RM: You and the acting business go way back. Congratulations on your success thus far, especially knowing that, this isn’t the easiest industry to be in. What made you decide to be an actress?
JH: I was born this way. I came out as this strange, kind of old-woman-freak-child who had many faces & dialects. Even when I was four or five, I had fully blown adult personas that I’d unleash upon my easily amused family. I bless them for their tolerance.
RM: The business has changed a lot, over the past several years. And of course, not all of it is bad. Nevertheless, what helps you to keep up with all changes that have taken place in the entertainment industry?
JH: I think the first thing is, my willingness to embrace new media. No doubt, it’s platforms like Twitter & Instagram that are the future. People want their entertainment content in a wide variety of ways and since they’re essentially the consumer of you, and not just merely the beholder of your art, it’s best to be willing to grow, learn, & connect. But never take any of it too seriously. Just play with it! As a dear old friend of mine says, “it never promised to love you back!”
RM: As you mentally scan your body of work, what has been one of your most memorable moment on set?
JH: I think shooting on the tarmac at Cape Canaveral for the film “Armageddon” was really memorable. There was a shuttle landing, mixed with all the energy that equipment trucks, cameras and crews of such an event would involve, and it was thrilling! A close second happened while I shooting “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and spied a beaming Jim Henson out of the corner of my eye. That was surreal. Kermit the Frog’s in the house! Truthfully, now that I think of it, there are so many memorable moments. Some of which you couldn’t actually print!
RM: Like we previously mentioned, you have an extensive body of work that ranges from comedy to drama and everything in between. Which roles have you been drawn to the most?
JH: Honestly, I really just like to work. It’s the only job I’ve ever had. I’ve had a lot of great opportunities, but I have yet to be graced with that one role that just changes everything. The role that opens up all the doors. I’m eager for its arrival. Meanwhile, I’m looking for truthful writing, strong points of view and for stories that are worth telling. This is a tough business with long hours, tiny budgets, time away from families and great sacrifice – is the script worth the price? It’s important to choose wisely.
RM: Which actors are on your short list to work with?
JH: I’d like to work with Cherry Jones, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren (again), Tilda Swinton, Anthony Hopkins, my pal Bryan Cranston, Amy Adams, Jeff Bridges, Emma Thompson & Bill Nighy.
RM: You’re on of the hottest running shows, ABC’s Nashville. What made you decide to jump on board to the series?
JH: It was an equestrian event whereby I had to jump through many hurdles. I literally threw myself at our creators & producers and finally, thankfully, they came around. I’d like to think they’re pleased but praise is a bit of a well-guarded secret on our show. The actors, however, are very generous with each other and we really appreciate each others work. But, the fans? Our fans are awesome & completely devoted! But that’s why we do it, right?
RM: You play the role of Tandy Hampton, Rayna James’ sister. What do you like most about your character?
JH: I like that she has so many colors… and secrets! Who is Tandy Hampton really? Where does the name Hampton even come from? Tandy has a lot of masters – she’s lived her life between the shadows of the late, great Lamar Wyatt & the Superstar Rayna Jaymes. But, do we really know who she is or what she’s capable of? And, will we ever?
RM: At this point in the season, it seems as though, Tandy has made quite the mess of the family business. Is she truly remorseful for trying to bring her father down and what can we expect from her as Season 2 comes to a close?
JH: I don’t think Tandy’s made the mess – it was Lamar’s mess. There was a line I uttered in the pilot regarding my father “I win one, I lose ten”. Lamar was old school and Tandy wanted, not only to be an equal partner, but also to bring the company into the 21st Century. Unfortunately, Lamar’s ego wouldn’t permit such equality. Sadly, he was also developing early stages of dementia (only hinted at on screen), while Tandy was trying to save the company and create a new more transparent corporate culture. Tandy was truly remorseful for blindly following daddy – it proved to be the biggest mistake of her life. She was trying to right her wrongs. It was a shattering revelation. Our show is so compressed, time-wise, so a lot of the story never shows up on screen or is only vaguely alluded to all. Such is life on television.
RM: Let’s talk a little fashion & style. First off, your new hair cut looks AMAZING! We just had to let you know…When it comes to fashion, who are some of your favorite fashion designers taking space in your closet?
JH: My favorite closet is, Tandy’s closet. She can afford designers I only covet: Gucci, Chanel, Helmut Lang, Alexander McQueen, Burberry. All the really good stuff goes to Hayden & Connie, but Susie Desanto our Costume Designer, manages to make all of us look like a million bucks. The hair was a bit of a surprise, even for me! Chris McMillan went at me with his amazing Edward Scissorhands just before Christmas. Some days I love him, some days, I curse him. If I can’t get screen time to show my characters journey, then I’ll use my hair, my body or whatever I have, to tell the story of Tandy’s point of view. What do women do when they flip out? You can get a tattoo, pierce something, get hitched in Vegas or chop your hair off!
RM: We are looking forward to seeing how things unfold on ABC’s Nashville. Do you have any other projects coming up in the near future?
JH: My next project is from Focus Features, “Bad Words”, is directed by Jason Bateman. It opens March 6th. It’s an R-rated comedy that’s been getting some great reviews. I still haven’t seen it but Allison Janney just killed me on that film. After that, I’ll hit the short film festival circuit with the short film “Destroyer”, directed by new filmmaker Andrew Kightlinger, that I shot last fall with Alan Ruckman on the windy prairie in Pierre, South Dakota. Andrew watched Ninja Turtles in the Madagascar jungle as a boy and wrote the part for me. He’s really talented, I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Twitter: @HeyJude629
Facebook Fan Page: Judith Hoag
Instagram: @HeyJude629
All images courtesy of Laura Godwin