Sterling, Mindy

DM) You've usually done rather odd characters. You played in the Grinch, obviously Frau Farbissina in Austin Powers... the list goes on and on. What attracts you to these odd characters?

MS) I think because they're so odd and quirky, they're really fun to do. They're so different from me. I have a great time doing it. I'm a character actor so I enjoy delving into the bizarre.

DM) If not these extreme characters, who would you say you are then?

MS) As a person, I'm a little nuts, I'm a little silly. I'm certainly all of those people, or have an essence of all of those people. It's hard for me to be just normal, and I don't know what normal is. Everybody is normal in their own way. I just have a fun and odd way of looking at the world, and I love those kinds of people that have colorful personalities and have lots of dimensions to them. I think that's the stuff that draws me to those people.

DM) How much of an influence was your experience in The Groundlings [improvisational troupe] on your acting, and in playing these characters?

MS) Well, that's what you do. You write and create characters for yourself. You rely heavily on characterization , coming up with material and creating that. That's where I got my training as a character actress. You do tend to go for the offbeat and the unusual people.

DM) To me it seemed a direct line between the Groundlings and Austin Powers. Playing characters who were a little off-center but in a way believable.

MS) The thing you have to remember about playing these characters is that there's an honesty about them and they do exist, and they are out there. It may not be a real dead on imitation of something that you know but the
essence of.

DM) How often do you have somebody say, "When you played that character you reminded me so much of such and such?"

MS) I think people do associate, as there's an essence of that person. It's quite a compliment ,when they make a reference to that person or a family member, then you know it's reality based. It has a factor of somebody who does walk around.

DM) Is it a fine line between being over the top and being believable?

MS) I think you have to keep in mind, you don't' want to do a character of a character, but I want to make you feel or believe when you see them. I want you to relate to that character. That's why when somebody tells me I remind them of something, then I know I've done a good job of it.

DM) Would you mind playing these types of characters for the rest of your career?

MS) I like to do all types of characters. I'm not a chorus dancer where I do a great job but I'm kind of there. I'm somebody who likes the feel of the ensemble, but I'm always going to try and stick out a bit because I'm odd.

DM) What has been your favorite character in your entire career?

MS) Well I play a character in Drop Dead Gorgeous that I kind of liked. It's a little hairy and a little on edge. I love those kind of characters. I always love Frau, I've had such a great experience with her and I just love doing her.

DM) What did you love about the Drop Dead Gorgeous character?

MS) She has a franticness to her. She likes to be in everybody's business and to be in control. She's just fun and real. She's somebody that people live with out there.

DM) Do you ever want to play a "normal" character?

MS) What is normal Dominick? I've played more subtle characters but nobody of normalcy. I'm always the quirky neighbor, or the mean principal. There's always an edge to me.