Star of Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva," Brooke Elliott is into the third season of the popular cable show playing curvy, full-figured but shy attorney Jane, whose body has been taken over by a recently deceased model, Deb.
Packed with life lessons and messages about inner beauty and brains, the show attracts a bevy of big-name guest stars. This season, Paula Abdul, LeAnn Rimes and Kathy Griffin are among them. If you want to catch up, seasons one and two are out on DVD. The show airs at 8 p.m. Twin Cities time on Sundays.
Elliott began her career as a stage performer, touring nationally with "Wicked" and "Beauty and the Beast," before getting the starring role in "Drop Dead Diva," where her singing talents are occasionally showcased.
Q: Your role on "Drop Dead Diva" must seem a little schizophrenic. Have you adjusted to its demands?
A: You know, it's funny. It is schizophrenic to an extent and actually not in another way. It's Deb's soul in Jane's body, so everything comes from Deb's perspective first. It's her spirit, her point of view, it's her eyes viewing the world and Jane's characteristics kind of pepper on top of that. It is sometimes because you are thinking, "OK, does Deb know this? Does Jane know this? Who actually knows this?" [Laughs.]
It's really fun, and actually one of my favorite things I get to do with this role is to figure that out and decide what she knows and what she doesn't know and how it all plays out.
Q: As for society's image of what a desirable woman should look like, is it men's or women's opinions which are ultimately more influential?
A: I really don't know the answer. I think everything is so convoluted and messed up at this point that I don't know -- you know, is it the chicken or the egg? I don't know what started it. I don't know what's perpetuating it, whether it's men or women or both at this point. It's a really good question.
