<< back                                           October 21 2005
TNT Press Release

Q: How did you become involved with THE ENGAGEMENT RING?
A: Steve Chicorel, who's one of our executive producers, brought us the script. The script was wonderful. We've done a lot of development over the years, so it's taken a few years to get to this place. It's a really different kind of TV movie, because it doesn't take place in a courtroom or hospital. It's a romantic comedy about love and family, food and wine, and all those other wonderful things.

Q: Was it hard serving as both star and executive producer?
A: It's really hard work producing at the same time you're acting, because your mind is on so many different things. When we stop acting, we run over to check another set and make sure it's looking right. Or we start reworking a scene that we are going to do the next week, rewriting or trying to get music clearance. There is just a lot going on.

Q: Your husband is acting and executive-producing with you. How has that been?
A: We've had to find a way to leave husband and wife at home and not filter things on the set through our marriage. When we're on the set, we're actors and producers, not husband and wife. It took a few days to work that out, because we've never worked together this much on a project. So it was a little bit of a battle at the beginning. But we got it sorted out, so everything's great. As they say in therapy, it's been a growing experience.

Q: What did you find most surprising about producing?
A: I really enjoy the details stuff, so I love being a part of deciding what different elements you're going to bring together: what's hanging on the walls, what the bedroom looks like, what kind of food is more romantic and works better for the characters. I love all the details.

Q: How would you describe this movie?
A: This movie poses the questions, "What is true love, and how do you know it when it comes to you?" There are different kinds of love, and relationships work differently. Sometimes you meet someone, and it's electric and passionate, and that's what makes the relationship work. And sometimes, it's because it's a steady commitment that you build over years. You build trust, and you build history.

Q: What's your character like?
A: She's got this dream of making her own wine, and she's got a difficult relationship with her mother. But she really works hard at trying to make life successful.

Q: How has it been working with this cast?
A: We're really fortunate in the way all of the parts have come together. We've had dinner with the cast members, so we've been able to enfold each person. We had some wonderful dinners together, including the time when Tony Lo Bianco and his wife threw a party at their place and cooked all these great Italian sauces and homemade cannelloni. It was just amazing. It was a really great bonding time for all of us.

Q: How do you think it fits with TNT's "We Know Drama" branding?
A: All drama comes out of some kind of pain, some kind of struggle or conflict. So these people are just extremely dramatic in their outlook and their expression. So there's a lot of drama here. In any kind of romance, you're going to have some kind of drama.