No stranger to television, Barbara Alyn Woods returns to the small screen as “Deb Scott”, Nathan’s [James Lafferty] mother who must deal with an estranged son and a broken marriage on The WB’s drama One Tree Hill.
Hello!
Hi Courtney! Nice to meet you over the phone.
It’s nice to meet you too. How are you?
Good.
You grew up in Chicago where you did theater, what made you decide to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting even further?
Well, there’s simply more work in LA and New York, for actors. I had a great commercial career happening in Chicago, but to pursue TV and film a move to Los Angeles is definitely necessary. I moved away from family, which was really tough – but I was committed to making it work as an actress. It wasn’t lucrative to stay in Chicago, so hmmm … going on 12 years ago I moved to Los Angeles.
How did you hear about the role of “Deb Scott”? What made you want to do the show?
My agent called with the audition, just like with any other audition. I was working on
American Dreams at the time, the NBC show. Well, I was at work and almost turned down the call, until I saw the scene in print. She sent it over to the lot where I was working, and I fell in love with the writing and the character immediately. So, with about 5 hours of sleep I dragged myself to the casting office the next day, and I was put on tape for the role.
Wow, well I’m glad you did the show.
I’m glad I went to the audition too. [laughs]
Do you feel that you identify with “Deb” on any level?
I identify with her on a lot of levels. With the trials and the pitfalls of trying to do it all, that so many women face. Of being a strong independent woman, who needs a strong man that isn’t intimidated by her strength. And I would say probably the strongest similarity between “Deb” and myself … is caring so deeply for her child that it hurts. But, “Deb” started her family so much younger and I can’t imagine raising a family in my twenties. So, I respect the people that do.
What’s a typical day like filming for you?
Well, I’m in hair and make-up for an hour and a half. Where I catch up on the latest magazines and gossip while I drink my frappuccino … and also wake-up. That can be as early as 5:30 in the morning, then I will shoot sometimes one scene … sometimes several scenes. Which include blocking, rehearsing, setting lights, filming, and so my day can be as short as 5 hours or as long as 16. Just depending how on how much work I have that day.
That’s got to be just a crazy work schedule.
It is crazy, and you know a lot of the kids work the 16 hour days everyday. So, when you’re one of the main characters it’s pretty much your life.
Do you ever watch the show when it airs?
[laughs] Every day my kids … I have a two and a four year old, both girls, Natalie and Emily. And every single day, I kid you not – they ask me ‘is
Fear Factor on tonight’ or ‘is One Tree Hill on tonight’ their two favorite shows.
Aww, they watch it all the time?
We do, or we tape it. I love sharing it with them, they have a lot of fun seeing everyone they know. Because they’ve gotten to know everyone on the show, and yea it’s a lot of fun. I’m not super critical of myself like a lot of the actors are, so I like to catch up on the other story lines and that’s a good way to do it. My kids would much love to watch the last series I did, which was “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids“.
I watched that all the time.
[laughs] They always say ‘when are you going to do that show again?’ So, yea I do watch the show as often as I can unless I’m working.
Moving from Los Angeles to film in North Carolina had to be a big transition for you. Are you enjoying your time in Wilmington?
It’s a great place to raise kids, we live in a beautiful house on the beach. So, yes it’s a transition but other than leaving our friends in Los Angeles it’s been an easy one. We do love living here, I’d be happy if the show continued here for a long time. It’s a beautiful place to live.
There’s such an amazing cast, but there is an age gap [adults/teens]. What’s in like on set?
The kids are so mature, I was not that mature at that age. And the adults are so immature that it really balances out. [laughs] We don’t feel the age gap … I mean obviously there is one, but we all get along and are really on the same level.
So, that must make things even better onscreen.
Exactly! Sometimes it’s a little bit uncomfortable when I’m playing sort of a domineering character with someone I consider a friend. Who is actually umm .. .about 15 years younger than me or more, you know – playing their mother when we’re actually on the same level and we can have conversation. It’s really a great bunch of kids, as also adults .. we’re very lucky that way.
Last season we mainly focused on the brothers [Lucas and Nathan’s], mean spirited father “Dan” [Paul Johansson], whom is your characters husband. After his heart attack last season, “Dan” has pretty much had a nice streak going – but after finding about Nathan’s marriage to Haley, it’s like “Deb” has switched roles with “Dan” and can’t accept it. How do you feel about going from one of the most loved characters on the show to one of the ones we love to hate?
Do you love to hate me? I love that! That’s so much more interesting. This is such an interesting subject here, because I get so many different conflicting comments from kids, teenagers, and parents. And I feel that only a mother can really related to how “Deb” is feeling it must be for a child to turn against her. Especially and only child. “Nathan” has completely blocked “Deb” out of his life. That she has no other repercussion then to tell him exactly how she feels, which is hurt and disappointed. She has been chastised for that, which I really don’t quite understand. We have to remember that “Nathan” is what? 16 or 17 years old, doesn’t seem that young to a lot of you out there. But from a parents perspective, I’m here to tell you it’s very young. And to be getting married that young, then blocking your parents completely out of your life has been quite the blow to Deb. I’ve had a lot of supportive mail from moms saying ‘thank you for shedding some reality on the subject of young marriage’. Yes, they may be in love, and yes they could have waited – but we’ll see what happens.
I’m 17 myself, and I completely agree with you.
Yea exactly! And I think the kids watching the show want these two young lovers to be together. But, they can be together without committing, at least at this point to the rest of their lives.
How do you prepare, you know — get in the mood for a character that’s had that kind of an attitude change.
[laughs] I would love a scene where I’m goofing off and cracking up. Moira [Kelly;
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Karen Roe] and I want to write a scene where we’re getting drunk and comparing notes about “Dan”. I mean … you know, when is the last time I laughed on camera? I get myself into a pretty dark place emotionally when I’m doing these heavy scenes, and by the end of the day I’m drained. So, I’ve decided to treat myself to a wonderful like comedy while over hiatus. For a sort of change of pace.
You know that would be a great idea for an episode. I would love it.
It would be so wonderful, we want to call the writers up and suggest it. Because we think it would be hysterical.
Before the end of last season when “Nathan” [James Lafferty] and Haley [Bethany Joy Lenz] got married, her parents gave their blessing. Why do you think it is that Nathan’s parents, especially “Deb” have such a problem with the couples decision?
I guess this one goes back to our other question. They’re young, and I think when their kids are 16-17 years old they still want to have an opinion and be accepted by their kids. “Deb” feels she’s been completely shunned, possibly even rightfully so – but she wants to be a part of her sons life.
Do you have any future projects such as movies or what not coming up that you could tell us about?
I plan on working over hiatus. It’s hard to squeeze in any kind of work while we’re working. But, last break I really wanted to be with my kids and focus on them. This year I’d like to work over the few months that we have off. I’m a big fan of a lot of the other WB shows, and it would be so much fun for “Deb Scott” to crossover into some of the other WB shows. Sometimes the shows do that. I’m a big fan of
Everwood, and I’ve always been a Scott Wolf fan. So, I thought maybe an older woman love interest for Scott Wolf. [laughs] I love the
Gilmore Girls, I’ve only gotten to be a fan of the show because it’s on before ours. I was never familiar with it before, I love the writing … the energy of it.
The Mountain is such a beautiful looking show, so yea I would love to guest star on some of the WB shows. Maybe squeeze in a movie over break if I have the time. I’m looking forward to doing something different, for the few months I have off. Then hopefully get the word that we’re back for season 3.
Definitely, I’d love for a season three because we just love the show.
Well, you know I’ll tell you something … with fans like you that’s what’s gonna keep us going. Because they [producers] really listen, I can’t stress that enough.
I have one more question before we go … during the first season, “the teens” of the show took a picture of them laying down, sort of tangled up to promote
One Tree Hill’s “tangled web.” Recently, a poster of the adults from the show in the same pose and clothes has surfaced on the internet, where did the idea for that come from?
Well, thank you so much for asking! First of all do you know where that came from? You just found it on the internet? That was actually my little project.
Really? Oh my gosh, that was great.
Yea! [laughs] That sexy picture of the kids was everywhere. It was in malls, buses, it was on billboards. And so I orchestrated this secret photo session with the adults. Oh boy, and had about 300 posters made .. then I plastered them everywhere at the wrap party last season. A little side note that not many know – each one of us in that poster is wearing exactly the same shirt of the character in the same position.
Yes! I noticed that, and was like ‘this is brilliant who though of that?’.
Exactly the same shirts, even Barry [Corbin; Coach Whitey Durham] … Craig [Sheffer; Keith Scott] is wearing Hilarie’s [Peyton Sawyer] shirt. Yea, it was a lot of fun and it really turned out well. I’m glad that’s surfacing now. [laughs]
Thank you so much for doing this interview.
Thank you very much!
FOR MORE ON BARBARA CHECK OUT:
· ONETREEHILLWEB.net
