Oct. 22, 2002
Now & Forever
With Brooke back on the frontburner and her real-life daughter now doing daytime, Julia Barr looks toward the future
When Julia Barr learned that her character on All My Children would finally be revealing to Edmund that Maria was back from the grave, she gave a huge sigh of relief. "From an acting point of view, I didn't like keeping a secret!" she laughs.
But that wasn't the only reason why she was glad about Brooke's long-awaited confession. "Just putting yourself out there can be very physically distressing," she adds. "They say that your body releases certain chemicals when you smile, frown, etc. I thought to myself, 'That has to happen when you act!' because there were a couple of days during that time when I felt bad. I just wanted to have it over."
A Gripping Tale
Aside from the personal stress she endured during the scenes involving the resurrection of Maria, Barr says that she and her castmates were thrilled about the story itself. "We were all excited to do it when we saw it on paper," she shares. "It was so well-constructed, especially at the culmination."
Persona Non Grata
AS for that climax, it could be said that Edmund was too hard on his new bride when he learned of her dishonesty. According to Barr, her on-screen hubby was justified in his behavior toward her, but the acress is quick to defend her alter ego. "Brooke was coming from this horrible place, and people said, 'She told him Maria was alive because she had to.' But the denying was costing her, and at some point, she would have to tell him because she's not that person. It was eating away at her."
Regardless, Pine Valley's judgmental residents may take some time to forgive and forget Brooke's big mistake. "I'm the town pariah for awhile," Barr acknowledges with a laugh. While Brooke struggles to recover from yet another heartbreak in her often-tragic life, her portrayer, on the other hand, has much to celebrate. In addition to releasing a Christams CD (see side bar), Barr's only child with hubby Richard Hirschlag, Allison Hirschlag, landed the role of Lizzie Spaulding on the CBS soap Guiding Light.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Considering that the Emmy-winning actress has spent her entire adult life working in the same genre which her off-spring is now a part of, has she offered Allison any tips? "Tips? Nay!" she says. "No, no. She's asked me a few things, but she's fairly secure and really has to approach things her own way, and I respect that. I would never presume to really tell her how to do anything. But I can identify in many ways when she talks about things that happened at work. If she broaches the subject with me and wants my advice, then I give it to her."
Although Barr says that she shees some similarities between herself starting out on Ryan's Hope and Allison's first steps into the world of daytime, she doesn't compare the two of them. "I was a little bit older than she is now when I started," shares Barr. "So I think more as a parent than [an actress]." What wows Barr the most about her daughter entering the working world is the level of maturity and responsibility that she displays at the tender age of 18. "I'm very impressed with the fact that she gets up at five o'clock in the morning so that she can be on the road by six." "It's a lot, but she's doing great," she concludes. "I'm very proud of her."
Sidebars: FYI
Born: Februrary 8.
Break time: "I would travel more if we were retired or if my husband [had more time off from his business]. I told him, 'Listen, honey, I get a certain amount of vacation, so you are going to take at least three weeks!" Barr says with a laugh
If youre happy and you know it...
The AMC veteran obviously adores what she does, and where she does it. "you can love what you do, but if you do it in a hostile environment, I don't think you're going to be there very long."
Must-see Miranda:
"I love Cynthia Nixon's character (Miranda) on SEX AND THE CITY," shares Barr. "She's got this offbeat edge where you never know what she's going to say. Even though she's a professional woman, she says these things that are like, 'Whoa!'"
All In The Family Julia Barr recruits loved ones for a good cause
Although she's been the spokesperon for The Fund For Animals for over two years, Julia Barr hadn't had the opportunity to do a project or event to benefit the organization thus far. When she did get the ball rolling, however, it didn't take long to decide in what way she wanted to direct her efforts. "My husband, Richie, is a self-taught musician, and has a recording studio set up in our home," the actress shares, "And I've had vocal training on and off for years." Hence, the plans to record the CD were born. But Barr didn't want just any music to be on her first endeavor. "We had done some holiday recording just for fun when our daughter, Allison, was 8," she explains. Recalling her and Allison's rendition of "Silent Night" all those years ago, Barr enlisted her daughter not only for a new version of the holiday classic, but also for three other songs on the charity album. When all was said and done, Barr and her family turned out an 11-track Christmas CD entitled From Our House... To Yours. Although she was initially apprehensive about taking on something she had never done before, Barr admits that it was all worth it. "I was very happy with the outcome," she enthuses.
From Our House... To Yours can be purchased at www.juliarosebarr.com, with all proceeds going to The Fund For Animals.