Claudia Christian is best known for her role as Commander Susan Ivanova on the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Although she can boast a mile long filmography, it is something far more personal and meaningful that drives her. She expressed that in her life she has always had the great desire to help people. Read who she has found a way to do it. The interview took place this weekend at the GalaxyFest Convention this weekend, Feb 7-10.
Q. I understand that you attended high school in Laguna Beach. I myself grew up in Laguna Niguel and graduated from Dana Hills High. Small world.
A. I actually grew up in West Port Connecticut and Houston TX. My dad was in the oil business so we moved around a lot. I went to high school in Laguna Beach for two years. My Dad and brother used to live in Cota De Caza and I was an Orange County girl. I did get a drama scholarship from Laguna Beach High School but never used it. I went straight to work at 17 and moved to LA. In 2004 I did have the chance to perform Michael Weller’s “What the Night is For” at a playhouse in Laguna. I played a bi-polar woman. It was a very dramatic role and it was very difficult and exciting.
Q. Babylon 5 was such a creative and fun show. You became a household name in the sci-fi world because of it. Are you still close with any of the Babylon 5 cast members?
A. I am indeed, in fact Mira (Furlan) and Pat (Tallman) were just over at my house for dinner. I’m very good friends with Andrea Thompson, and Bill Mumy I adore. He lives pretty close to me. Bruce lives way out in the boonies so I don’t see much of him. We’re all very friendly and I will see them all in May at the 20th anniversary. I’ve made some of the best friends of my life. If I could count on my hands my favorite people in the world, three of them are from “Babylon 5”. Mira, Andrea, and Pat.
Q. Tell me all about your book Babylon Confidential: a Memoir of Love, Sex, Addiction. What inspired you to write it?
A. After I got on the Sinclair Method for alcoholism, I asked what I could do for the author because he saved my life by writing that book. That’s why I wrote the book. I wanted to help people. In my life I always had this great expectation that I had this desire to help people, and I didn’t know how I was going to do it. It took me becoming an alcoholic and loosing 5 years of my life in this hellish nightmare that I was in. I personally have helped over 100 people with a 100 percent success rate. It’s a travesty that there are 8 million people dying each year and there’s an affordable cure for alcoholism. When you here from someone that says you saved my life, it’s so much more gratifying than doing a TV show. I’m so grateful for every day I get up and read responses from the people I’ve helped.
Q. I'm going to end with what's become my signature question. If you were a baseball player, what would your walk up song be? What song pumps you up and inspires you?
A. 50 Cent “In the Club!” That song makes me run! (breaks out in to operatic song!)
Comments