 At
this very moment the wheels in Hollywood are in motion developing
yet another superhero to make the transition from the comics to the
big screen. Last summer was Spiderman, this summer "The Hulk" is
tearing up the box office and sometime soon we will see the release
of "Wonder Woman". Such hollywood heavy weights as Sandra Bullock
and Sarah Michelle Gellar have been in talks previously regarding
this role. However the most memorable portrayal of the Amazon
Princess was the one made by none other then 70's icon Lynda Carter.
In 1975 this former Miss World-USA rose to fame playing the roles of
Wonder Woman and her alterego Diana Prince in the hugely successful
television series, "Wonder Woman". Carter was embraced immediately
by critics and the public because she brought not only beauty to
Wonder Woman's persona but also a real strength that radiated
compassion and warmth from the character. Over 20 years later the
series continues to thrive. Whether its through worldwide
syndication, merchandising or the hundreds of websites dedicated to
Carter's depiction of the super heroine. They all serve as a clear
testimonial to the affect Lynda Carter has had on pop culture.
Recently Lynda's portrayal of Wonder Woman was voted one of the "200
Greatest Pop Culture Icons Of All Time" by VH-1 and People Magazine.
Carter charted higher then film greats Russell Crowe, Halle Berry
and Drew Barrymore and also surpassed music legends Ziggy Marley,
Dolly Parton and Mariah Carey on the list. |
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Born in Phoenix,
Arizona Lynda Jean Cordoba Carter embraced the arts at a very early
age. Music has always been Lynda's first love however. At 17 years
old Carter was fronting a group called "The Garfin Gathering". It
wasn't long before Lynda shared the stage with them at the Sahara
Hotel Lounge in Las Vegas for a 3 month engagement. She toured with
"The Garfin Gathering" for 3 years before deciding to try something
different Lynda's mother Jean and sister Pamela encouraged her to
enter the Miss. Phoenix Beauty Pageant which she won in 1972. Lynda
then prevailed as Miss Arizona and was ultimately crowned Miss
World-USA on September 1, 1972. It was soon after that Lynda would
audition for the role that would later make her a household name.
After receiving a call from her manager saying "Hello Wonder Woman"
Lynda knew this would be the beginning to an exciting adventure all
her own. The Wonder Woman tv series ran from 1975-1979. Towards the
end of her run as "Wonder Woman" Carter began to make the crossover
to music and films. In 1978 Epic Records released Lynda Carter's
debut album "Portrait". (Carter also cowrote three of the album's
songs ,"Fantasy Man", "Toto(Don't It Feel Like Paradise)" & "Want To
Get Beside You"). Motown records would later release in the UK a
Lynda Carter single entitled "The Last Song" which was produced and
arranged by Kenny Rogers. It coincided with Carter's European
concert tour and upcoming film of the same name. |
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In the years
following Carter continued to blossom as the ultimate triple threat
in Hollywood. Easily making the transition from television to film
to music. An actress who could parlay her talents through many forms
of artistic expression. The best example of that was a string of
high rated Emmy award winning variety specials. From 1980-1984 Lynda
developed and produced 5 network specials ("Lynda Carter's Special",
"Encore","Celebration"," Street Life" and "Body and Soul") These
Emmy Award winning specials successfully showcased Lynda's abilities
as an actress, singer and dancer. During the 80's Lynda also toured
the world with her music. She's performed to soldout crowds at the
MGM Grand in Las Vegas to the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo to
London's famed Palladium Carter also enjoyed a very successful
relationship with Maybelline Cosmetics. Lynda was enlisted as the
spokesperson and exclusive model for their tv and print ad's as well
as being appointed their Beauty and Fashion Director. In the first
year following Carter's arrival at Maybelline the company's sales
tripled, skyrocketing from 70 million to over 200 million. It was
also the beginning of a growing trend to where celebrities joined
forces with these company's to give them the worldwide appeal they
all enjoy today. Lynda also made a name for herself in the tennis
world by joining Maybelline in launching "The Lynda
Carter/Maybelline Tennis Classic's ". This made Carter the first
female entertainer to be associated with a major sport. |
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After Wonder
Woman Carter returned to series television two more times. She
costarred with Loni Anderson in the 1984 NBC series "Partners In
Crime" and in 1994 Carter portrayed frontier's woman Elizabeth
Shields in Stephen J. Cannell's period piece "Hawkeye" also starring
Lee Horsley. However throughout the years Carter embraced numerous
on screen personas Lynda Carter has starred in a string of
critically acclaimed film roles throughout the last 2 decades and
counting. In 1983 she portrayed Rita Hayworth in the film "Rita
Hayworth The Love Goddess" and in 1991 starred in Danielle Steele's
"Daddy" alongside Patrick Duffy and a then up and coming actor Ben
Affleck. "Daddy" also reunited Carter with Wonder Woman producer
Douglas S. Cramer. Lynda also made a special appearance in 2002's
comedic feature film "Super Troopers". Later this summer Carter will
return to the big screen in Christopher Coppola's, "Bloodhead". |
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Lynda's
contributions though are not just limited to film or record. Carter
has lent her celebrity to many notable causes (The Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation, Race For The Cure, Yes I Can, Child Help
and The Ronald MacDonald House to name a few) In 2001 Carter was
presented a special award of recognition for her vast amount of
volunteer work with the families of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.
Years earlier she received the 7th Annual Pinnacle Award for her
many years of real life charitable good deeds. Currently Lynda is
raising awareness as the National Spokesperson for "IBS" (Irritable
Bowel Syndrome). A disease which affects over 40 million Americans.
For more information on IBS log onto
www.talkibs.org |
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Today Carter
resides in Potomac, Maryland with her husband Washington DC attorney
Robert Altman and their 2 children , James Clifford , and Jessica
Carter. Once named "The Most Beautiful Woman In The World" by the
London based International Academy Of Beauty, Lynda Carter continues
to make her dreams a reality by finding the perfect balance between
wife, mother, humanitarian, and accomplished actress and singer.
It's been over two decades since Carter donned the red, white and
blue but she still continues to prove to be nothing less then a
Wonder Woman. |
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 Q:
With the series continued syndication worldwide and hundreds of
websites dedicated to your portrayal as Wonder Woman what do you
attribute to Wonder Woman's continued success and popularity over
the years? |
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LC:
I think that Wonder Woman lives in us all. When you see her you
either want to be her or you want her to be your best friend. People
identify with that secret person inside that you might not let out
all of the time. I made a conscious decision from the beginning of
what her attitude about herself was. She wasn't self absorbed. She
didn't think she was anything special. Wonder Woman was just who she
was. It was really everyone reacting around her. So even though she
is larger than life you understand that Wonder Woman has a heart and
she really cares. |
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Q:
This summer the "The Hulk" made its big screen debut(with a cameo by
original Hulk Lou Ferrigno) an so did the 2nd installment of
"Charlie's Angels"(along with a cameo by Jaclyn Smith). I've read
over the last few years that they hope to do the same for "Wonder
Woman ". Would you like to be part of that project in anyway? |
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LC:
Of course I would. I've been asked over the years if I would reprise
the role and I've always said no because I felt that I should leave
well enough alone. But, if it were done in a way where you're
explaining... .what happened to her in between then and now... Why
she vanished and what choices she made... The real humanizing part
of it then of course I would. |
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Q:
In 1978 you released an album called "Portrait" on Epic Records.
Since music has always been your first love that must have been an
amazing time in your career. Describe that time in your life. |
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LC:
Music is where I started and it was also the main focus in my life
until I had my children. It's really how I got my start.. singing in
bands, etc... .It was my dream to be able to record and album and to
have my singing really be the focus of my career. So for me to have
used acting in order to get to singing was really wonderful. It was
such a big part of my life. Being able to perform live all over the
world to big audiences. It's something I really miss doing but my #1
priority are my kids above all else and I wanted to focus on their
lives and also raise them in a stable environment. I really did have
such a great run with performing and singing. Of anything I've done
I think I miss that most of all. |
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Q:
Would you like to do another album? |
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LC:
You know that's something I have in the back of my mind. I would
love to record and perform again and maybe do things that are
classics..the standards, blues... Those are really my forte. Now
that my kids are getting older it's not that far in the future. My
son is a sophomore this year in high school. My baby boy is 6 ft-2
and gorgeous! Now this kids gonna act and my daughter is just an
absolutely brillant and talented young lady. The most fascinating
female that I have ever known and has been since she was a tiny
thing! |
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Q:
In one year alone (1978) you had a top rated series (Wonder Woman),
released your debut album (Portrait) and also had a personality
poster that sold an excess of 5 million copies making it "The Best
Selling Poster of 1978". What was your reaction to the poster's
instant popularity? |
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LC:
Well I'll tell you a funny antidotal story. I was voted "The Most
Beautiful Woman In The World" in whatever year it was and the day it
was announced we received a phone call. I had been sitting watching
tv or something and eating chocolate chip cookies. My secretary came
in and said, "Hey, guess what? " and I said "Oh really? Isn't that
cool! " I then preceded to look in the mirror because my secretary
said... "You have to look at yourself right now ". I had chocolate
on my teeth, on my face... . It was a sight to see!" I think there
was a short time where I believed the hype. Not the "beautiful"
things but that I believed I was really important and that didn't
last very long because it didn't feel good. You become a caricature
of yourself and there's nothing real below that and what it does is
that it just makes you scared because you know that's not who you
really are. There's that true self inside that longs to connect to
people and all those accolades tend to isolate you rather then to
connect you. So most of my life I've worked on shedding those images
and doing things with my life that actually help people and that's
not to take away from Wonder Woman or any of the artistic things
I've done because it brings pleasure and all of that but I guess my
message is that people are not so different from me. |
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Q:
Your critically acclaimed and award winning network "Lynda Carter
Variety Specials" were nothing less then a visual and vocal
extravaganza mixing all sorts of musical expression through acting,
song and dance. What kind of undertaking was it to put those shows
together? |
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LC:
Those were a blast! They were so much fun to do. I had a great
team... my musical director, Johnny Harris and his wife Joyce
Harris. We would sit for hours and hours just discussing different
ideas and putting the music together. Then once the music was in
place we would bring in a choreographer and a director and we would
sit and talk things through and you have to realize this was before
MTV. So acting out these scenarios in songs really hadn't been done
before. Each song was a mini theatrical production with the
exception of the live concert footage that we would insert during
the shows. It doesn't get better then a collaborative effort. That
creative process is just the absolute best! He's an amazing guy that
Johnny Harris! I just wish that we lived closer. If we did I would
probably still be singing. |
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Q:
Did you ever consider making the transition to the Broadway stage? |
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LC:
I have actually... .. I just really made a conscious choice that I
didn't want to undertake anything that would take me away from my
family My husband and my 2 kids particularly when they were younger.
As they are getting older now in the next few years I can start
moving back into that sort of thing again. I waited a longtime to
have my kids and they are incredible people. I discussed Broadway
and I've talked to people but the commitment was still one that was
longterm and away from home and I don't look at it like a sacrifice.
I always tell my kids, I had my turn... now its their turn to shine.
It's so important to enjoy what you have while you have it and to be
doing the right things. That doesn't mean you don't have ambition or
you don't have dreams. It's just so important to listen to your
heart. That's what life is all about. |
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Q:
In 1983 you received critical acclaim for your portrayal of the
legendary Rita Hayworth in the film "Rita Hayworth The Love Goddess
". Was it overwhelming or intimidating at all taking on that role? |
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LC:
Oh, I would say it was somewhat intimidating. The overall idea of
portraying someone like Rita Hayworth is an amazing thing but as you
break it down into the dance steps and the scenes and then break it
down into the person and how they went through their life it just
falls into place. Now how you look however is going to be left up to
other people. The strangest thing about that was brown eyes. (In the
film Carter wore brown contact lenses that concealed her trademark
baby blues). It was bizarre how much your face changes when your
eyes are brown! |
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Q:
Your characters have run the gamut over the years (from super hero,
screen legend, private detective, to frontier's woman ) However your
role in the upcoming film "Bloodhead" which was directed by
Christopher Coppola is definately aimed to shock... . Tell me about
your character in the film? |
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LC:
Oh God she was so much fun to play. Lynette(Carter's character in
the film) is a fading trailer trash beauty. Once again it's one of
those characters that is so easy to get in trouble with because she
is as you know..the way it reads in the script, "a fading trailer
trash beauty who drinks too much". So your tendency would be to go
into that direction. Instead, Christopher Coppola is brilliant and
as we talked we were right on the same page, which was to go against
that and to show she was very sweet , not to smart but very sweet
and sort of stuck in time. As many people do... they don't realize
that time has passed. They still think that they are the femme
fatale. Lynette has a real naivete and sweetness to her that brings
alot of depth to the character. She is hysterically funny while not
realizing she's being funny, obviously. |
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Q:
Is it true that early on in your acting career you originally had a
part in the Francis Ford Coppola film, "Apocalypse Now"? |
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LC:
Yes, actually their were three women's roles in the film. They were
Playboy bunnies and I think maybe they were in the movie after it
was re-released... I'm not certain..but not me because we went over
there and we rehearsed for about 2 weeks. We were about to go down
to start filming and a typhoon it. So we regrouped and another one
hit. Before it was said and done 5 typhoons went through in a row.
Kurtz's Compound was completely wiped out.We just got waylaid and
the whole thing got postponed while they rebuilt the sets. In the
meantime Wonder Woman was picked up so my part was never filmed but
I was over there in the swamps and everything with Martin Sheen and
Laurence Fishburne. That whole group of us. However Francis Ford
Coppola's wife was filming "Heart Of Darkness" at the time which was
a documentary of the making of "Apocalypse Now". So it's quite
possible I could be in that. I've never seen it though so I'm not
sure. |
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Q:
In 1994 you starred in the Stephen J. Cannell series "Hawkeye"
alongside Lee Horsley. Would you say Elizabeth Shield's(Carter's
character in "Hawkeye") was the Wonder Woman of her time? |
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LC:
I would say she was. Elizabeth Shields I thought was a great
character and I loved playing her. The only difference was that she
was married. In the past all my roles are women who were divorced,
widowed, single or in unhappy marriages. I'm never married! She was
really right up there with being a heroine of her time. It was also
alot of fun to do a period piece(the series took place during the
French and Indian War in 1755). I didn't have to diet or exercise
because I was hauling around 20 lbs of clothing. |
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Q:
Throughout the 80's you were credited for revitalizing and
reinventing Maybelline Cosmetics. In the first year following your
merger with Maybelline the company's sales tripled. What were some
of the implements you put into place? |
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LC:
Probably the one thing that people would be the most familiar with
are the little triangular make up sponges they sell. It's a piece of
foam that's broken up into these triangles. It was something that
the studios all used and had used to apply makeup and do corrections
with forever and I brought them to Maybelline and said, "Here,
you've got to put these out. They're great!" and now you can buy
them everywhere. Maybelline also owned Coppertone and we were one of
the first to put an SPF in makeup. I think we started with lipsticks
and that sort of thing. |
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Q:
How did the Lynda Carter / Maybelline Tennis Classics come about? |
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LC:
It happened just with my interest in tennis. I had friendships with
both Martina(Navratilova) and Chrissy (Evert). They were trying to
promote women's tennis. Martina, Chrissy and also Billy Jean were
the main forces behind bringing women's tennis to where it is today.
At the time they only had a few sponsors like Virginia Slims and I
think one other one. We were trying to raise the profile of women's
tennis. So we just got together and said, "Why don't we do this?
"and they said, "We'll commit". Once that was said I went to
Maybelline and Maybelline said "Sure, we'll do it if they're going
to be involved in it. " and that's how it began. |
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Q:
Recently the nationed mourned the passing of an American Icon. Bob
Hope passed away at the age of 100. Many people might not be aware
the Bob played a very special role in the beginning of your career? |
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LC:
Yes he did! First of all he crowned me Miss World-USA and Bob was
also friends with Dell Webb who was one of the judges there aswell.
Dell Webb had crowned me Miss. Arizona previously. Dell was a
builder who constructed everything from the Regent Beverly Wilshire
to The Sahara Hotel. He was an older man in his 70's and I became
friends with that whole group of them. I did their golf events and
such.. You know it was a bunch of old friends/guys running around
who had known each other for years. It was alot of fun. I did alot
of traveling with Bob Hope at that time. |
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Q:
In 1972 you were crowned Miss. World-USA. What were some of your
duties as Miss. World-USA? |
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LC:
I opened alot of grocery stores! I cut the ribbon on a lot of frosty
root beer factories. It was not very glamous stuff. I had already
been singing and on the road and now I had a chaperone. It was very
strange. |
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Q:
Video games have changed alot since the days of Pac-man. Now the
games are nothing short of mini movies. Alot of entertainers are
also playing parts in these video games. (Most recently Six Millon
Dollar Man Lee Majors lent his voice to the ultra successful and
controversial Playstation 2 game "Grand Theft Auto 2 Vice City".) I
understand that you have also entered into this realm. |
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LC:
Yes, I'm the voices of the Nords in "The Elder Scrolls 3 -
Morrowind" (for Xbox and PC) My husband bought Bethesda Softworks
Inc.(a ZeniMax Media Company) about 4 years ago. In addition to
"Morrowind" they also did "Pirates". That's actually how I got
involved because his people went to him and said, "We need voices
for The Nords. Do you think Lynda would do it?". My husband said, "I
don't know… ask her." He is so not the promoter... use my wife...
forget it. He would never have thought to ask me. I said, "Wait a
second... sure, I'd love to do it!" It was so much fun. As many as
they want me to do I'll do! ("The Elder Scrolls 3 - Morrowind" won
RPG Of The Year and also Game Of The Year) |
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(This interview was
conducted Aug 2003) |
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