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Model-turned-actress Angie Harmon made an impact on television on "Baywatch Nights" and "Law & Order." She is married to former NFL defensive back Jason Sehorn. He famously surprised her with a marriage proposal on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." The couple were married in 2001 and have three young daughters. The 37-year-old actress is starring in a new crime drama on TNT, "Rizzoli & Isles," which premieres at 10 tonight. She plays homicide detective Jane Rizzoli. The centerpiece of the show is her character's close friendship and working relationship with the smart medical examiner Maura Isles, played by Sasha Alexander.
The female friendship between Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles is a central theme of the show. Being an only child, did you find friendships easy to establish, important?
Yeah, I mean the only real factor of being an only child that has come in on this show is that the character has siblings. Like, for example, after my brother [on the show] and I get finished playing basketball [in a scene], I called Jason immediately and said, "OK, you have to go get a basketball hoop." We have three daughters, and I was telling him they need to learn how to have this camaraderie and contact-sport-kind-of-thing. I was so excited, and Jason said, "OK, while I'm there do you want me to get you a brother or two?" "Yeah, if there are some of those, get those!" As far as making friends, I think it's pretty much the same.
See the As a child of divorced parents, did you find yourself developing acting skills to please each of them?
No, I don't think you know the difference as a child. You are just living the situation that you have. No, I don't think there was any type of trying to please separate personalities. You have your mom and you have your dad, and that's basically it.
Being attractive definitely has its advantages, but did you find any disadvantages?
No, I don't really think you know what you look like and can embrace it or use it or utilize it until you are well into your adult life. At least I know I didn't.
You went right to work after high school. Do you regret not going to college, and what would you want for your daughters?
I do absolutely want my girls to go to college. I would say, yeah, there is definitely some regret. I wanted to go to Juilliard. I would love for them to be able to experience -- I mean there is also a little bit of fear and trepidation because we all know what happens in college. They are out from under the wings, and hopefully they don't go berserk. I feel I was incredibly lucky. I don't require a college degree to be doing what I'm doing for a living. I definitely want them to have as many possibilities as they can as women.
How have your ambitions changed since you first got into acting?
If anything they've changed since I've had children. It's not all about me anymore. It's about them and their well being and making sure they become responsible members of society. You know I would love to be in the movies and be a movie star and all of those things, you know the dreams you carry with you from a little girl. Obviously that's not conducive to my lifestyle right now. I can't just pick up and go to Prague and shoot a film for six months. My little girls are in school, and they need their mommy. So they are what come first right now.
So this new series is actually perfect.
It is, you know? I shoot five months a year, and I work when my husband has his time off. He starts going back to work when I'm finished. That being said, my girls have a fantastic relationship with their daddy and a very, very strong bond.
A lot of your life has been in the public eye, including your famous surprise engagement on the "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Are you as comfortable with the spotlight as you seem?
Ah, no. I don't enjoy being chased by paparazzi. That doesn't validate me as an actor. It doesn't make me feel good. If anything, if the paparazzi are after me it's, "OK, what have I done wrong?" It's very easy for me to go on talk shows and talk to people and be funny and entertaining and all of that. That part of my job I love, but the invasion of privacy -- no. I don't care for that at all. It's interesting because I'm a Leo, and most Leos love attention -- the more the better and all that, but the intrusiveness is not my favorite part of this business.
It doesn't seem you are living the Hollywood lifestyle going to parties in L.A.
We have three little girls at home, so it's not like we can go out every night or go out any night for that matter at this point. When I get off from work I want to be home with them and be home with Jason. When Jason and I have a chance to get time off together we'll go to a restaurant or go to a movie. Plus the things we do aren't scandalous. It's not salacious. You know what I mean? We have tons of friends in Hollywood. Yeah, we see them all the time, but it's not -- I don't think there is any reason to follow us, looking to see when we're going to do something gross!
Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
$335,000
$175,000
