Long John Silver's Reference Website

Nell Carter Interview

June 27, 1997

Nell Carter is the recipient of the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Obie Awards for the smash hit "Ain't Misbehavin'." Her other Broadway credits include "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" and "Jesus Christ Superstar." In addition, she starred in the popular television series "Gimme a Break" and her many film credits include "Hair," "The Grass Harp" and "The Proprietor."

Q: Do you have any children? If you do, are they in the acting business?

A:  I have three children and they're not in the business. My daughter is grown and works with the Center for Disease Control, and I have two seven year old sons. [My daughter] basically wants to help keep people alive, and I'm very proud of her and my two boys.

Q: When did you start show business?

A:  That's a hard question. I started singing when I was a little girl on the front stoop of my mom's home. The first time I sang publicly was in church. I won my first talent contest in the first grade and started singing. I sang Mood Indigo. But my parents didn't want me to be in show business. They still don't, but it's too late!

Q: How did you like working on the grass harp and how was Alabama?

A:  I love working on the grass harp because I was big fan, and still am, of Truman Capote. It was my favorite piece written by him and all the actors felt the same way. I worked with all my idols -- Walter Matthau, Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon. Alabama was very cold. I prefer to be in a place that's not so far out in the country. I like to camp, but not that far out.

Q:  Do you ever have stagefright?

A:  Yes. Every night - if I don't pray. If I don't pray before I go on, I get terrified. Sometimes I get cranky, too, if I'm praying and someone interrupts me. You get a moment of silence and I need that moment to ask the Almighty power to please get me across stage and not mess up. But once I'm on stage I'm not afraid anymore.

Q: What advice would you give a young person who is really serious about singing and acting on Broadway, and would like to get started?

A:  First, I would make sure my studies are up. Second, I'd try to fantasize about what it'd be like to have another profession. There are a lot of actors and actresses but only so many shows. I'd also try to get my parents to show me support and be realistic. Be prepared to be hungry and to work hard! It doesn't mean going to a dance class only in the morning. It could take all day. You must be willing to take criticism and change. Take direction whether you like it or not. And you must learn to hold in anger if you need to. And read up on it as much as possible. Don't just watch TV. Go to the library and read up on actresses' lives and see what they went through. And always learn to type!

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A:  Hold on - I have one more thing to add about acting. Get involved in dinner theater and doing things at church or temple or the Y. Go out and do as much as you can. Community work gets you known. Get exposure in theater, recording and TV -- not just TV. Read up on great writers. I hope this helps! If not, get married! Now, back to my favorite movie.... The Producers! It is the most insane movie in the world! It's the most insulting, ignorant film you could possibly see and I think it's the funniest movie in the world. I also have other favorites -- anything with Bette Davis. Recently, Terms of Endearment was superb and so was Fargo! Fargo was totally nuts! I felt like they were my family!

Q: What is it like to be up on stage every night, singing your heart out, and making so many people feel great and give them such an amazing show?

A:  I don't know. I don't feel that. When I go out, I go out to be with whoever's on stage. My focus is totally on Annie or Grace. If you want to be in the business, it's best not to play for the audience. Otherwise you pick out only those who like you. It's best just to do your best. If you're gonna faint, the best place to do it is on stage -- then everyone gets you candy! And then I look at the other actors like they did it!

Q: How do you feel about all the controversy over the firing and choosings of the new Annie?

A:  First, I think that's unfairly worded and it's not your fault. A lot of people said she was fired but I don't know that she was. All I know is that we came to work and were told she wouldn't be there and we felt really sad. On the other hand, this other girl was working her behind off and she's very good and she deserves to be respected. I think it's unfortunate that the adult media made a big deal over something they don't know about. We don't know what happened in that room It evidently was serious for the producers to do that at that late date. I wish Joanna the very best but I hope she can move on and let go. She's a very nice girl but you can't hold onto things that make you bitter, you need to remember there are other things out there. I'm also happy that the other kids said to Brittny, Okay! Go on! The kids just want to see Annie. The grownups made the big deal. But I wish both children the very best.

Q: Do you still talk to Joey Lawrence? Did you like his album?

A:  Of course I talk to him! He's my baby! He has his own TV show. He was dating this girl and I wanted to meet her but when he told me he was going to ask her a "personal question," I was gonna have him killed! He can't get married yet! I like his album, he's a good musician. I'm like his mother -- every day after the show I'd take him to dinner and then his parents would get him and his brother. And his baby brother - whew! He's going to be a playboy! Joey is so handsome, is a gentleman and he respects women. But they'll have to go through ME to get married! He saw me last week and I was sick and he checked up on me! He's my buddy and I'm so proud of him! Earlier someone asked about show business. Well, Joey is a good example and the other kids from "Gimme a Break." Their parents didn't push -- they didn't because the kids wanted to do it. Their parents put away all the money and invested it so he doesn't have to work to support a family. They didn't spend a penny at the time. So if you want to get in the business, be prepared to give it your all!

Q: Which do you like best -- singing or acting?

A:  I like acting best when I'm singing and I like singing best when I'm acting! So I try to do both. I like them both. I'd like to get a role where I'm known as a great great actress because every time I do something for singing, they refer to me as an actress and vice versa. But I love them both.

Q:  What is your favorite food?

A:  My favorite food is arugala! No, actually, turkey wings, arugala and -- this might sound crazy and strange -- but I love large salads with all different kinds of lettuce, no tomato, kosher salt, and black pepper. I love that! I could eat that all the time! I like anything non-fattening -- as you can see!

Q:  How do your children feel about having a famous mother?

A:  I don't ask them! I think they just take it as it is. On my wall, here, my son has a letter that says, "I like my mom being in the show with Annie." My daughter never says anything and the sons like it when I'm good. I live a very plain life, in a normal neighborhood, I go to school, do PTA, I try to help out with battered children and my children are therefore exposed to this. We're like everyone else -- we pray before we eat. If we don't pray, I don't punish or hit them. Because I don't want to be hit! Attention:  In case you're interested, I'm 5'7" and I weigh 103 and my hair is long into the floor and I'm Lady Diana's twin sister! You have know idea how difficult it's been to keep this a secret!

Q:  Do you enjoy playing Miss Hannigan?

A:  I love it! In Annie, the original Miss Hannigan used to hit the kids and drink through the show. I don't like people who do that and I don't think you should hit anyone who's smaller than you -- in my case everyone's smaller! Every night I go out and act like this mother whose kids are driving them crazy! I feel blessed to have this job. I've never come to work and not wanted to be there.

Q:  Who were your role models?

A:  My grandmother who told me I could do anything I wanted to do. I could be any religion I wanted to be and that I was just as good as I thought I was. So to think lofty thoughts. In the profession, I thought Bette Davis was a wonderful lady and I had a chance to work with her. There are people out there right now who are also wonderful. I'd like to look like Toni Braxton. She's so talented and doesn't have pimples and doesn't have a big stomach and is intelligent. It's kind of sad. I've always wanted to be like Horovitz who's a famous pianist, or Rubinstein. They could play so fast and efficiently and were so great. I love Eric Clapton because he makes the instrument say things it just wouldn't say. I love the Road Runner because no matter what the coyote tries to do, he always escapes. I also love Bullwinkle. I want to be like Bullwinkle. And I'm not joking! And there's a famous publicist in NY named Judy Katz and I'd like to be like her. She's always on a diet and I keep taking her out and making her eat.

Q:  What is your favorite scene that you perform in Annie? What is your favorite song that you sing in Annie?

A:  My favorite is when Annie comes down the stairs singing Maybe when she thinks she has to leave Warbucks. It's so touching that she's fallen in love. My favorite song to sing is You Make Me Happy. It's my favorite because no one has ever sung it before and no one will after I leave. I like doing the scene with Annie when I pick her up by her head and call her a drunk.