My Julia Louis-Dreyfus Page 4

by vanesa berkling

Wednesday is the last day for rehearsal. Tomorrow, taping for the show gets under way. At the moment, Julia is practicing a scene with Jerry and George, looking absolutely gorgeous in this extreme heat. I'm in Los Angeles, standing on the set of the critically-acclaimed series Seinfeld, having to interview one of TV's most popular, sought after women. In casual but chic attire you can't miss her, or her hair. She's tiny, she's grand and she's coming my way - she's Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Her TV character, Elaine Marie-Benes is Jerry's zany, lovable, dysfunctional ex-girlfriend. While Elaine is capricious, nutty and driven by constant ill fated obstacles, not to mention gctting involved with the wrong men, the real Julia is quite the opposite. Focused and in control, she is married to her college sweetheart writer/producer Brad Hall. The two have known each other since their days at Northwestern and were co-stars on Saturday Night Live. They are proud parents of their son, Henry.

Dreyfus's ability to balance motherhood while performing on one of the top five shows in the country is remarkable, not to mention her variegated list of film credits which include Rob Reiner's North, Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters, and is the newest Nice and Easy Girl for Clairol.

We're sitting in her air-conditioned trailer. She likes my shoes. I like her face. It has a language all of it's own. With a series of facial expressions, she gets comfortable, I get uneasy. Naturally, I started with her famously voluminous Hair.

"People ask me ahout it all the time. They want to know how I do it. When I was little I straightened it for years. It grows out of my head and now it's making me some money.

Besides the fact that Elaine and you look alike, are there any similarities?

"No. Elaine is just in pain. I think Elaine has become very, very sad woman. She is someone who is in deep need of many hours of analysis and I like to think that I'm not that type of person."

What about the other three crazies you share the stage with? Jerry, George and Kramer.

"Elaine should really get away from these guys. She is bogged down by this trio of morons. She just needs healthy relationship. I don't even mean a romantic one, just a healthy relationship with anyone. Because episode after episode it's just one dysfunctional relationship after another, and that doesn't serve her well."

Julia is a woman with lots of estrogen. She's confident and to the point. What's it like working with three men full of testosterone?

"The fact of the matter is that everybody treats me pretty much as one of the boys, which I take as a great compliment. In return, I treat each one of them as one of the girls. I'm just another actor in the cast. I have no agenda except to be funny. Neither I or the writers profess to offer any worldly wisdom. The Seinfeld motto: No learning, no hugging."

It must be incredibly fun to work on the show?

"It's very fun and we have a good time. I think a lot, certainly not all of the success, is the underline reason for the success of the show and the superior writing. Beyond that I think it's the fact that we really do enjoy each others company and the work experience is that much better as we go. I think we all find one another funny and when you don't have to fake it, it's really nice if that makes any sense?"

Sense it does. The response to Seinfeld has been overwhelming. The series presents a universal appeal since it deals with issues familiar to everyone. Had you any idea?

"When I read the first two scripts, I thought Oh, boy! I think I've just stumbled onto buried treasure. Well I couldn't have imagined what this would be like, but I was secretly very excited."

What about Saturday Night Live? Being a three year veteran of SNL, how has it prepared you?

"Well it certainly made me appreciate a good work experience. SNL was a real pressure cooker, coming in each Monday with no script. It was also a very male-oriented environment. And I was extremely young and naive and had no notion of how the business worked. I wasn't equipped to turn things to my advantage. And so, I am very grateful. For a great job."

Among all the Seinfeld episodes, which was your favorite?

"The parking garage is one of the most fun ones we ever did, where we first lose the car and then each other in an expansive mall parking garage. We shot until three-thirty in the mornlng and we were so giddy that it was amazing that we ever got anything done. We had to wear microphone packs. We had these things in our butts and we were so exhausted. We had been shooting for over twelve hours and instead of getting in makeup chairs to get touched up, we lay down on the floor, and I just remember our makeup artist, Robin, powdering us down and those butt packs sticking us in the ass. It was a wild experience."

And the worst episode?

"There have been little humps to get over. But ultimately, I really honestly can say to you that there has never been one that was troubling. Unless I've totally blocked it out. The whole thing has been great."

Do you partake in the writing of Seinfeld?

"No. I mean the writers are certainly more than willing to hear what I have to say about a certain issue or a line of the way a scene is going. Sometimes they incorporate my ideas, if they're good, and sometimes they don't. But I don't take any credit."

Since the show is such a huge hit, how do you feel being recognized?

"Everybody seems to know me. It's very strange. Some people can sometimes really invade your space and kind of never leave you alone. That can be sort of difficult when you're trying to negotiate a child and groceries. But overall, people are pleasant and it's very flattering."

How would you describe yourself?

"Oh, I can't answer that. I don't know how to describe myself. My name is Julia, I'm 5'3", I've gone from a 7 1/2 to an 8 shoe."

Bizarre. How's that?

"It's finished, the 7 1/2 for me. I am an 8. When I got pregnant my foot grew, but I was denying it. I've been denying it for three years. Yesterday I was putting on shoes in my closet and I looked at them, like what's this? My shoes don't fit. I am an 8. So I've come to terms with it. I wear an 8 now. And that's a big foot for someone who is 5'3." Frankly, it's a reason not to get pregnant again."

Julia spends five days a week on the set of Seinfeld, including one or two late nights. How do you manage to balance motherhood with such a hectic schedule

"I stay heavily medicated," laughs.

But seriously, it must be difficult?

"Absolutely. But I've got this whole business going. There's a nursery and a play area. I'm particularly fortunate to be in a position where I can bring my child to work and be able to get good child care. Not a lot of women have that."

And not a lot of women are like Julia -- in fact there are none. So, what does the future hold?

"Getting a massage. Ha, Ha -- I'm not kidding... I would like to have a massage."

I'm left with a sense of awe. What Julia considers daily routine a mist (sic) this hectic schedule is unbelievable. Underneath this tough exterior is a woman with strong power and immense ability. Nonetheless, we hope Julia gets her massage, it's definitely well deserved. In the meantime, she's in no rush to make any decisions regarding the future.

Menz October 1995

Seinfeld's dysfunctional gal pal on TV's sexual frontiers, gift-giving among the staff and what makes a guy sponge-worthy

PLAYBOY: What makes a guy sponge-worthy? Describe Elaine's ideal man.

LOUIS-DREYFUS: In the episode where Elaine decides to use some of her hoarded contraceptive sponges, the guy makes a promise to do something about his sideburns. That's what pushes it over the edge and into the sponge-worthy zone. I remember the interview process as a long one: His apartment and bathroom are clean, he is a healthy person. Money and job security are a good start. A sense of humor is good. Masculine hands help. Men also should know the right moves and be able to have a good time. All of these matter. One can't just jump into the sack anymore. Also, hairy backs are a turnoff. I realize testosterone has its place, but no body sweaters. The ideal guy? For Elaine that's probably impossible. Maybe someone with patience. And money. Maybe just money, which, for her, can pretty much substitute for anything.

Marie: For the Osmonds, Christmas is a joyous time for the whole family to get together.

Donnie: Yeah, Marie. But things sure have changed since you got married!

Marie: Well, what about you, Donny? You've got a wife at home!

Donnie: You're right. I guess Christmas won't be the same this year. [Sings] I'll have a blue Christmas without you ...

Marie: I'll be so blue thinking about you ...

Donny and Marie: Decorations of red / On a green Christmas tree / Won't mean a thing / If you're not here with me. /I'll have a blue Christmas, that's certain. / And when the blue heartache ...

[They have gradually gotten very close; now they stop singing and kiss passionately.]

Gumby: Donny and Marie! Hey, hey, hey, cut it out! Is this how you kids go Hawaiian? Give me a break here!

December 11, 1982 - look for 25 Years of Saturday Night Live at your bookstore or library

This is for people who don't get this hair coloring commercial in their viewing area.