Patrica Kara – Million Dollar Baby

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

A) Right now most of my time is being taken up working on “Deal or No Deal.” Even though we just finished taping, we’re doing a lot of PR with that and I am actually going out to New York to do the Fall announcements with “Deal or No Deal.” Other than that, a lot of things that I did in the last couple of months that are out there now include a short film that I did called Two-Eleven that is going to be in the festival circuit. Also, there are a few shows that I have hosted, along with print work and a commercial I have going. So, it’s a lot of different things I’ve been doing the last couple of months that are now out there.

Q) Please tell us about the concept of the show “Deal or No Deal.”

A) It’s really like playing the lotto. You don’t have to be smart or be anything. It’s really just about the luck of the draw picking out numbers out of a suitcase, but you have to find the one containing a million dollars. There are increments of money in twenty-six suitcases starting from a penny up to a million dollars. You have to try and guess where the million dollars is. When you guess what’s in the case and find out what is in it, you start eliminating the other cases. You go through a process and through different rounds. There is a banker involved who tries to offer you money for the one suitcase you think the million is in. It’s a lot of excitement! It’s an addictive show!

Q) What is it like working with Howie Mandel?

A) Howie is fantastic! I love Howie! I’ve been watching him for years doing his acting, comedy, hosting and everything he’s been doing. He is really funny and it’s too bad they don’t show everything on the air. Our show is an hour long, but we tape for about four or five hours for each show and he’s just really funny. He’s a family man and really respectful to all of the girls. It’s just really great working with him.

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

A) Knowing that Howie was a part of it was a great thing. I love Howie, so definitely having him on it was an incentive to be working on this project. Also, it’s an NBC project, which is exciting and huge! It’s just really nice to be a part of something so big, which we had no idea it was going to be that big! It’s an exciting show and it’s a game show so I definitely wanted to be a part of the fun.

Q) How would you describe the atmosphere like on the for you on the set?

A) They are long boring days! It looks like glitz and glamour, but we work up to nineteen hour days, so, it’s a little tough. All you do is stand around a lot in the heels and dresses, but it’s also a lot of fun. You have twenty-six women backstage and we’ve all become good friends, actually. There is a lot of hype and a lot of fun that goes along with it. It’s a long day, but it’s a fun day at the same time.

Q) What is a typical day of filming like for you?

A) We get there about 6:30am and we go through hair and makeup. Breakfast, of course, comes first and there is lots of coffee! Then we go to hair and makeup. After that is done, which since there are twenty-six women it takes a two and a half hour process, we get dressed with full on jewelry, shoes and dresses. We do touch ups and then go backstage to do the march over to the stage. Next, Howie does his introduction and the contestant comes out. There is a lot of downtime in between, as well, because sometimes we have to do retakes of certain things. We do about two shows a day and go through that process, break for lunch and start all over again. We change for each show so we have a couple changes throughout the day.

Q) You’ve guest starred on “Passions,” “Las Vegas” and “All of Us.” What has been your favorite project to work on?

A) They are all so different, but they’ve all been so much fun in their own way. “Passions” was fun, but “All of Us” was a great time. That’s a tough question to answer because I don’t really feel I have a favorite because each experience has been a good one. Nothing bad, it’s all been good. I can’t pick out a favorite, though.

Q) You were the host of “Wild On: Kentucky Derby.” How did you hear about the audition and what was it like for the program?

A) I had been in talks with E! about doing “Wild On: Greece” because that is where my family is from. They’ve done “Wild On: Greece” before, but never with anybody who is truly a Greek. I thought, “How great would that be?” In the process, while we were talking about that, Kentucky Derby came up first. They asked if I wanted to do it, and it was at the time that Brooke Burke was leaving, so they said they couldn’t do Greece now, but wanted to know if I would do the Kentucky Derby. I said I would love to! So, they dressed me up for it and I got to do all the fun stuff at the Kentucky Derby. There was no real audition because they had seen my hosting reel before so I just went out there and did it.

Q) What made you want to be an actress?

A) I’ve been a little actress since I was really young. It’s always just been a part of me. I was always the theatrical one in my family and the jokester so I think it was just something that was instilled in me. Even though I started out in modeling, it just kind of led me to the acting. I kind of fell into it and I was just meant to be doing that. I really feel like it is who I am.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) In my spare time, I love to stay active. I love to be outdoors from hiking to blading. I try to go to the beach or at least go to a pool. I love to be out in the sun. Other than that, I love to travel so any chance I get I try to fit a trip in somehow and someway, whether it is a small two day trip or a longer trip.

Q) What is your latest obsession? A book? A sport? A band?

A) I listen to all kinds of music, but lately I have been listening to a little more country. I never thought it would happen because I don’t normally like country music, but all of a sudden I am kind of liking it and digging it. I am a big Faith Hill fan, but I am starting to branch out a little bit. I’d have to say watching the music videos has really hooked me in. I just got cable so I am hooked on my cable right now. It’s new to me now since I haven’t had it in years. So, I’d say I’m hooked on my cable right now, too.