Exerpt from an article by Christina Radish at iesb.netIESB: How did you originally get involved with The City? Did you have any hesitation at all, in doing reality television and the affect that could have on your acting career?
Roxy: Oh, yeah! I got involved because I had done a second of The Hills. I got really nervous and decided that I didn't really feel like that was right for me to do. But, when I did that, I was in a place where I was really trying to get myself started as an actress and I didn't really feel like that was right for me. And, when I was offered The City, I really wanted to work and perform. I was getting a little bit like, "What am I doing? I've been auditioning and nothing is working out." I was getting really nervous.
For me, I've always loved being in New York and the truth is, as an actress, it's really hard to live in New York with all the auditions being in L.A. So, when I got the opportunity to be in New York and work in fashion, which is my other big passion, something sounded right about it. I came to do a taping with Whitney [Port], who I've known for a long time, and we had so much fun.
It is performing, no matter how you look at it. It's not all scripted, but it is definitely a performance. You have five cameras in front of you. It's an improv, to a certain degree. It's been a crazy adventure and I love it. I couldn't be happier doing it. We have so much fun. And then, I get to do Brothers & Sisters, at the same time, so I get to see both worlds. It's not reality, in the sense that cameras are following us around 24/7. We have our off-time, too, so I always look at it like a performance.
IESB: How much of the version that people see of you on the show is really who you feel you are? What would you like people to know about you that they might not see from watching you on the show?Roxy: The one thing is that they show so much of my bitch side, in the way that I can snap back at people and be harsh. They never show how I'm a total goofball and nerd. Me and Whitney are really silly, and they never show me being silly. I'm always surprised at that. They try to mold you into a certain character, so you don't see all the sides of me, which is good because then I get to keep my privacy, but I always go, "You guys never show us laughing. We have so much fun." They never show that. That always bothers me.
IESB: In what ways do you think you're the perfect compliment to Whitney and her personality? Why do you think you've been able to remain friends for so long, in a business that seems to so easily tear friendships apart?
Roxy: We have a really great mutual respect for each other. When Whitney came to New York, I think she felt really lonely. Everybody that she met, there were cameras around. We have a way with each other that she knows, 100%, that she can trust me. We've known each other for a really long time, and we're each other's saving grave.
If it came between me and Whitney's friendship or the show, at this point, we both know we'd choose each other. We're on each other's team, throughout this whole thing. We know there's certain things that we have to do, in order to keep the drama up, and we're always honest with each other about it. If we've talked shit or done anything like that, we keep each other stable with it. You just have to really, completely trust the person that you're working with. I couldn't be more thankful. I look at Erin [Lucas] and Olivia [Palermo] and I would shoot myself in the head. I'm very thankful to work with Whitney.
IESB: Will the upcoming season of The City be along the same lines as the previous seasons? Are there any major changes at all?Roxy: Well, you'll see that my boyfriend is on it, so that will be interesting. We also get to go on a major trip this time. Now that we have our core group for the cast, you really get to come into our lives a little bit more. It's going to be more of a balance between work and social life, as opposed to 3/4 work. It's definitely going to be more in our lives and a little more invasive. It's a good thing. It will be fun.
IESB: Was it a difficult decision to bring your boyfriend into the show?
Roxy: Oh, yeah. I really thought about that. I talked to Whitney about it for a long time, before doing that. Right now, when you're opening up and you're a new character and you really want people to see the other sides of you, part of why this is a challenging job is that you are putting your name on there. It's your real boyfriend. When the cameras go off, you're still sitting with him, as opposed to acting. That was really a hard decision for me ‘cause I've looked at so much of this as an acting job.
For me, I feel like it was my way of really letting the audience come into my life. For the show's purpose, I wanted to watch more of that. You have to put yourself on the line a little bit because, if you want to watch that, then you have to bring it. It's scary, but with this guy, I really believe that he's not just there for the cameras.
Whitney has also been on The Hills and so many of the guys, when they come to her, they're very aware of what she does and it's a little trickier. This is my last opportunity to have a guy come into my life that's not just for this. If anything, he's putting himself out there by doing it. It's part of who I am, so they have to get used to it. It's a big part of my life, but I do get really weird. Sometimes I'm like, "I don't want to kiss him on screen. I don't want to do this. I don't want to do that." And then, I realize that it will probably be good television, so I shut my mouth.
IESB: Now that you've been a part of the show for awhile, has anything been particularly surprising that you weren't expecting would come with doing reality television?
Roxy: The fact that my name is the name that's used, and it's not a character's name, people are like, "Oh, it's Roxy and Whitney," and I'll be like, "Do we know each other?" I don't get recognized very often, but when I am, it's like, "Hey, Roxy!" It's your name, so it's so weird. Because it's a reality show, people feel like they know you, or people get mad at me. People will be like, "Bitch!," and I don't even know them. They'll say mean things. The difference between reality shows and not is that, when you play a character, you can really hold onto your privacy. With me, people think that that's 100% who I really am, and that's not always the truth ‘cause I have a whole other side.
IESB: How did you end up being cast on Brothers & Sisters?
Roxy: Actually, the role came up and Greg Berlanti, who is the other executive producer, told my dad that he thought that this was a part that I should do, and my dad was like, "Well, she's going to have to audition like everybody." I had to go through three different call-backs. I was like, "Really?" I had to go in and audition for my dad. It was good, but my dad wouldn't really hire me. And then, when the character came back, I was really surprised. I had no idea that they were going to bring me back on. I originally read for the Rebecca (Emily Van Camp) character, and I was heartbroken when I didn't get that role. Greg Berlanti got the idea that I should do this role from auditioning for him for Rebecca.
IESB: Who do you play on the show, and how does she fit into the story?
Roxy: I'm playing the surrogate for Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane). My character, Michelle, was Chad's (Jason Lewis) girlfriend. Kevin and Chad ended up having a thing, and my character re-introduced Scotty and Kevin, trying to set them up on a date, and that's when they ended up getting back together, and then getting married. My character was brought back as Scotty's friend. Michelle is just so much fun. She's a carefree spirit, which is so opposite from Kevin, and that's why they wanted to bring her in as a surrogate. It so shows the contrast between Kevin and Scotty as well because she's his really good friend and she's such an airhead. She's really energetic and everything is in the moment. Kevin is the complete opposite. More than anything else, I think it really highlights his character.
IESB: Do you have any specific directors or actors that you'd love to work with some day?
Roxy: I'm obsessed with Quentin Tarantino, but that's a stretch. I love him, though. I would die to work with Quentin Tarantino.
IESB: Do you have any desire to get behind the camera as well?
Roxy: Yes, I want to direct. Eventually, I want to be behind the camera.
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