“I’ve just been singing, dancing, acting and studying since then,” says the 41-year-old, when talking to MediaBlvd. Magazine, while taking a break from house hunting. “I didn’t have the Hollywood situation, so my studying and experience was all in theater, doing plays and talent shows. I never actually thought of television as a means of employment. I got a Bachelor’s in theater, and then I got a Master’s in theater, and I always thought I’d do plays and films. I didn’t even own a TV, for seven years of my life, when I was doing college work. And then, I came out to Los Angeles and, literally, three days later, I was a series regular, playing different characters every week, on a series with Carol Burnett, called Carol and Company, back in 1990. Now, I love television. I love the comradery on the set, the family that forms, the hours, the paycheck, all of it.”
On Fox television’s The War at Home, which has its season finale tonight (Sunday, April 30), Barone plays Vicky, wife to Michael Rapaport’s Dave. Having gotten married at a young age, they are now raising three teenagers of their own, and every day is a battle to keep the kids in line.
“I don’t know how my mom did it with seven kids in 11 years, before she was 30. But, the things I like about this show is that it represents American families today. It’s not Leave it to Beaver. It’s not even The Cosby Show. I know they dealt with some of those issues on Cosby and, certainly, on Roseanne, but I love the realism and the stuff that we tackle, like homosexuality and drugs and sexual exploration, and drawing a line between kids wanting to be adults while they’re still kids and living under your roof. You have to make those strong boundaries, but do it in a funny way, and we explore those situations, comically.”
“And, I feel like Vicky, my character, really represents the modern-day woman. I feel like you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. She gave up time to have her kids, and then she went back to a part-time career. She balances pretty well between having a part-time career, raising her kids and still being incredibly sexually active with her husband. I think those are three difficult balls to have in the air, all at the same time, but she manages to do it.”
{quote_top}Although she originally wasn’t even going to audition for the role, instead wanting to spend time with her two young daughters, when Barone did finally read the script, she loved how funny it was. After several phone calls, attempting to coax her into at least going in for a meeting, she finally gave in. A few hours, and three auditions later, Barone had the role.
“Vicky is very nurturing, but at the same time, doesn’t take a lot of stuff. She can coddle, and smack somebody upside the head, at the same time, and I like that. I also like that she’s a woman who’s not afraid of her sexuality. She loves her kids, and she’s smart and funny.”
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Michael Rappaport and Anita Barone. |
Barone says that the fact that a part of every actor is said to be in each character they play is really true, in the case of Vicky. “I don’t have teenagers -- I have a 3 ½-year-old and a 1 ½-year-old, but the character is a little bit of me, and a little bit of my mom. I watched her try to keep seven kids in line, and she did it really well. She knew when to praise and when to punish, and still had time to herself. And, you have to go out and earn a living now, too. I think the fact that I’m a Libra and I’m all about balance is definitely an attribute that I share with Vicky. I’m also pretty good at nurturing, I’m kind of funny, and we both have the same cleavage.”
Barone has played wife to Jeff Foxworthy (on The Jeff Foxworthy Show), Michael Chiklis (on Daddio) and Ralph Macchio, she says that she has developed more of a personal relationship with Rapaport than she has with any of the others.
“We talk on the phone every day. We have become like a husband and wife, without the actual sex. We’re really good friends. Michael is a great, natural actor. What I’ve learned from him is that, if he’s not happy with something, or if something doesn’t feel right or fit his voice, he won’t stop until it feels comfortable, and I think that’s just great. Sometimes, I bent too much and try to make things work, when it’s easier to just say, ‘This isn’t working. Let’s change it.’ He has his own personal integrity that he’s really in touch with. And, he’s learned a tremendous amount from me because he’s never worked on a half-hour sitcom before. What’s great is that he is a guy who is open to learning and suggestion, and we have a really nice rapport. We genuinely love each other.”
Rounding out The War at Home cast, are Kaylee Defer (as 16-year-old Hillary), Kyle Sullivan (as 15-year-old Larry) and Dean Collins (as 13-year old Mike), who Barone says have just been a pleasure to work with.
“In our effort to please and nurture and support, you can smother a kid, which would make them either rebel, or turn into the biggest wimps in the world. I think that’s what I’ve learned on the show, and working with these particular teens. Give them space and room to try things, and trust that, if they need help, they’re going to ask. I love their openness and their freshness. While they may be a little fearful about the unknown, they’re not fearful about expressing the fact that they don’t know and they want to learn.”
{quote_middle}Being married to an actor, Barone says that it definitely makes managing the work load easier because he understands the demands of the business. “My boyfriends have all been actors, and I married an actor. I think it just makes things easier because we understand each other. There’s just a shorthand, and we have similar interests.”
Having met about seven years ago, while doing a play, she admits that they are looking forward to working together again in the future. But, in the meantime, he is the one that she turns to for advice.
“I was going to do a musical after we wrapped for the season, and that schedule was going to be a lot more difficult than the half-hour series. He’s the one who talked me out of that. He was like, ‘I know what’s going to happen. You’re going to come home and say, ‘Why did I do this? I miss my children.’ I would have gotten absolutely no break. I would have started working before we wrapped, and it would have gone right to when we would start again, if we should get picked up. So, I re-thought that and decided to just take the summer off and spend more time with the girls, and go back to the gym. That’s when I ruptured my Achilles tendon. So, now I’m basically just doing some spring cleaning, and looking for a new residence.”
{quote_bottom}Taking her entire career into consideration, Barone says that her greatest accomplishment is the fact that she’s been a working actress for 20 years now. “The ability to just be a working actor is what I’m most proud of. That’s all I’ve done. I haven’t had to have the waitress gig, or any other side jobs. I’m a working actor, and that’s really gratifying.”
Although Barone says that the chances of The War at Home returning for another season appear to be on their side, you never can predict how things will play out in this business. “I love the writing, I love the people, I love my character and I love the proximity to my home. I feel like this is just such a win. If we don’t get picked up, Michael said he’s going to run away to Cuba. I don’t know what I’ll do, but I will be genuinely heartbroken if this doesn’t continue because we’re enjoying it so much.
