Yeah! Exactly -- So I love that! She has a lot going on.
Do you know
allot the storyline which is happening with your character or you do
you find out with each new script?
A little bit of both. There is always surprises when I get a script.
But Shaun is very forthright with letting us all know what our
journey's are. He gives us the overview to help us connect the
dots with our internal journey.
What's the
difference of film here in Hollywood than filming in Canada?
There are lots of differences. There's more money here!
It's interesting with even more money, the more time it all comes down
to the work. The work is the same. Sometimes you work with great people,
and some times you don't. I feel working on "Invasion" I'm
working with great people. It's an elevated experience for me on
so many levels. I feel like, to really
answer the questions honestly I would have to have a broad spectrum
with here.
This is a pretty
massive project to be working on. There are great chemistry
between all the actors. We do like each other and we hang
out. We also get along with the creative and producers, there
are no conflicts or problems. Everybody is on the same page and trying
to make this show to be the best thing it can be and a open and
creative process. I've had great experiences
in Canada but this one is pretty special.
What do you
feel is your highlight of your career so far is?
Taking "Invasion" out of that question, I did a series
called Nero Wolf, and I played a number of different characters.
It was a series set in the 40s, 50s, 60s. and I played 13 different characters
during the course of two seasons. I always played this fantastic
leading lady - outrageous actress types. It's the stuff when your a little
girl when you watching 40s movies Katherine Hepburn, Rosslyn Russell. You think, "Oh My God" I want to play with that kind
of glamour and those kind of cloths and you feel like you want to play in that
realm.
In that series, I got to play in that realm, and my
favorite character in that time was a go-go dancer, Julie Jaquette she
was fun free spirit. She worked in a club called "10 Little
Indians" and walking with her for three weeks it's was the most
fun I ever had, she was just a fun, a fun fun character.
You take on the energy
of characters you play, because they infiltrate your consciousness - you're
waking hours. Being that truly, truly no problem kind of
free spirit and have fun. It was really the most have fun.
What would be
the weirdest character in your acting career?
Playing an alien on Earth's Final Conflict.
So talking
about Alien? Is your character on Invasion are you part alien?
part human? part dolphin? Can you say what
your are???
I know what I am.
Your know what
you are, but your not going to tell us. Your going to make us watch
right?!
It is yet to be discovered. By others.
But you
character smells differently!
I guess I do.
You
can't tell me the plot of upcoming episodes?
I really can't.
Can you tell
us what is the current CD in your car?
I'm listening to Arcade
Fire allot.
Do you a book
you have your nose in currently?
I just started reading this great book about the film industry called,
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock
'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood). All about the the 60/70s joy
time in film making.
I have one
more questions, Now your on a hit show on ABC and I'm sure your life
is turned upside down. When you go out do you get allot of people come
up to you now?
Interesting enough, I have been insanely busy since we have started
airing so my time out in the world has been very limited. I did go
into an airport, I was flying back to Toronto for the weekend. After
the first show aired and I had many stares, and one person stopped
dead in his tacks. Which was a bit alarming. (laughing) But you
know you have to keep walking and pretend like it's normal.
