Posted on 27 September 2008 by B. Wright
Getting it Done: Jessica Stroup of 90210”
Interview Conducted by Joy Hunter, Editor-In-Chief
www.CWTV.com
Joy: Tell me about your background
Jessica: “Basically, I was born in South Carolina (Anderson)…so I’m a huge Clemson fan. I’ve lived in North and South Carolina because we moved with my dad’s job but I graduated from Providence High School. Sports were huge in my family and I actually was going to go to University of Georgia on scholarship but I deferred to try things out in California. I was really lucky when I was in high school at Providence, there was a girl on my JV Volleyball team whose mother was a former Miss North Carolina and she always told me that if I wanted to try modeling out, she would introduce me to some people and she did. I came out here (Hollywood/LA) in 2004 and have been out here every since.”
Joy: How does your Southern background play apart in who you are now? As we both know, there is nothing like being a Southerner.
Jessica: (Laughing)“That is so true! I am so proud of where I am from and I reference it whenever I can. I love the fact that people from the south are so friendly. They are about not only sports but about rallying together and building a community and acting is a harsh world and its a lot of ups and down, putting yourself out there and its super competitive and for me I had to love what I was doing and being from the South and being completive pushed me to book jobs and study for them. “
Joy: Speaking of the difference between the West Coast and the East Coast, …tell me what differences you’ve noticed as it relates to fashion?
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 09: Actress Jessica Stroup arrives at the World Premiere of Screen Gems' 'Prom Night' at the Cinerama Dome on April 9, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
Jessica: “Well, the East Coast is definitely up and coming especially Charlotte and the downtown. Last time I was home, my parents took me to Stonecrest and the Arboretum (shopping centers) and when I came back, people were asking me where did I get that and I was like North Carolina!
But, as far as fashion, with the West Coast, a lot of it is trend and a lot of it is what’s being put out there. Is it leggings right this second or is the cinched waist with belts or is it a certain bootie show right now? I think the West Coast is kinda in a cool spot because we are trying to create a fashion sense. My character on the show, Silver, she’s the one that really takes chances. My costume designer on the show worked with Friends, Deb McGuire and the first time she sat down with me it took four or five hours long and she had stacks and stacks of clothes so it was like heaven to me! My character lives in LA and she grew up in Beverly Hills so she has seen the fashion but she doesn’t care because if she wants to wear something then she will. She wants to stand out. Every morning I walk onto the set and see what’s been laid out for me, I’m like a kid in a candy store.”
Joy: Well, you tell them you need to keep it all and then you UPS it next day to me!
Jessica: “For sure, for sure.” (Laughing…)
Joy: How did you land 90210, how did this part fall in your lap and fit perfectly for you right now? Because you’ve been doing a lot of movies recently…
Jessica: “I have been working on a lot of movies but, I kinda set out a life goal and TV wasn’t one of them. As far as movies go, some people blow up after one movie and maybe their career skyrockets or whatever but, most of the time your “under the radar, under the radar” and you’re booking projects and some executive somewhere brings you into their office and its all because of the connections and the stuff that you take. I was booking little things, really low-budget and movies and stuff and I got really lucky with traveling. So, I wasn’t here during pilot season and I wasn’t into the TV world but this past year I was doing this show on the CW, Reaper and I did a 5 episode guest-star. It the first time that I had actually done a project for TV long enough to really be apart of it. I kinda got that sense of what it felt like to do a show… I was working with really cool guys and the crew and it felt like a family and I really enjoyed it. Its a whole different way of doing work… so I decided I really wanna go for this when pilot season comes round. So after I shot Homecoming, I went back home (to LA). When I first went in and met with Rob Thomas I went in and did a reading for Annie because at the time Silver was this very wealthy, Jewish girl which is not usually the type of person I audition for just based off looks. In the meanwhile, I was kinda auditioning for some other stuff and just trying to put myself out there. But, they come back to me and said they had re-written and wanted me to audition for silver. Which, to be honest with you, as a secret was kind of my favorite character as it is. When I re-read it I LOVED the character of Silver. I was just very real with them and was like this is my take on it and if you don’t like who I am putting forth then talk to me about it but, this is how I read it and this is how I want to personify this girl. They thought I was spunky, is what they said which is a really good compliment especially for this girl. And I booked it, right before May and the minute I booked it we had photo shoots. I left work on a Friday, got the call on a Monday and it was like “bamn, starting up.”
Joy: Oh, I love it. You can so hear the excitement in your voice, just the passion and that’s awesome. What are you passionate about? What drives you?
Jessica: “At this point in my life, where I am, I really and truly love music. It’s everything to me and that’s the really good thing about LA and I think Charlotte is kinda opening up to that too. Small music venues that can allow local bands to come out (is cool) so for me, like 90% of my friends are in the music industry. In the show, I kinda tie that in, my character has a blog and they always have me put input in, what I’m listening to and so I incorporate it (love for music) there as well. Traveling, fashion, …umm, I didn’t get to go to Fashion Week but, because I come from a modeling perspective I really love to watch and see how, well, I want designers to understand for the real women out there, to design not just for a model. I do feel pretty confident when I’m out and looking at clothes and stuff but because of my pretty hectic schedule, I’m using a stylist now and its just like a whole new world. “
Joy: Whom are you working with (as your stylist) right now?
Jessica: “Her name is Leah Hunter (she told me she’s only met her a couple of times and is not exactly sure of her last name); she used to work under Rachel Zoe and she does a lot of stuff with the Hiltons, Nicole and she’s great. Its very fun right now because I’m into it and I’m able to go to showrooms sometimes and I get to see what’s new and what the high-end designers are putting out there right now and then at the same time going to target and getting the clothes that look just like it. I was at Target yesterday and bought this awesome jacket that zips up the side but OH, OH(!)…I was in Target on yesterday and I look at the tag and it says Mossimo, you know and Lori Laughlin who is like that mom on the show…well that’s her husband so I was like crap I need to call Lori right now and use her discount!” (laughing…)
Joy: Really, that is so cool… I would have never put two and two together.
Jessica: “Me either, I’ve met him and stuff but I don’t know, I never would’ve thought about it! “
Joy: On the subject of style; Define style. When you hear that word, what does it mean to you?
Jessica: “Oh, a really good question. To me, being stylish or style in general is about confidence. If what you are wearing, if it fits on you and if it makes you feel like a women. Every day when I get up and get ready, I ask myself who do I want to be today? A lot of times, Ill say you know I want to be a rocker chick. I want to go out and people think that girl loves music. You know what I mean?? Like, if that means I’m wearing skinny jeans, heels and like a cool jacket …I love jackets with thick collars. Its whatever I want to be that day. But, I want to look strong, curvy and beautiful. As a woman, know your body and to be stylish, its simply dressing the way that works for you. You can follow trends but in the end you are one in the masses so be yourself. I’m really into vintage shopping and when you come out to LA, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.”
Joy: What is next for you?
Jessica : “Right now, I am absolutely in a bubble. I’m working every day. It’s been a really intense schedule. But for right now we are about to go into episode 9 which will take us into next year. I’m just now starting to read scripts because when hiatus comes, I don’t want to stop working.”
Joy: I am a total workout fiend so tell me, how do you fit in working out and what is your fitness mantra? I’m sure right now its feeling pretty crazy so you cant always find the right things to eat and what’s do get a chance to throw something in your mouth, you cant think about if its good for you. So, how do you make it work for you?
Jessica: Right now, my goal is actually to put on a little bit of weight. But, when a work schedule gets crazy and I am an absolute workaholic who loves to work out and get energy from it that when I don’t get to work out I feel frail and especially coming from a sports background where my body is naturally muscular. So, when I don’t get to work out then I miss it, I want that lean muscle mass and I want to get it back. But, right now I am all about eating healthy, proteins, I’m really into fish right now and no read meats. I try to eat really lean things like sushi. As far as working out, I’ve been trying all different types of yoga , I go out to the beach and I get occasional “play work-outs” where you’re working out but, don’t realize it. I really have become aware within the last year or so that your body is a temple and all the junk food and soda pops that you put in there, they leave stuff behind and I don’t want to feel run-down and sluggish because of the crap. There is a huge organic movement right now and I love it. I try to show my mom and dad that this is my lifestyle right now and my mom shops organic sometimes. But, you have to find what works for you.”
Joy: Just talking to you these past 20 minutes, I see that for you style is a lifestyle and you embody that in work and play and I love to see that in a person with a STYLISH Career. What advice would you give an aspiring “Jessica”? Someone that wants to be you and someone that wants to do what you are doing?
Jessica: “Know that there is no limit to how high you can travel and how high you can go with whatever you want to do. If you are living in a small town, you have a huge family and you feel like you are one of many then know who you are and set yourself apart. Don’t ever, ever, ever be pushed back by someone who doesn’t believe in you, believe in yourself …that is ALL that matters. Just get out there and get the knowledge for the career , for the choices that you want because you can never learn enough. That’s the beauty of life, its changing and learning more about how the world works and how people work and if you know that then know that there is no end to what you can do.”
