411 Movies Interview: Lyndsy Fonseca of Desperate Housewives Posted by Tony Farinella on 06.09.2008
411's Tony Farinella sits down with the young actress for an exclusive interview!
In her career, Lyndsy Fonseca has worked on such shows as Boston Public, The Young and the Restless, How I Met Your Mother, and Desperate Housewives. Needless to say, she knows a thing or two about working in television. That being said, she's also an accomplished movie actress with a bright future ahead of her. Recently, she worked alongside Amber Heard, Alexa Vega, Chris Marquette, Marnette Patterson in the film, Remember the Daze, which is currently out on DVD. In my interview with Lyndsy Fonseca, we talked about Remember the Daze, young Hollywood, television, her career, and a whole lot more. I hope you enjoy my interview with Lyndsy Fonseca.
TONY: When you first read your character in the script, what were your first impressions of her?
Lyndsy Fonseca: I kind of liked that she was similar and different than me in many ways. I think the movie really depicts what kids go through in high school. She's also struggling with being gay and coming to terms with it, and I thought that was kind of interesting how her story is different but really the same as what all the other characters are going through with fitting in and life-changing things going on with them. But hers is just about her girlfriend. She wants to come out, and then her girlfriend doesn't. It was a really cool script, and I wanted to do it.
TONY: You mentioned your relationship with Melonie Diaz in the film. What did you guys talk about off-camera in terms of your characters in the film?
Lyndsy Fonseca: Well, Jess Manafort, the director, talked to us a lot about it, because these characters were based on real people, and we wanted to make sure that we were doing them justice, so to speak, because they're good people, and we didn't want them to not be good people in any way. So, she told us that my character was a lot more needy and wanted to be accepted and wanted that kind of reassurance from Melonie's character. And Melonie was still just figuring out what she wanted. It's not that she didn't love Dawn ...it's just she wasn't ready to commit like that, and she was still trying to go out and figure herself out. So, in each scene, that was the battle of how we would play it. Me wanting more, and her trying to step back and getting a little scared and afraid.
TONY: Did you do a lot of research on high school students who have gone through similar situations?
Lyndsy Fonseca: Well, I did talk a little bit to the girl that Melonie's character is based off of, and she told me some stories. So that helped a lot. Other than that, I don't know a lot of kids in high school I could have asked.
TONY: What kind of feedback have you heard from people who have seen the film?
Lyndsy Fonseca: We've got a really good response. People really like, I think, the group of all of us together, because I think, in real life, we're all close friends and really had that special chemistry, and I think it really came off on camera. There were some parts where I felt like I was watching a documentary, because it was really just us going crazy and having fun. And I think that's probably what makes the movie so great, because kids can watch it. It's that thing that Dazed and Confused or Fast Times at Ridgemont High had, where it was a bunch of kids that just seemed like friends.
TONY: When you have a group of actors around the same age working on a film together, I'm sure you have a lot of funny stories to share. Can you share one with me?
Lyndsy Fonseca: I'm trying to think if there were any particular stories. I can't remember anything really specific. Every day was pretty much like a party, though. The director was our age, and it was her first movie, and a lot of the cast had known each other already, so every day it was just something outrageous and fun.
TONY: As an actor, what's it like working on a film with a bunch of actors around your own age? Do you have a certain comfort level with them?
Lyndsy Fonseca: Well, it was great. My first job was a soap opera, and I was pretty much the only kid. And for three years, I worked with adults. I think that situation happens a lot. Most kids I know that are in my age group and have been working for years, we were all homeschooled, and we didn't really have that high school experience, which is what this movie is about. And, really, when we were all out there, we filmed it in North Carolina, and we were all from L.A. or New York, it was kind of like we were all coming out to go to college. It was really, for me, the first experience of living in apartments with a bunch of kids like a dorm. But instead of going to school, we went to set, and it was my first experience in the movie of that kind of high school fun thing. I feel like we all kind of went through something like that, because, I think, for the most part, we were all kids that grew up in an industry around adults.
TONY: You just mentioned that you were homeschooled. Do you ever feel like you missed out on a lot of unique experiences because of that?
Lyndsy Fonseca: You know, honestly, I don't. I think that being homeschooled is not for everybody, but, for me, I don't regret it at all. I've been to prom like four times with other friends, and I've had my dance experience. I have tons of friends, so I never really felt like I wish I had gone through it. I'm pretty fortunate that I didn't have to. (laughs)
TONY: As an actress, is it more freeing to be on television? On television, you get 25 or 30 episodes to develop your character. In a movie, you only have 90 minutes. What's that like?
Lyndsy Fonseca: Well, you know, honestly, it's kind of the opposite for me, because TV rarely gives you time to really be on set and kind of explore because of budget and you have to get so many scenes done in a day. It's a little more rigorous in schedule. On Desperate Housewives, I kind of just, all of a sudden, jumped in there and was there, and I had to figure it out all of a sudden. And with movies, you have more time. I feel like there's more time to talk to the director and really hash out your character and have an experience, and I don't feel like you have that time in television. So that's a big reason why I love doing movies.
TONY: How has your perspective changed on Hollywood over the years? You mentioned how you started out doing a soap opera, so what's changed in terms of your state of mind?
Lyndsy Fonseca: Oh, my god, everything. (laughs) I was fourteen-years-old, and the stage manager was counting five, four, three, two and I was waiting for him to say one, and they're looking at me like, "Go! Do the scene." I couldn't even start because I was so confused. I mean, that was my first job ever. And I'm really lucky that that was such a great experience, that crew and that cast and everything, because I learned so much in those three years. We had thirty pages a day we had to memorize, so it was like total boot camp. But, at the same time, I feel like that soap opera world is kind of a bubble that you don't really see the outside of. So, when I left, I felt like I kind of entered a world of prime-time and movies that was a totally different thing. So the last four years have been such a different world wind.
TONY: It seems like you are incredibly grounded and down-to-earth in terms of your personality and approach to Hollywood. How do you maintain that attitude in Hollywood?
Lyndsy Fonseca: I just try and remember what's important to me, because it's really easy in this town, not even for just actresses, but for any kid my age to just go crazy and go to clubs all night, and they let you in. It is so easy. And I've had my moments where I feel like I've partied, but they've been very brief, and I love my job so much that I just work really, really hard, and I have really good friends who are actors and who aren't. I have both that are of all ages. And I'd rather go home to bed early and kick ass at an audition than go out and party. I'm kind of a homebody. (laughs) I just think that every personality is different, and it's how you deal with Hollywood. But I'm very lucky that I have really awesome parents and friends that keep me grounded.
TONY: If a young actress in Hollywood is reading our interview, what's the best advice you can give them on how to handle Hollywood at an early age?
Lyndsy Fonseca: I guess just to stay focused. It's really easy to forget who you are and where you are with the rejection and getting disappointed. I mean, it's really hard. It's really hard for somebody like me, who works a lot, to get jobs. It's just hard out there ... especially if you're starting out and you're young. And it's so easy to feel bad about yourself and get discouraged, and you just gotta stay focused, because I believe mind over matter. If you have the mindset of staying positive, positive things will happen.
TONY: I think you bring up an excellent point, because if you're not prepared for it, rejection can really set you back. In fact, it feels like a personal attack on you. How do you stay positive? Is it easier said than done?
Lyndsy Fonseca: I think it's important to really be confident in yourself, because you can't take it seriously. Just the other day, I had three auditions all over town, and I spent all day changing in the car into different characters. I mean, I studied my ass off. So, I personally mediate. I think it sounds really cheesy, but it's what I do, because like I was saying before: Three auditions, and I felt like I nailed all of them, and they were all something like, "Um, you didn't look the part. We wanted to keep the other actress." And it was all things that had nothing to do with my acting ability. Things don't always work out, and there's just too many other variables that have to line up. So you just gotta keep going. Before I go to bed every night, I think about the goal of who I wanna work with, what I wanna do, what I want in my life, not just my acting career .... but my family and my relationships. And you just gotta think about that before bed and not, "Oh my god, what did I do wrong in this audition?" It's just such a waste of time.
TONY: Finally, what are some of your long-term goals in this business?
Lyndsy Fonseca: It is my lifelong dream to work with Kate Winslet or Cate Blanchett. I think they are so unbelievably talented, and I think about that a lot. And I also would love to do ..... right now, I'm jonesing for a comedy. I've been doing drama for so long that I would really love to do some outrageous comedy and have fun with a crazy character.
TONY: Thank you so much for your time, Lyndsy. It was great talking to you.
Lyndsy Fonseca: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
