Renée F. Smith dans all things girl

Interview de Renée Felice Smith pour "All Things girl" par Roxane Ravenel

A retrouver

https://allthingsgirl.com/2012/07/cover-girl-renee-felice-smith/

https://allthingsgirl.com/2012/08/cover-girl-renee-felice-smith-part-two/

At All Things Girl we’re suckers for smart, funny female characters we could see ourselves sipping margaritas with after a day in the city trolling vintage clothing shops. The only thing better is when the woman behind said character is as brilliant and affable as we’d imagined.

With Renee Felice Smith we’ve hit the veritable jackpot. We found her to be uber cool, slightly nerdy and extremely authentic. And like many of us, she is exploring many different avenues as she blazes her own unique path. Recently Renee took some time out of her crazy busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.

Our readers will recognize you as brilliant, quirky Intelligence Analyst, Nell Jones, on NCIS: Los Angeles. Tell our readers three things they probably don’t know about you.

I just learned to crochet and am currently making a green beanie. (Now you know I’m a nerd in real life too).

Right before I got the role on NCIS:LA, I was ready to hang up my acting shoes–whatever those may be–and become a real estate agent or a massage therapist slash alternative healer. I just have all these other things I’m interested in but the acting thing seems to be working out so for now I’ll just stick to checking my NY Times Real Estate app incessantly and reading up on Reiki.

I won my school district’s speech contest in the 6th grade (again, nerd alert!) with my chosen topic, Dog Training. I brought the family dog (a 120 lb. Great Dane we named Darla) to demonstrate the commands for my classmates. I now wish I could channel some of my 11 year old self’s advice cause I have a French Bulldog and he’s bad to the bone. Not really but he does bark at me if I’m on my laptop for too long which actually might not be such a bad thing.

Did you always plan to have a career in the performing arts or did you have another career interest initially?

When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up as wee one, I would state with certainty a hairdresser just like my momma. She’s such a creatively talented person. Then my answer changed to school teacher and for the longest time when asked I would shove a cigar in my mouth and say in my best Mae West sorta way, “I wanna be a director” (joking about the cigar, unfortunately not the accent). This is interesting because until recent years I wasn’t even sure what a director was supposed to do. Still not sure I know all the responsibilities. I think of it as this kind of all encompassing position which depends largely on delegation. I guess that answer was the first piece of evidence for a life dedicated to the arts. I was never one of those kids who said “I wanna be on TV or I wanna be a movie star”. I’ve always enjoyed entertaining people and telling stories; I think that’s where my career has its roots.

How’d you get started as an actress?

I would perform plays, skits, ballets of my own creation with my neighborhood friends in either my basement or backyard, weather depending. When I was 11, I co-created a satirical, mockumentary of a political convention with my childhood best friend. My four-year-old sister was the presidential candidate named Marshall B. Hines. I swear I was smarter then than I am now.

Nell Jones is a perfect mix of brainy, beautiful and cool. How’d you come to play the character on NCIS: Los Angeles?

I so wish I could say it was some romantic career choice but the truth is I was an out of work actor who had just done a pilot which wasn’t picked up, got an email from a good friend about a role they were auditioning for a show called NCIS:LA of which I wasn’t at all familiar, asked my agent to get me an appointment for the show called NCIS:LA, found the character of Nell Jones to be quite amusing despite herself, was told by casting the showrunner did not “respond” to my tape, got a call a week later from said showrunner saying I reminded him of Ellen Page, flew to LA where I met producers who also reminded him of Ellen Page and booked the job, a very rewarding job, in large part due to the existence of Ellen Page.

Are there similarities between you and your character?

Nell is the hyper version of me; she’s Renée to the 10th power. I always did well in school and most definitely spread myself pretty thin with all my activities but I’m not really type A. I’m way too disorganized and last minute to be type A. I run late and my car has run out of gas; that’s not something I see happening in the world of Nell.

I do however share with Nell a similar spunk and sense of humor. She enjoys observational comedy as do I. Nell is extremely dedicated to her work and lots of times her personal life is sacrificed. I can relate this too. I’ve had to miss birthdays and graduations, family parties and friend’s performances. Like Nell, my job on this network television show requires lots of my time and I have to learn ways in which to balance it. Also like Nell, I wouldn’t trade my work experiences with anyone for anything.

Nell is a firecracker. She’s whip smart and nothing gets by her. There’s really something about playing a young, female character who is extremely intelligent; it’s empowering. Makes you feel you can take on the world. I think of Nell as a bit of a super nerd; she’s ever present and most of the time, completely lucid when it comes to her work. She’s a little feisty too which doesn’t hurt. I guess you can tell I like Nell. A lot. Being a young female, she’s really very inspiring to me.

Do you think that a romance is in the future for Nell and fellow analyst, Eric Beale?

Good old Beale, the apple of Nellie’s eye. Yes, I think it’s a sure bet that we will hear more of this interest/attraction between tech nerds. They spend way too much time together all alone up in the Ops center and neither of them are complete ogres so naturally, it’s bound to happen. I think it’s safe to say the writers will tease the audience with this geek romance for sometime to come cause let’s face it, the game of the chase is way more fun to watch than two people holding hands, walking into the sunset. That said, in like the sixth season they’ll hug, maybe.

NCIS: Los Angeles deals with topics that have long been kept secret, like the fact that governments, including ours, sometimes deal with unsavory characters like the Chameleon. Are the storylines sometimes based on recent true events?

Yes, for sure. The writers definitely draw inspiration from current news stories and issues happening here in the US and abroad. I think this helps keep the show relevant and applicable to people’s day-to-day lives. Although our show is fictional, certain episodes bring perspective to current world issues and give audience members another lens for viewing said issues.

Is there a role model, mentor or other guiding force who helped you along the road to success?

Well, hands down, my role models are my mom and dad. My mom is the most positive, generous and loyal person. She instilled this very earthly grounding of oneself by remaining grateful for the little things. She encouraged any creative idea I expressed and reminded me to be true to myself when my character was tested. She constantly told me she believed in me and that I had the power to create the future I envisioned for myself. My dad instilled an appreciation for the oddities in life; he has a keen sense of humor and his stories about life told at the dinner table will forever make me spill my milk. He is the hardest working man I know with a bullet proof work ethic. He taught me the value of stick-to-it-ive-ness, the value of dedication, tenacity. My parents are the best of human beings and I’m really quite fortunate to be their child.

What advice would you give to other women who want to become actors?

Find out who you are and what you’re about. It will help tremendously in creating characters and accessing emotions. Though at times it’s tough, do your best to embrace change, we’ve got to evolve and embrace continuous growth. Limit extreme self criticisms, no one is perfect and we’re not supposed to be. Find joy in what you do cause in all realness, and I can’t remember who told me this but, acting is nothing more or less than the art of playing.

You’re very active and approachable on Twitter. Tell readers how they can connect with you on Twitter, Facebook and the web.

Aw, I’m glad that I’m approachable. That’s what I want to be, always. So, tawwwk to meee, duudes:@reneefsmith on Twitter and let’s share cool photos of cool things on instagram @reneefelicesmith.

You appeared in the movie, Detachment which features a talented cast led by Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden and James Caan. The trailer looks fantastic. Tell us a little about the movie and about your character.

Yes, it’s a powerful piece. The film was directed by Tony Kaye, who is a true artist in every sense. I think he encourages unique performances from actors. As a director he’s very hands-on and experimental. It was a pleasure to watch his process. I play “Missy”, a punk high school senior with a foul mouth and little respect for herself and anyone else. My scene was with Lucy Liu and it’s basically her character’s breakdown in the film. We find these characters in a weekly meeting led by Lucy’s character, the school’s psychologist. My character’s lack of connection with reality and blatant rudeness causes Lucy’s character to crack wide open. It was an absolute pleasure watching Lucy work. She has a really powerful instrument. She’s also a very lovely person.

What drew you to this project and to the role?

I first auditioned for another character in the film but I wasn’t right for it look-wise so casting called me back in to audition for several supporting teen parts and I was given Missy.

What was your experience as part of this powerful ensemble which included experienced veterans and promising newcomers?

I was extremely honored to be included in such a cast. It’s ridiculous to think it was my first experience on a film set. I remember walking to set from hair and makeup and seeing Marcia Gay Harden playing with her kids during a break on a lone stairwell. I’m always kinda starstruck. It’s a funny thing. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that. It’s like “ahhh, so you are real.”

Living in a digital age where so much of our interaction with others is mediated through channels like Facebook and Twitter, do you think this sort of detachment is becoming more prevalent?

It’s definitely a different world from when I was growing up and that wasn’t all that long ago. This digital lifestyle can be all consuming and I think it’s important to limit our time with these sorts of social networking apps and remember to interact with the people who are physically present in our lives. I think it can be really addicting and I’m so not into people who have their face in their phone all day. At times, I fear I am one of those people and in the moment that my eyes start to blurr from looking at the screen, I scramble to gain some control over my life and put my goddam phone away. Too often do I see a Mom and daughter sitting side by side on the subway and both are completely lost in their iPhones. Side note: for what reason does a 7-year-old need an iPhone? This part of technology saddens me. Today, we are presented with a number of ways of distracting ourselves from our real lives and I just hope that, as a people, we will continue to acknowledge these distractions and know when to put the iPhone/iPad away and just be human.

What other projects are on the horizon for you?

I’m currently working on co-authoring a children’s picture book series starring my French Bulldog, Hugo. Our illustrator is fabulous and Hugo’s character is pretty cheeky so I think kids and adults alike will appreciate Hugo’s perspective. I wrote and directed my first short film while on hiatus fromNCIS:LA. I’m also about to film a supporting role in an indie dark comedy entitled, The Thing with the Cat, where I play a very bright Columbia Law student who finds herself struggling with school work for the first time in her life. She turns to drinking as a way of escaping her reality and through the help of her neighbor, learns that she may be on the verge of spiraling out of control.

You have a wide array of creative interests. What are some of the things you like to do when you’re not in front of a camera or onstage?

I’m super into interior design slash home decor. I think you’ve gotta be inspired by your surroundings therefore you’ve gotta create a space you want to live in. I like transforming an object into something useful and/or decorative. I can spend hours in a thrift shop and generally walk out with a bag full o’ treasures. I also enjoy just hanging, being at home. I love to watch films, generally dark comedies about dysfunctional families. I enjoy good conversation and talk about past lives of which I believe I’ve had many (TMI? possibly). I like french onion soup and have made it my life’s mission to find the best french onion soup in the world thus I order it whenever I see it on the menu. I enjoy traveling and seeing new places, meeting new people in those places. I like swimming so long as the water is warm and riding every roller coaster I come in contact with so long as I’m tall enough.

How do you find time to get involved in so many personal and professional projects without getting burned out?

I think the key is to take time for yourself and relaaaax. Go walk the dog. Go to the diner and order a grilled cheese with bacon. Take a nap. I think it’s these types of things, things that are purely enjoyable, that give our brain a rest and restore our energy.

What sparked your interest in vintage clothing and where do you shop?

I like things that look old, I always have. Even as a kid, I wanted the shirt with buttons down the back. I also like the idea of pieces being individual. Nothing urkes me more than seeing four girls in the same dress at the same function. There are oh so many options out there so why are we all wearing the same thing? Vintage clothing is a sure bet way to ensure this problem will not enter the equation.

Also, with my body type, clothes from the 30′s, 40′s and 50′s just fit me better. I think it’s cause the ladies back then were real ladies with kicking curves and thankfully designers embraced the hour glass figure. I shop for vintage things in thrift shops and vintage clothing stores in Brooklyn and LA mostly but am sure some of the best finds are in the untapped areas of the country. I’d like to check out Salvation Army’s in like, South Dakota.

Fame and recognition can have positive and negative consequences. What are some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way about how to manage both successfully.

Hmm, I don’t think I’m famous. This idea bothers me. I’m always surprised when someone asks if I’m the girl from CSI or NCSI. I think if people do recognize me it’s cause they’ve seen me in their living room on some Tuesday night and I’ve become a sort of friend to them. This idea I like. I like thinking that people can see bits and pieces of themselves in my character and that I’m helping to tell stories each week that entertain and allow people to escape into the world of make believe for a while. But if you really think about TV for more than a minute it gets kinda weird, right? So, there are these people, these actor people who memorize words and then, as a profession, recite them and their image is captured while they recite them and then broadcast to millions of TV sets around the world so people can watch these actor people recite these words and be entertained. It’s weird and amazing all at once. When I watch TV, I often think about how many people are watching this very same show, at this very same time. It does somehow encourage a sense of connectivity when I think of TV this way.

Now is YOUR opportunity to tell us what we missed! What question should we have asked, that we didn’t?

You guys knocked it out the park. Seriously. I don’t have anymore thoughts or words I could possibly share except for the fact that I’m hungry and want a spoonful of peanut butter right now. Story of my liiiiiiife.

A venir