(Laura in "Remington Steele")
She received us in her house in Los Angeles.
«My father who was an actor, didn't intervene at all in my decision of being an actress»
«I was returning of a golf match when, while arriving at my house, I found a package that contained the script of the series. I returned it immediately because I didn't want to work on television any more... Three days later I accepted the role. Thanks God the producers had not given it to another girl! »
«I come from a family where most of its members have highlighted; my grandfather was a great violinist and my grandmother an opera singer»
Stephanie Zimbalist has become one of the most popular figures in American television from its appearance in the series «Remington Steele», in which plays the main role next to Pierce Brosnan.
In spite of being the daughter of the famous Hollywood actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Stephanie grew outside of the limits of his popularity, although later in her youth she had to learn how to live with it. Born in New York and grown in Los Angeles, she attended the young ladies school of Foxcroft, in Virginia Oeste, to begin later to study drama in Juilliard. The decision of becoming professional actress, something that didn't attract her two siblings, was absolutely hers, with no intervention of her father at all. «He only intervened in what he could not avoid -she said -, he did as much as possible to keep me during my childhood far from entertainment, but I could not move away from their influence as actor in the real life; it was his work and his life and logically he loved it».
Up to now she has more than 20 participations in television films, such as her highlighted role in «Centennial». She also took part in some movies, highlighting «The awakening», opposite Charlton Heston that became a real launching for her.
Today Stephanie receives us in her house in Los Angeles, a beautiful mansion, in which you can appreciate her feminine touch and where you can breathe a pleasant atmosphere and landlord.
- Would you be defined like a person who likes being at home?
-Yes, I love it; maybe because for one circumstance or another, I have never had many opportunities to enjoy the home. Now I get up at six in the morning and I begin to shoot at eight o'clock, ending up at eight in the afternoon. I don't have much time to do a lot of things I would like to, so when I have a rest I like to stay at home, to read, to listen to music...
- What can you tell us about your sounded romance with Gregory Harrison...?
-The truth is that it was not big deal. It is true that I went out for a while with Gregory, but it is not very important now. I don't want to give to that relationship more importance than it really has.
In Stephanie's house we can see small details everywhere, such as ashtrays, boxes, different kinds of objects that she has been collecting along her life; dolls and hats. But mainly, the picture of their parents' wedding, located in a main place.
- How is your father in the real life?
He is a wonderful man, he he has helped me in everything he could and mainly he let me have freedom to do what I liked to. I have never felt pressures of any kind, my father only gave me advice when I requested to him, he has never forced me to anything, not even when I was a girl.
-But do you think that having a famous father is an obstacle...?
-Not at all; I have simply learned much from my father about the world of entertainment, looking at him while acting in certain occasions. I believe that I am well-received everywhere thanks to my father's reputation and to their old friends of this little world. I come from a family where most of their members have highlighted, my grandfather was a great violinist; my grandmother, an opera singer; I have an aunt who is a «best-seller» author, but, on the other hand, there has not been any pressure, neither too much support. I've been educated mainly to carry out personal achievements.
- How did you get Laura's role in "Remington Steele"?
It was purely by chance. I was returning with my father from a golf match when I found in my doorstep a package containing the script of the series. I called Immediately to my agent and told him that I didn't want to work on television series any more, that I wanted a part on stage or cinema. Three days later I reconsidered the offer and I understood that it was a foolishness not to accept it. Hopefully the producers hadn't had looked for another girl and finally they gave me the part.
The masculine co-star is Pierce Brosnan, a young and attractive Irish actor who we saw in the mini-series "The Manions of America", and also took part in "Nancy Astor". His role in the series is the young and handsome Remington.
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