Lauralee Bell – Mistress Hunter

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) Please tell us the premise for your film Mistress Hunter and about your character.

A) I play a mother named Jackie who is in what she thinks is a great marriage with her little daughter and husband. She has a happy life, but right at the beginning the movie opens with her finding out that her husband has bene unfaithful. So, she calls her best girlfriends and they ask about her finding out. Then, there are some flashbacks where I say that recently some things have been going on and I followed him where I saw him kiss another woman outside of an apartment complex. They ask what I’m going to do, but I say that I’m not sure because we have a daughter. One of my friends says there is a woman she’s heard about called a “Mistress Hunter” who will help me get through this situation. I tell them that sounds crazy and then I go home and my husband is acting kind of creepy. After a few weird exchanges I decide to meet the Mistress Hunter. When I meet her, she says there are two options – she can help us get back together or she can help me have a little fun with him (payback). So, I pick that choice. [laughs] He begins flipping out at certain events, but then something happens where the cops end up at my door. I then become a suspect in a murder case. It becomes a situation where I have to prove myself innocent. It’s one of those stories that leaves space for a sequel. [laughs] So, I’m hoping that is the case since it was truly a pleasure to do! Rarely can you do a Lifetime movie that is so well written and so close to home. So, I’m all for Mistress Hunter 2.

Q) What did you find challenging about your portrayal?

A) When you do a soap and there is an emotional scene I always feel like your first take Is the best because you’ve been waiting to do it and tears hopefully come and there you go. You keep forgetting that when you do a film you do the master and you do other people’s close ups and then you do your closeups. There is a lot of emotional stuff in this so definitely the tearful aspect of it was a lot and some days I’d have to do “The Young and the Restless” in the morning and then quickly drive out to the movie set in the afternoon. Some days I am in, I would say, eighty percent of the scenes so it would just be a challenge trying to make sure my kids felt I was still listening to them when I got home at night and quickly trying to learn the dialogue for the next day of filming and really try to maintain a positive feeling on set because we had to do an incredible amount of material in thirteen days. The last Lifetime movie I did was in twenty-nine days so I just didn’t know how I would be able to do it in thirteen days. Everyone just kind of rose to the occasion and I was excited to do it. So, it was the emotion and the work load and trying to make it as natural as can be. From the minute I stepped on set, I never had any nerves so it was really just a comfortable feeling. Everyone is great in it. You always think that someone will standout and not be as strong, but across the board everyone was so good. But it was really a pleasure to work with every single person.

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before filming began?

A) I wasn’t so it really comes down to the first day. There were people coming up ot me on the first day asking, “Have you met your daughter yet?” [laughs] We’re about to work in half an hour. Especially with a younger person you want to try to grab a little bit of real life talking and relatability. I was telling her about my daughter and the games she was playing. So, we bonded right away. That was helpful and her mom was so great. The first day we had to do the last scene of the movie, which was the big build up. So, that was a little hard because I had just met the person in that scene and then the last day of the shoot was this emotional stuff I mentioned of how the movie opens. So, it’s always interesting and challenging shooting everything out of order. I wasn’t familiar with anyone though and now we’re constantly (especially this week) connecting like we never had before. I hope I don’t lose contact with them because it’s a great group.

Q) What advice did director Penelope Buitenhuis offer during filming that you took to heart?

A) First of all, when I heard it was a female director I was like, “Yes!” it’s so exciting. I just knew it would be different, because of the story, I liked that she would have a female vision on this. She gave great notes. She had to move so fast and I think she always knew how clear I was that nothing could look fake. That’s kind of what I talked ot her about in the beginning. I said, “If you ever see anything that looks fake, just say, ‘Wait! Do it again.’” We’d have to start scenes highly emotional and it takes a great director that without scolding the people around and the crew to say, “Be quiet. She needs to prepare.” She was able to just create a good feeling so getting into that mindset was very easy. It was a great experience. Again, what she had to accomplish was nothing I had ever seen before. We’d be almost blocking the next scene while they would be lightening the one we were shooting because we had to move that fast. But she did it and I’m super proud of her!

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming Mistress Hunter?

A) I’d never shot in a park before and we were on jungle gym equipment. All of the kids who were extras were playing. That was a fun day because it’s so cute to hear kids behind you so excited to be a part of this. There were so many things! I would say what was great was that we shot in what would be my character’s house for like a week so I got very comfortable in that surrounding. It was so nice to be in a kitchen setting and cooking and filling glasses of water. Being in cars, pulling up in cars and being on a freeway – it just is a whole different feeling than what I’m used to in terms of having the freedom to have a huge set at your disposal. I’m a fan of most of the scenes, I have to say. There was a promo that came out on Lifetime and I love that they grabbed all the eerie and scary parts of the movie. There is some humor in it and I love the scenes with the mother and daughter. Then, the scenes with the girlfriends at the beginning are really nice and I feel that there aren’t enough girlfriend scenes on TV. There are some shows like “Big Little Lies,” but I just see that it is sort of nice to see friends helping friends out.

Q) In what ways will women connect to the movie?

A) Women will probably find it fascinating and will love for their significant other to watch because it definitely shows a man and the mess he can get himself into. It shows it’s better to stick close to home in a good relationship is probably the best choice to do. Then, there is a young girl in it. So, there is nothing too scandalous that you couldn’t watch with your family on Friday night. It’s just a good girlfriend movie. It’s across the board that there is something for everybody.

Q) What do you think it is about the movie that will make it a Lifetime favorite film?

A) Well, someone said to me that they were a fan of all Lifetime films and that the great thing about mine was that they couldn’t figure it out. They said, “A lot of times even by the second scene I have a strong feeling about what is going to happen, an instant who did it or who was a part of the scandal.” People had said they didn’t see certain things coming. It just moves really quickly, which I’m happy about too. There are a couple scenes that are a little bit longer, but it moves quickly. So, I just think it is more current with today. It just has a different feeling that I like. We’ll see if others do! [laughs] Fingers crossed.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you excited for the instant fan feedback you’ll receive to the movie?

A) I am. What is so nice about having incredible “The Young and the Restless” fans are that they really follow you when you do other things. I’ve had so many people saying, “DVR set!” It’s just really overwhelming. Some people have said, “I’ve even called some ‘The Young and the Restless’ fans that aren’t on social media.” Our fan club for the show called me and said there were some people who watch “The Young and the Restless” that aren’t on social media so they sent out a postcard to fans that are elderly or may not participate in social media. Our fans have been so loyal to us. So, anyone who has been loyal to me I just wanted to be sure they knew about it and if they can watch, great. Yes, I’m very excited to see feedback because people are so set in seeing me…My character has become very official and serious on “The Young and the Restless.” So, even though Mistress Hunter becomes a very serious matter I don’t think they will see that much of my character in her. I guess I’ll hear about that, too. [laughs] People will be brutally honest and I can’t wait for that. [laughs]

Q) What has it meant to you to be a part of this iconic series?

A) We just had our forty-fifth anniversary. When you say that number you think, “That can’t be!” But it’s incredible. Yesterday I was sitting in the makeup room with Eric Braden who plays Victor Newman. He’s been here for almost the whole time. It’s amazing! Here is where the viewers are really just responsible for that completely. So, it’s nice to have these monumental anniversaries because we get the opportunity to say “thank you, thank you, thank you.” They get frustrated along the way and sometimes storylines don’t go their way, but they always hang in. So, there is a little bit of something for everybody. It’s good to have opinions and it’s so fun to be here. I’m at a very fortunate stage so I’m very lucky all around.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I just want to say how I appreciate it. I started when I was young and a little green. [laughs] They’ve really stuck by me. In that day, twenty-five year old actors were playing teenagers and I came in truly as a teen and had a teen storyline kind of molded around me. I’m just so fortunate to have young people playing young people and they have seen myself and a couple of people on our show go through our teen years and then terrific 80’s hair and then weird 90’s looks. They’ve always been complementary and “you go girl” and “we’re rooting for you!” Every time we do an outside project people have been so supportive of it. I don’t know what other to say than a huge thanks. I love making a movie, but at the end of the day you do it for the audience and hope it is something likeable. I remember growing up watching Sunday night movies of the week and being so excited to see what the next one was the following Sunday. That’s what Mistress Hunter To me, you’ve gotten through your work week and you grab a glass of wine and sit back. You can relax and watch with no stress involved. I hope that turns out to be the case.