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Barbara Bosson Interview
(Hill Street Blues)
Barbara Bosson plays Fay Furillo on the popular TV series "Hill Street Blues."
We chatted with Barbara recently about that show and her career.
Q. How close did "Hill Street Blues" come to being cancelled?
A. Well, we can only speculate on that, but it was the lowest rated show to ever be picked up in the history of television. That gives some indication. It was pretty close. It remained for the whole first season, in the last ten, as opposed to the Top Ten. If it had been another time, and another place, we would definitely have been cancelled.
Q. How do you balance being an actress, a mother, and a wife?
A. First of all, I only work one or two days out of seven. My part is such that when they shoot my scene, I go in and do it. Then I can go home and I don't have to be back until they shoot my scene again. It's the kind of role when I'm not in other people's scenes. I'm really fortunate in that regard.
Q. Is your ultimate ambition to be a film actress?
A. I don't have an ambition to be a film star. My ambition has always been and will always be, to be a wonderful actress, a great actress. I would love to be considered a great actress. In whatever medium I can do that kind of work, that's where I want to work.
Q. What kind of rejections did you suffer early on in your career?
A. Out of high school, the Pittsburg Playhouse told me I shouldn't be an actress, that I would be better off as a stage manager, that I had leadership qualities, and that I wasn't knocking anybody over with my talent, which made me furious.
Q. Did you enjoy your job as a Playboy Bunny?
A. No. It's hard work because first of all you’re just a waitress, and waitressing is hard work, physically hard. To this day, the very fact that you're interested in asking me about it, there's always a lot of attention for some reason on that job. I don't know why.
Q. Probably because it seems so glamorous.
A. Well it's not. It's anything but glamorous. It's just hard work in a ridiculous costume that's not comfortable.
Q. Was there ever a chance that a producer or director could walk in and discover you?
A. I think that happens maybe once every five thousand years, and certainly never to someone like me. Sure, they come in all the time and you wait on them and that's what you're there for. If they noticed you because you were so amazingly beautiful, if you can't act, they're still not interested.
© Gary James All Rights Reserved
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