Full given name: |
Terri Sue Feldshuh |
Hometown: |
Scarsdale, NY |
Zodiac sign: |
Capricorn |
Audition song: |
"Pink Taffeta Sample Size 10" by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields |
Special skills: |
Cartwheel, five languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew), piano, horseback riding and girls soccer coach (ages 5-10) |
First Broadway show ever saw: |
Damn Yankees starring Gwen Verdon |
Favorite show tune: |
In honor of my parents, anything by Irving Berlin. I still cry when I am asked to sing "God Bless America" and in first grade at the Quaker Ridge School, to test our musicality, I chose to sing "White Christmas" to Mr. Davies, our music teacher. |
MAC or PC? |
PC |
Most played song on your iPod: |
My vocal warmup from Dr. Lucille Rubin and voice teacher Kim Stern, plus anything musical I am currently working on (i.e. from Tovah: Out Of Her Mind!) |
One CD you couldn't live without: |
"Gershwin Plays Gershwin," the early Streisand albums, Jersey Boys Original Cast Recording |
Last book you read: |
"Strokes of Existence" by Mari Gorman which connects acting to uncharted realms of real life. |
Must-see TV show: |
"The Tudors" and "Big Love" (one man, lots of wives—not my thing, but happy to watch). Also, "60 Minutes." |
Last good movie you saw: |
"Milk" and "The Reader" |
Performer you would drop everything to go see: |
In my early years, Irene Worth; Today - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Denis O'Hare, Meryl Streep, Joan Allen, among others; also, anything directed by Jack O'Brien or Scott Schwartz. |
Pop culture guilty pleasure: |
People magazine |
First stage kiss: |
Little Mary Sunshine and Death Takes a Holiday at National Music Camp, Interlochen, MI. |
Favorite pre-/post-show meal: |
I try never to eat anything remotely unhealthy before a show. Post-show: Eleven Madison, Orso, or Sardi's, where I also try to never eat anything unhealthy. I am constantly walking around with baggies of any "unlimited" vegetable. |
How you got your Equity card: |
As a McKnight Fellow at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN |
Worst onstage mishap: |
Theatre by the Sea, Matunuck, RI – as Sophie in Star Spangled Girl by Neil Simon – during a quick change, for some reason done onstage – the lights came on too soon. I leave the rest to your imagination. |
Who have you played on "Law & Order"? Which edition? |
I have played the continuing role of Defense Attorney Danielle Melnick for 13 seasons (Emmy nominated 2005) |
Worst costume ever: |
My most unsightly: dressed as a homeless person living in a refrigerator box on a New York City sidewalk for "The Cosby Mysteries." But the truth is, I would not dub any costume I wear the "worst costume," because they clothe the characters I love to play. |
Cats or dogs? |
Cats. I had cats (Rusty I and Rusty II) as a child. We also had a horse, Wildwood King. |
Favorite cereal: |
Honey Nut Cheerios, but only when I indulge myself—usually it's plain Cheerios with half a banana. |
Who would play you in the movie? |
I would be honored and flattered if Keri Russell played me in a movie, because we have the same heart-shaped face. I think she's a wonderful talent. |
Worst job you ever had: |
Equity deputy. All that paperwork and I didn't even get a badge! |
TV or commercial gig you most enjoyed: |
Commercial gig: Juggling bowls full of food wrapped in Handi-Wrap. TV gig: playing Katharine Hepburn opposite Tommy Lee Jones in "The Amazing Howard Hughes." Both jobs brought me an invitation onto national talk shows. |
Leading lady role you've been dying to play |
Any of the monarchs and Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw. I now weigh what I weighed in 9th grade – 114 lbs., and I am running around Irena's Vow pretending I am 17, so I live in hope. Every day, you must ask yourself, "What age would you be if you did not know the age you are?" |