Meredith Monroe – Married to the Job

Q) What are the current projects that you are working on?

A) Right now, I am working on a series for CBS called “Criminal Minds.” It’s a recurring character and I play Haley Hotchner who is the wife of Aaron Hotch. Right now, we’re just introducing my character and showing that he has a family life. I was pregnant in the beginning and I’ve given birth. We’ll see what will happen down the road. Hopefully, something good and juicy will come up. Maybe one of the serial killers will hit too close to home, we’ll see.

Q) You play the character Haley Hotchner on “Criminal Minds.” What did they tell you about the character when you originally signed on?

A) They had said it was a small character to start off with. She was one of the wives of the team and they had some pretty exciting storylines if the show got picked up for the entire year. They had some exciting storylines that they wanted to write for her if the show got picked up and continued on next year. They just left it kind of intriguing saying this is where she is at now, but we have some exciting stuff for where she can go, too. They left it mysterious and intriguing so I thought what the heck! It sounded fun!

Q) What made you want to be a part of this show?

A) I really liked the pilot that I had read. I thought it was good and fun. I’ve always kind of liked thriller-mystery television shows and books. I’ve always been intrigued by that kind of stuff. I read the script and it always deals with different serial killers. It’s not just different police cases. It’s serial killers that are tracked by this special team. I thought this was something interesting and it’s different.

Q) How was it getting to work with such acting greats like Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore?

A) I think it’s going to be more exciting as I, hopefully, get more to do on the show. It’s wonderful working with Thomas because he’s the one who plays my husband, obviously. I’ve only gotten to get quick little exchanges with Shemar and Mandy, whether it’s seeing them on the set or at table reads. I’m looking forward, hopefully, to having more scenes with them.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from filming?

A) I don’t think I do. They’ve all been good!

Q) What has been your favorite project to work on and why?

A) They are all my favorites for different reasons. It’s really lame, but true! You get excited about different projects for different reasons. I did a short film called Spare Change and I think that might be one of my top favorites, only because I played a drug addict and a homeless girl. I think it was one of my favorites because every time someone sees it they don’t recognize that it’s me. That makes me feel good that I’ve done my job, that I’ve done it well and that people that think I can only be a certain way have been surprised. They say, “Oh! We had no idea she could play this kind of role.” Or, they say, “We didn’t think she could go there or look like this.” I just did an episode of “Cold Case” and it was set in 1965. I’m really proud of that one since I play a battered wife. Again, I think I’m really proud of the work I did in it. It was a lot of fun to do because you get to go to other places. Whenever you get to go to other places, besides the girl next door, it’s always more fun. It’s probably my favorite for the same reason, because I got to be something completely different that maybe wouldn’t associate me with, necessarily. But, at the same time, I loved doing Laura Ingalls because it was such an amazing experience! I just found out I’m doing a film called Big Fat Lady and that’s another character that I was so excited about. She’s completely different than anything I’ve ever done so I am looking forward to that.

Q) Please tell us the premise of the movie Big Fat Lady and about your character.

A) Her name is Susie. She is the town flirt and the movie is quirky and funny.

Q) How do you research and prepare for your roles?

A) Every role is kind of different. Let’s say there is a drug problem, then I would do research online and I’ve got family members who are in the medical field, doctors who are in the ER and things like that. I talk to them about things that they have seen or encountered. I do stuff online and go to clinics to get information from them. I also use any personal experiences that I’ve had through people that I have known that maybe have been involved with things like that. For this role, playing the wife, where I’m not one of the FBI tracking down serial killers, I think it’s just more about finding what is going on internally with this character and how she feels about her husband, the work that he does and the risk or danger that he is in. I think that’s just something that you have to put yourself in that situation, as opposed to really doing any major research. Where as, if you were the FBI tracker I think there is al to more research involved.

Q) What are your other passions besides acting?

A) I love to travel. I like to experience, see and do new things. I’m always up for trying anything new, whether it is doing something daring. I was in Australia once and I did some laps in a racecar with one of Australia’s biggest racecar drivers, Larry Perkins. We did four laps at a 145 miles an hour, or so. It was insanely fun! I try new food. I always like to try new things and do something different.

Q) Who would you most like to work with in the future?

A) I’d like to work with Johnny Depp because he’s a brilliant actor and he’s easy on the eyes. For women, everyone always says this answer, but it’s so true, Meryl Streep is just one of our great leading ladies. I also think I’d like to work with Julianne Moore and Joan Allen. I think Reese Witherspoon is really talented and funny. There are so many! Working with that caliber of an actor makes you better, just because you are on your toes the whole time. Just watching them and taking it all in! I just did a guest spot on “Living with Fran” and watching Fran Drescher at work, her comedic timing and her physical comedy is just amazing to watch. You just stand there with your jaw open thinking, “Oh my gosh! She’s just so natural and so funny!” It’s exciting to watch really talented people.

Q) What winter films are you looking forward to seeing?

A) The Chumscrubber looks interesting. I just saw an ad for that and it sounded interesting. The Family Stone is something I want to see, as well. There is a lot coming out that I want to see. I think Pride and Prejudice I’d like to see and I didn’t see Domino and I wanted to see that one. I like all types of movies, whatever my mood is. I’m either in the mood for a romantic comedy and I want to laugh or I’m in the mood for a thriller and I want to be on the edge of my seat. I might be in the mood for an offbeat Indie movie and I love foreign movies, as well. It’s kind of whatever I wake up saying like, “I want a good laugh” or “I want a no brainer.”

Q) With Thanksgiving coming up, what are you most thankful for?

A) I am most thankful for my family and my friends. I have really great family and friends. There is a lot of love!

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you so much for continuing to search me out. Since I finished with “Dawson’s Creek,” I love that I still get fan mail and people are still going out and checking out these off the beaten path movies that I’ve done. Thanks for sticking by me and always waiting to see what’s around the corner!