Catching up with Erin Cottrell (Caroline Ingalls) Exclusive Interview!
Hi Erin! It's great to catch up with you again and to talk about
your new role in the "Love Series" films!
1.
How was the audition for Missie? Was it very competitive?
It was actually not competitive at all. I never auditioned for the
role of Missie. I initially auditioned for a completely separate
project for Larry Levinson Productions about Black Beard the Pirate.
When it came down to casting me or one other woman for the lead in
that mini series the producers started thinking about another
project they had already begun that I might be better for. This was
the "Love Comes Softly" series. They offered me the role of Missie
and sent me the first two movies so I could see how she had already
progressed. It was a great honor to walk right into an already
successful series and a huge gift to be able to do the next four
films. It's the best job I never auditioned for.
2. Have you ever read the "Loves Comes Softly" books by Janette
Oke? If so, did the character of Missie help with her performance on
screen?
I'm sad to say I didn't have time to read the books before we
started shooting. I only had about 2 weeks to prepare the script and
start riding horses again before our first day on camera. As I did
for "Little House," I would have loved to have read the whole series
to really get a feel for Missie's life...the life that the readers
had grown to appreciate. However, I quickly became aware that our
scripts were very different from the novels and that the conflicting
plot lines could confuse the work we were doing more than help it.
(Besides, our scripts changed so rapidly I could barely keep up with
our new dialogue let alone with what the characters in the books
were doing.) Now that it's over though, I'd like to read the whole
series and enjoy the books as they were originally intended.
3.
Speaking about your role as Missie. What are your thoughts about the
character? Are you anything like Missie?
I think in some respects I am very much like Missie. I can become
very passionate about the things I care for especially when children
are involved. I am actually a teacher, as was Missie, and I work
with elementary school children as well. I however, teach dance,
Shakespeare and photography... a little more bohemian than Mrs.
Lahaye... and my students are inner city kids who are at risk for
joining gangs instead of pioneers and Native Americans. I also feel
that her sense of compassion and tolerance is something I strive
for. She was truly a Christian woman in the sense that she didn't
judge or condemn others for being different from her, and although I
don't call myself a Christian, I hold fast to those ideals.
4. A couple of years ago when I interviewed you about your role
as Caroline Ingalls, I asked what it was like to be in the "Love
Comes Softly" series. I remember you sharing with me that you had
never thought that driving a covered wagon would be a skill you
would use on a regular basis. Is it still a skill you use?
No, it hasn't been a viable skill for over a year now, although I
did use it in 3 out of the 4 Loves movies!
5.
Many fans were upset about killing Willie (Logan Barthalamew) off in
the movies. Especially, since this never happened in the books. What
are your thoughts? Do you think this will hurt future movies?
I don't think it will hurt future movies. At this point I don't
think there are any future movies. I know a lot of women were upset
when Willie was suddenly gone, and I completely understand. It was a
total shock to me too. I didn't know that Logan wouldn't be
returning to the last two films until I started reading the script.
(which was given to us just days before shooting.) And the fans were
up in arms about it... but the producers had their reasons for
creating the story without him I guess. We all missed Logan
tremendously but the movies still aired to great numbers and the DVD
sales were still high, so I think that thankfully the fans were able
to open their hearts a little wider to let good ol' Zachery Tyler
in. Besides, a lot of things happens in the movies that never happen
in the books so I think people just understood that this was a
different version of these lovely stories, and the die hard book
fans just stayed clear.
6.
Another thing you shared with me was your work with City Hearts. How
are things going with City Hearts? Are you still a teacher for them?
Yes! I am still a teacher for City Hearts. Things are going great.
We're celebrating our 23rd anniversary as a nonprofit organization
this year! We've helped tens of thousands of kids over the years
become strong and respectful adults as they leave juvenile detention
centers or homeless shelters where their self esteem has plummeted.
We give these kids a voice and an outlet through the arts so that
their friends and families can be proud of them again, and so that
they can stand with their heads held high. They shine when they
realize their hidden talents and they become part of a group that
doesn't resort to violence to accept them. I love my kids! Thanks
for asking about them. If you want to know more about City Hearts
our website is
www.cityhearts.org!
7.
How would you describe working with the cast and crew? Anybody in
particular you enjoy working with?
The cast and crew were AMAZING!
Wow. So many friends from the past three years, I don't know where
to start. Well let's see, Samantha Smith, who plays Marty in the
last two films has quickly become one of my best friends. We have
lunch together all the time now. Since the writer's strike started
we have a lot of time on our hands. ;) Holli Coleman who played
Belinda in "Love's Unending Legacy" is one of the sweetest girls you
could ever meet and one of the most talented actresses I've ever had
the pleasure of working with. Logan Bartholomew and I are still
friends and he'll always have a very soft spot in my heart. James
Tupper, the ex-minister turned ranch hand named Henry, was great to
work and we all wish him well as he's shooting the ABC series "Men
In Trees" up in Canada. And Brianna Brown who played Belinda,
Henry's pregnant wife, is also very dear to me. She and I are part
of a new group we've entitled The New Hollywood in which we use our
influence for good, bringing integrity and compassion back to tinsel
town!
On the crew side, we were all like family. My make up artist, Staci
Witt, was more like a therapist than a crew member and we spent
hours with Amber Garcia (the hair stylist) laughing, joking and
solving the worlds problems. Also my friendships with Jason Mueller
and Melanie Hubbard in the props department got me through a lot of
long shoot days with their stories about Texas and their fabulous
home cooked peach cobbler,... and they always made sure my locket
was extra shiny. I couldn't have been happier on that set.
8. Out of the many "Love Comes Softly" films do you have a
favorite?
I think it's "Love's Unending Legacy." Although, after seeing
"Love's Unfolding Dream" for the first time this past December, I
think that one has the best pacing and direction. What do you think?
Lennon: Yeah, I have to agree. The pacing and direction is indeed
the best. However, I love all the films. :D
9.
Today, I still receive tons of letters from fans sharing with me how
much they enjoyed your work as Caroline Ingalls in “Little House.”
If the fans get lucky, and another film is made would you be up for
reprising your role? It amazes me how long it’s been since the
Disney film, and the fan base is still just as strong. Have you
heard from any of the “Little House” crew lately?
I would absolutely be up for doing a continuation of the "Little
House" series. We were all under the assumption for a full year that
we were going to be shooting a regular series on ABC, and then the
final contract day came for the network to make the decision and we
never heard anything. Unfortunately, now the girls have grown up so
much that the chance of the same cast coming back together is slim.
But it was a fabulous experience for all of us, and I would do it a
gain in a heartbeat. I don't keep up with the cast and crew so much
since we shot it all in Canada, but I do get great emails and
Christmas cards from the girls sometimes telling me what's going on
in their lives. From what I understand Danielle Chuchran is quite an
accomplished horseback rider and has won a slew of competitions
lately. She was also in a movie that Michael Landon Jr. directed
called "Saving Sarah Cain." She was excellent in it and her
character's last name just so happened to be Cottrell! It was a pure
coincidence, but I was excited.
10.
Finally, How are things going for you these days? Any new roles fans
can look for you in?
Things are going really well these days. As I mentioned before,
there is a writer's strike going on here in Los Angeles and it
affects every single person in the industry. Since no new scripts
can be written, no new films or tv shows can be made. But I have
faith that this will all clear up soon and we'll resume work as
usual. I was very fortunate though to get some good work in right
before the strike happened. I worked on two different tv shows. "CSI:New
York" and "Cold Case." It was great to be able to branch out and
play new characters. These shows aired in November and December but
with no new episodes being shot they'll probably re-run again
relatively soon. Aside from that, I teach twice a week and have a
fabulous life with my boyfriend and our new dog "Bowie!" (he has on
blue eye and one brown eye just like our dog Jack in "Little
House.")
Thanks very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to
answer our questions. Do you have anything you would like to say to
all the "Little House" and "Love Comes Softly" fans around the
world?
Thank you, Thank you so much. I truly appreciate all of your support
and love. Your kindness and reverence for these films has meant so
much to me. It has been a privilege to be involved in such inspiring
films, and your response to them has made it all the more
gratifying.
Thank you.
I wish you all the love and peace your heart can hold.
xo
Erin
For More information about Erin Cottrell and her work visit her
Official Web site at
www.erincottrell.com
Webmasters Note: Interview was done on February 15, 2008.
