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CARE: Let's build a better world for women and children

June 18, 2005

SMGFAN.com's
Exclusive Interview with
Robia LaMorte

© 2005 SMGFan.com

 

NOTE: Please do not post this interview (whole or in part) anywhere else. Please provide a link to the page instead.
Thank you.

Images courtesy of Robia LaMorte. Buffy promo image copyright and courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.

JPM: You are an accomplished dancer and enjoyed a successful career as one. What made you decide to retire at 22 and pursue an acting career instead?

Robia LaMorte (RL): Well, I started working professionally at 16 and was blessed to have a great career. I was traveling around the world and working with amazing people when I was far too young to really appreciate it! Working with Prince was the icing on the cake. I realized that I had achieved most of what there was to achieve as a dancer and wanted to leave dance at the top of my game. Acting seemed like the next logical step for someone who had little singing talent (Oh yeah, not good!) but wanted to express creatively. I had already begun to transition into acting by doing a few non dancing commercials, so I started taking acting classes and auditioning for television and film roles.

JPM: I'm sure you have a lot of stories you can tell us but what was the strangest (or most interesting) thing you've ever had to do for an audition (acting or dance)?

RL: For starters dance auditions are much less civilized than acting auditions. It's common at dance auditions for them to ask you to improvise which means they just play music and you have to get out there and dance in front of hundreds of people... the casting folks and all the others dancers just standing there watching you. Dancers are crazy and not super shy, so when we have a moment to shine we usually take it. I've done my share of jumping up on the casting table and doing a little solo or grabbing the music video artist and pulling him out in the middle of the floor and dancing like a mad woman all over him. (Keep in mind that I was a teenager during this time!!)

Glenn: What was your experience like working with Prince and acting as "Pearl"? That sounds like it was an adventure! Anything in particular you enjoy sharing about that time?

RL: It was an amazing experience. I only wish that I had even seen a concert before touring with Prince. I had never gone to a concert and here I was on stage with one of the most unbelievable performers ever! The show was elaborate, and I assumed that all shows were like that. When I got off tour I went to go see a concert and couldn't believe that the guy just stood there and sang. It wasn't until that moment that I realized that I had been a part of something fantastic. I've seen a lot of concerts since then and have never seen anything that compared. I have to say I watched him rehearse at sound check night after night and he was jaw dropping every single time. Even after months of touring I never got tired of hearing the music or watching him perform.

Glenn: Could you tell us the story of what circumstances brought to fruition your working with Joss Whedon on Buffy?

RL: I went in to read for the casting director who liked me and later brought me back in to meet with Joss. There were quite a few people in the room including Tony Head who I thought was one of the show's producers. I was shocked when he acted the scene with me because I had thought the role of Giles was on of my students. Obviously I had not added the sexual chemistry part thinking that I was talking to a 13 year old! I talked to Tony like he was a child and that I was much smarter than him. It really worked for the scene. I also dressed very cool and un-teacher like for the meeting. Joss liked that I wasn't your stereotypical conservative teacher, and that worked for the role too. They called me the next day and offered me the part. It was only a one episode guest star at that time. I still don't know if they had more in mind from the beginning or decided to add more of Jenny after seeing Tony and me in the first episode.

Glenn: What was that first day on the Buffy set like? Any memorable experience you'd like to share?

RL: Oh gosh it was so long ago!! I think my first scene to shoot was in the library where I tell Giles that the computer is cool and that the TV is the idiot box. I remember having to wait for a long time to get clearance on Xander's shirt that said "porn star." They weren't sure if that would fly.

JPM: What was it like working with Sarah Michelle Gellar?

RL: Sarah was always generous with me. She even bought me a gift for my last episode. She got me a directors chair with my name on it. All the actors have a chair to rest between takes. I never had one with my name on it since I was never a regular cast member. It was a very sweet way for her to say that I was a part of the Buffy family.

Glenn: You have some fans who are dying to see you become a regular on another TV show. Are you still open to that if the right project comes along?

RL: I'm becoming less and less open to it. My life is really moving in another direction, and I am interested in going with that flow. Unlike dance however, there are still a few things that I haven't gotten to do as an actress that I'd like to. I was hoping to get a chance to do more comedy for sure. We'll see.

I am more focused on the ministry aspect of my life right now. A part of that is included on my website- robialamorte.com. I spend a lot of time helping people understand God more clearly and teaching women how incorporate Him into their lives. I've been traveling and doing speaking engagements and am in the process of writing a book. I like acting but when I'm doing ministry I get the "this is what I was built to do" feeling.

JPM: Speaking of fans, you've become a regular guest at conventions. Are you suprised by the continued support and interest shown by Buffy fans? What is your most 'memorable' fan encounter (maybe because of a gift or comment)?

RL: I enjoy the fans a ton! So many say "I hope you don't mind, but I got you this gift." Now who minds getting a gift?? I have gotten beautiful letters, jewelry, and some AMAZING drawings and paintings of me as Jenny. It touches me that people would put in that kind of time and effort.

JPM: You've worked on TV, films, commercials, music videos and stage. What has been your most challenging role/work so far?

RL: I've only done one play and that was an entirely different experience. I loved the rehearsal process. I also liked getting to stay with the same piece of work for weeks at a time. In TV and film there was always a minor mourning for me after every scene. You do it for a couple of hours and then it is gone forever never to be revisited.

As far as challenging goes I don't think I've had the opportunity to do all that I'm capable of. That is the one thing that makes me sad about possibly moving away from acting. It feels like there are parts of me that haven't been tapped into yet. I haven't had the role where I feel like "yes, I've done it. I've used all of myself." I felt that somewhat on an independent film I did called "12 stops on the road to nowhere." That was the closest and most fulfilling.

JPM: If you can have coffee (or tea) with anyone in the world, who would you choose and why?

RL: Oprah would be one. She inspires me to come up higher and see that one life can have a huge impact on many lives.

Joyce Meyer would be another. She's a minister. Probably has the largest ministry in the world. She has had a huge impact on me, because she brings God across in a way that is applicable and easy to relate to. She is also hysterically funny. Not the typical preacher type.

And Brad Pitt cause... well.... you know.....

SMGFAN.com would like to thank Robia for doing this interview with us. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

For all the latest news on Robia, please visit her official site at RobiaLaMorte.com.

 

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