Zoneboy
03-13-2010, 12:02 AM
The actress who played Natalie on the '80s sit-com is comfortable with her latest gigs
Link (http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2572841)
Best known as Natalie from the hit '80s TV show The Facts of Life, Mindy Cohn is now making a career out of voice work (she plays Velma in an ongoing series of Scooby-Doo films) and roles in independent theatre productions. At the moment, she's in Mississauga, Ont., starring as Florence in the musical Glorious!, playing at Stage West until April 16. Vanessa Farquharson caught up with her in between rehearsals.
Q How did you get this part?
A It was actually offered to me, which was quite lovely. It's been one heck of an amazing year. With perseverance and patience, you really can get parts of a lifetime. I fell in love with Florence -- it's just a dream to play her -- and I'll go anywhere for a good part, hence I'm now in a hotel in beautiful Mississauga. It's a bit frustrating because in New York, people go anywhere to see a play, but in Toronto, not as many residents come up this way.
Q What's the play all about?
A The way I've been talking about it is: It's a true love story about a woman who lived contrary to how most women live; it would have ruined anyone else, but she had a joie de vivre that just carried her through everything. The best word to describe it is enchanting. You feel good after seeing it. But the thing is, Flo is a horrible singer. She can't sing at all, and yet everyone loves her and she ends up at Carnegie Hall.
Q Was it hard to sing off-key, or are you naturally tone deaf?
A I can carry a tune, yes, so it was actually hard to sing poorly. I basically learned to first hit all the good notes and then make them bad. I'm hoping people in the audience will say, "Oh my God, that Mindy Cohn really can't sing."
Q How comfortable are you onstage?
A People forget that Facts of Life was taped in front of a live audience all those years, so I'm very comfortable with it. I have a hard time being Mindy sometimes, but it's easy being someone else. It's a joy and a tickle being onstage -- it's just so validating. I'm not only meant to do this, I love this and I'm good at it.
Q Do you still get recognized as Natalie? Does that bug you?
A I view Natalie very much the same way as the public does -- as someone I knew so long ago and have a really good feeling for. I've done so many parts since Facts of Life that I don't identify myself as her anymore; but it's kind of cool to be, like, nostalgia personified: I'm a walking, breathing, living, Fonzie leather jacket. When people see me, they get nostalgic. And that's a good thing.
Q How do you feel about your career right now?
A Well, I'm lucky in that my voice-over work and film work means I can have the career I want. I don't need the cult of celebrity, I don't need to get my name out there, it's just about establishing a reputation at this point. I have this emotional health and satisfaction about my career because I know that a director either wants me or he doesn't. I'm an original flavour and I've been around long enough to know that the people who run the industry change faster than I do. I'm still here.
Link (http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2572841)
Best known as Natalie from the hit '80s TV show The Facts of Life, Mindy Cohn is now making a career out of voice work (she plays Velma in an ongoing series of Scooby-Doo films) and roles in independent theatre productions. At the moment, she's in Mississauga, Ont., starring as Florence in the musical Glorious!, playing at Stage West until April 16. Vanessa Farquharson caught up with her in between rehearsals.
Q How did you get this part?
A It was actually offered to me, which was quite lovely. It's been one heck of an amazing year. With perseverance and patience, you really can get parts of a lifetime. I fell in love with Florence -- it's just a dream to play her -- and I'll go anywhere for a good part, hence I'm now in a hotel in beautiful Mississauga. It's a bit frustrating because in New York, people go anywhere to see a play, but in Toronto, not as many residents come up this way.
Q What's the play all about?
A The way I've been talking about it is: It's a true love story about a woman who lived contrary to how most women live; it would have ruined anyone else, but she had a joie de vivre that just carried her through everything. The best word to describe it is enchanting. You feel good after seeing it. But the thing is, Flo is a horrible singer. She can't sing at all, and yet everyone loves her and she ends up at Carnegie Hall.
Q Was it hard to sing off-key, or are you naturally tone deaf?
A I can carry a tune, yes, so it was actually hard to sing poorly. I basically learned to first hit all the good notes and then make them bad. I'm hoping people in the audience will say, "Oh my God, that Mindy Cohn really can't sing."
Q How comfortable are you onstage?
A People forget that Facts of Life was taped in front of a live audience all those years, so I'm very comfortable with it. I have a hard time being Mindy sometimes, but it's easy being someone else. It's a joy and a tickle being onstage -- it's just so validating. I'm not only meant to do this, I love this and I'm good at it.
Q Do you still get recognized as Natalie? Does that bug you?
A I view Natalie very much the same way as the public does -- as someone I knew so long ago and have a really good feeling for. I've done so many parts since Facts of Life that I don't identify myself as her anymore; but it's kind of cool to be, like, nostalgia personified: I'm a walking, breathing, living, Fonzie leather jacket. When people see me, they get nostalgic. And that's a good thing.
Q How do you feel about your career right now?
A Well, I'm lucky in that my voice-over work and film work means I can have the career I want. I don't need the cult of celebrity, I don't need to get my name out there, it's just about establishing a reputation at this point. I have this emotional health and satisfaction about my career because I know that a director either wants me or he doesn't. I'm an original flavour and I've been around long enough to know that the people who run the industry change faster than I do. I'm still here.