Lopez Blogs

Interview Question: So how did this come about - did you hatch some scheme with [Grey's Anatomy creator and executive producer] Shonda Rhimes?

Brooke Smith Answer: No! I've been dabbling over there in Season 2 and Season 3. After every time I would hope they would call and also hope not too, kind of like when I used to be single. And they finally actually called!


Interview Question: OK! So how's it going? Everyone is so unpleasant!

Brooke Smith Answer: They are? You mean the characters.


Interview Question: Indeed! A little gritty, a little narcissistic. . . .

Brooke Smith Answer: Oh yeah. That.


Interview Question: And your own is a little abrasive.

Brooke Smith Answer: Yes. I've heard that word used before. What's the question?


Interview Question: You're the first person to ever confront me on not asking questions. You must have been to a lot of therapy or something.

Brooke Smith Answer: Oh, that was years ago, but I need to go back.


Interview Question: Oh, we'll circle back to that. So?

Brooke Smith Answer: [Erica Hahn] is a professional! She's a workaholic! She has little rules in her head about how you're supposed to act at work. That doesn't mean she can't break the rules. But everyone else is supposed to follow them.


Interview Question: And you made your grand entrance as a full-timer? Was there cake?

Brooke Smith Answer: No cake! I got a bottle. I got a little, you know, thermos. I think one thing that should be mentioned and applauded is that they have banished plastic bottles from the set. Isn't that cool? It's the first time I've seen it. The thermos says Grey's Anatomy Season 4. You have to be responsible with that thermos. You have to bring it with you. You have to hydrate. It's the desert here.


Interview Question: I'm assuming that it actually turns out that everyone is nice with some exceptions.

Brooke Smith Answer: I haven't met anyone who's not nice there. Truthfully! And I've known some of those people before. I did a movie with Patrick Dempsey, and I did a play with Sandra Oh in New York called "Stop Kiss." We were lovers!


Interview Question: So you know each other quite well!

Brooke Smith Answer: We do! When I first got to Grey's Anatomy, she told the producers I was a good kisser. Ooh, very controversial. And I did a Law & Order a million years ago with Ellen Pompeo. And T.R. Knight! I met T.R. at the O'Neill Theater Festival. Very highbrow. What can I say?

Wow. So they’re not the ones sending you back to therapy.

Obviously it’s my own issues. I admit it. It’s ridiculous. But I got very neurotic about the fact that I didn’t go to medical school. I’m not actually a doctor.


Interview Question: Wait, what?

Brooke Smith Answer: It was really stressing me out because I have to look like I’ve been doing it a long time. Even the stethoscope, the ear part? If you looked at it you would think there was an obvious way it would go in your ears but it’s actually the opposite. Right there it freaks me out! If I have to make an entrance and put that in my ears? That caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. Oh, I dunno! I figure if I look stupid they’ll tell me. I’ve told them that.


Interview Question: Are you better at interviews than other actors? And I am alluding to your mother [Lois Smith, the famous publicist].

Brooke Smith Answer: You should know the answer to that.

You seem carefree – you seem unhindered and uncoached.

And frankly this is my second interview that I’ve given in I don’t know how many years. I haven’t been interviewed in a long time! I don’t know how my mom being a publicist would even help me.


Interview Question: Now you’re shooting in Crazy Town full time – do you have time for a real life?

Brooke Smith Answer: I’m not even working the rest of the week. I’m OK. I have a little girl, she goes to school, and I have a husband, he’s a cinematographer and working right now. We live up in Beachwood Canyon. Very enjoyable. It’s pretty much: Work, school, a little hiking.

Right now I’m looking at downtown but I can hear the coyotes in the backyard. I think people don’t like coyotes, but I do. I don’t want them to eat my dog or anything.

It sounds adult.

It is a little bit adult, I think. That’s what my husband said when we rented this house: “It’s an adult house.” But if not now, when? I just turned 40, for God’s sakes, I might as well be an adult now.