In Touch with Alexandra Neil!
~Interview with OLTL's "Dr. Paige Miller" by Katherine Thurston

The first Dr. Paige Miller arrived in Llanview back in October of 2004, first played by actress Kimberlin Brown, who left the role in June, 2005. Following Brown's recast came actress Cady Huffman, who took over the role in August, 2005, however, in January, 2006 TPTB decided once again to recast the role. So OLTL brought in actress Alexandra Neil to come in as the third Paige Miller, whom has been in the role now over a year, and has done an outstanding job.

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Alexandra Neil to find out more about her personal and professional life, as well as her connection to other OLTL cast members.

KATHERINE THURSTON:Can your share some insight into your everyday life?
ALEXANDRA NEIL: I'm married to a wonderful actor, John C. Vennema. We live in Tribeca with our girls - my daughter Zoe, age 14, and his daughter Bess, age 18. Zoe is into dance, and Bess is a horseback rider who does eventing. [horse and rider competitions]

KT: What other interests do have besides acting? Are you involved with any charities?
AN: I'm (thankfully) always working on something. I do a project every summer with the Williams College Summer Theater Lab that I write and direct. I've also directed quite a few projects in New York. I've acted in a lot of plays. I teach an acting class at Michael Howard Studios, where I also act in and direct workshops. And of course, I do film and TV whenever I can. I directed a documentary film on the Beat poets a few years ago, which I never finished, and which now looks like it will be a part of a larger project by the brilliant filmmaker Walter Salles. I feel very honored to be a part of something he's working on. I'm also writing a play about my family.

I am very involved in being a mom. I read a lot. We go to the beach every summer weekend, which is my favorite place. I love to travel. I am working on improving my French. I figured if my daughter can have tutors, so can I! I'm into fashion, though not nearly as much as Zoe.

I am very dedicated to two charities. The first is The New York Opportunity Network, which mentors talented NYC high school students from low-income families. It is run by Jessica Pliska, who is married to Greg Pliska, an excellent musical theater composer. The kids they sponsor have gone on to many of the top colleges. The second is Mothers-to-Mothers. This is a program that was started by Dr. Mitch Besser, with whom I went to college. He has a number of clinics in Africa that are dedicated to preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies. They have a very high success rate, and are actually saving a generation of Africans. The program also empowers women by giving them employment and by helping them to help each other. It is amazing, and is actually something Paige would love. Ellen Dolan (Margo Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS) and I are sponsoring a benefit for M2M on April 23. (Fans are invited - contact the fan club of either show for tickets.)

KT: Do you enjoy working and living in such a busy city like New York? Have you spent much time on the West coast? East or West - Which do you prefer?
AN: I am a die-hard New Yorker. I love the energy of the city. I have lived in LA briefly, and enjoyed it, but am fiercely loyal to living here and committed to raising Zoe here. I think New York is the best place in the world to grow up. There is culture everywhere, and everyone does something different and interesting. You can have an adventure just by walking down the street. It is never boring.

KT: So what was it like working with Paul Satterfield as Spencer, the character who was hated by everyone in Llanview?
AN: I love Paul's energy onscreen, his commitment to the role, and his attention to detail. He made a big deal once about the fact that Spencer would tie his tie in a Windsor knot - I loved that! I think we worked very well together. I will miss him.

KT: Are you friends with any of the cast mates from One Life to Live?
AN: I adore all of them. It's a great group of people. I'm friends with Bob Woods (Bo) and his wife - I've known Loyita for many years - we were in the same acting class. I've known Kassie DePaiva (Blair) since Guiding Light. Bree Williamson (Jessica) is my dressing roommate - I absolutely love her and her work. I worked with Ilene Kristen (Roxy) on Ryan's Hope - my first soap job!

KT: Do you prefer being a villainess or the "nice one?"
AN: Well, in my time in daytime I have done both. TEXAS was a wonderful experience. I played someone who was bad, but really underneath had a great heart, and that contrast was really really fun. Her name was Ruby Wright, and she remains one of my favorite characters. What's interesting about Paige is that she's human - she's made some real mistakes in life - marrying Spencer, and falling into a life of being controlled and manipulated by him. It's been great to see her work her way through that, and come out on the other side. Some fans say to me, but she's a doctor, how could she be with an abusive man. She's brilliant. But it happens all the time - very brilliant, successful women can be involved with destructive men. There is no barrier - it can happen to anyone. Now that it's over, it's up to Paige to find some happiness and forgive herself.

KT: I love Eddie Alderson as Matthew. What is it like working with a young person like that who seems to have the talent and heart of a grown-up, experienced actor?
AN: He is really 12 going on 25! He's such a pro, in a very relaxed way. Since he did the movie [Reservation Road], I have really seen him grow up. I absolutely adore him, love working with him, and respect him for the fine actor he is.

KT: Since most people don't believe Hugh was Paige's real son, would you like it to be Rex or Nash? What are your thoughts on that?
AN: Oh, really? That's the first I've heard that. I'd like both of them to be my sons - they're both wonderful.

KT: How do you feel about being the third Paige to play this role? (In my opinion, you are the only one that has done it successfully.)
AN: Thank you for that. I have to tell you, it has been hard. I think the audience was really exhausted by the changes, and didn't really have a sense of who Paige was when I first came on. It was hard to overcome the negativity. I had replaced Lisa Emery on As the World Turns, but for some reason that transition wasn't so difficult. Other than that, I have always created the characters I played. I also came in quickly, knowing very little, and had to find out all the facts as I went along. It was strange! Paige had actually been in the story for a couple of years. I hope that I helped to create the arc that the writers had in mind - I think Paige has changed and grown a lot since I've been there.

KT: I am glad to hear that Paige may not be the killer. That would be quite a twist for the character. If you could write a storyline for Paige, what would it be?
AN: Oh, gosh, well of course I want her to be happy! Wildly happy! I want her to marry Bo, and maybe have or adopt a child with him, and become chief of staff again, and keep doing the good service that she does as a doctor. And to keep growing stronger and stronger, to be free, to be able to leave her demons behind her. And then to go out a lot with all her girlfriends and HAVE SOME FUN, for heaven's sake.

KT: I see you've worked on several episodes of Law and Order. How was that experience compared to working on a soap opera?
AN: Law and Order is very intense. I have played some terrific characters, and really love working on that show. It's different because it's shot on film, so you have coverage, etc - a different pace from soaps. It can take all day to do one or two scenes. On one episode I had a courtroom scene that was shot from behind me at 9 AM, and they didn't turn the camera around and do my heavy testifying stuff till 1 AM. That was a challenge - just to stay focused all day long.

KT: How did you first get your start in acting?
AN: Pretending in my bedroom by myself. I was an only child, so I had imaginary friends. I also was a pretty serious ballet dancer till the age of 17 - it was a natural progression. I put on the Wizard of Oz every summer in my backyard. I was always the Witch.

KT: Is there anyone in particular in show business that you really look up to? And if so, why?
AN: So many people! There are so many fine actors who work hard and do amazing things. And directors, and writers. I look up to anyone who pursues his or her craft in a dedicated way. Some favorites - Vanessa Redgrave, Helen Mirren, Judy Dench - oh, Billy Crudup and Ethan Hawke, who are both so excellent in the Stoppard trilogy at Lincoln Center... And of course, Frank Langella - I worked with him in Match, which was an incredible experience. He is a huge talent in the theater.

KT: I see you were born in Boston, Mass., do you happened to be a fellow Red Sox fan, like myself?
AN: My mom was a Red Sox fan all her life, and still is! We moved to Detroit when I was a child, so I grew up rooting for the Tigers. I am now a Yankees fan. And my husband would leave me if I didn't mention the Princeton football team. We go to all the games.

KT: Any there any favorite primetime TV shows you watch on a regular basis?
AN: 24 and Project Runway. And endless reruns of Law and Order.

KT: And finally, do you know what the writers have planned next for your character in Llanview?
AN: No! It's kind of like life - I have no idea what will happen next.

UPDATE: Alexandra Neil (Paige), who joined the cast in October 2004, will be leaving at the end of July. The departure for her character is storyline-dictated.

© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, March, 2007

Photos used copyrighted by ABC, Inc. 2007