Sidney Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls) Exclusive Interview!

1. Wow, It's been 30 years now since Little House first aired on TV. What do you think of it's success after so many years? Would you have thought it would still be as popular today as it was many years ago?

Well, when any show reaches people while it is on the air, you hope that it will be remembered. I don't think anyone really knew the affect LHOTP would have had on people. Looking back I can see that it was one of the only shows that was geared towards kids and adults. Today we have special shows just for kids and TV channels just for children's programming. I think the networks overlook this audience level for a long time and this is why we have a lot of young stars today but we didn't back then.

2. Today, we have a lot of children who want to become actresses and actors. How did you get started and what type of advice could you give to future child stars?

We got started by luck. Although I don't think I would tell anyone to start as young as we did. The best advice I can give is if you love it keep trying. If you don't get the job it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with you personally. I have lost jobs because I was too Tall or too old, or I didn't look like another sibling.

3. You have a twin sister, Lindsay Greenbush who you both shared the role of Carrie Ingalls with. As a twin, are you both different? Do you have anything in common?

We have some things in common because we grew up together but we also have a lot of different interest. It nothing different than normal siblings would have that were close in age.

4. What, if any, affect did your role as Carrie Ingalls have on your career over the years? Are you still associated with or recognized from being on the show?

I think being Carrie might have stereotyped us a little after the show was over. I remember in an acting class doing a scene from a play called Laundry and Bourbon. Everyone was amazed because it had a comedy side and it was so different from LHOTP. I was always at home on the stage. People don't recognize us right off but after they find out we played Carrie they say we look just like we did back then.

5. Who would you say on the set made the biggest impression on you personally?

I don't really know if there was one person. Everyone was soo nice to us and used to take time out to play with us. I remember that we used to see other star around the Paramount Lot and I remember think "OHHH That's Robin Williams" or something like that. I remember the filmed Happy Days at that time a Paramount and Henry Winkler used to always stop to say hello. Later we got to bug Jonnie Cash when he was on the show. When we were in New York doing Kids are People Too we were tickled to death by Bill Murray. I think everyone always being nice to us made me always want to be nice to others.

6. You probably get asked this a lot, but what was Michael Landon and Victor French like while growing up?

It is sad to say I do not remember Michael very well but then of course he was busy running the show. I do remember Victor French always taking time to play with us kids. He seemed to have an endless amount of time for us.

7. Since there were so many Little House episodes, did it ever feel as though you were part of two REAL families?

It never seemed like we were part of two families but it seemed like we had a lot of uncles and aunts.

8. Do you have a favorite episode?

The Godsister.

9. You and your sister Lindsay, got invited to the White House to meet President Carter and his daughter. What was that like? How was President Carter and his family?

When we went to Washington we actually didn't get to meet Mr. or Mrs. Carter. We only met Amy but she was really sweet and kinda quite. I think it must be hard to be the presidents daughter at 10 years old but she seemed to handle the press just fine. After we got to see the Lighting of the Christmas tree and I remember I was freezing and couldn't wait to go back inside.

10. I've heard you are working on a children's book? Could you tell us a little about it and when it might be available for purchase?

The first book I am working on isn't a children's book it is a coffee table book. It will be pictures of us growing up on the set of LHOTP. A lot of behind the scenes stuff. I hope to have it done in a few months. It will be available through our website (www.greenbushtwins.com) first and we will probably do some tours and book signings to promote it. It will also have pictures of my family and things they have done.

Thanks for taking the time to be interviewed for prairiefans.com!

Webmasters Note: Interview was done on March 10, 2004.