Interview: Tokyo Wrestling

1. A Character close to the lesbian heart

Profile:　Leisha Hailey
Leisha Hailey was born in Okinawa, Japan in 1971 and grew up in the United States after her return at the age of 5. Once she graduated high school, she moved to New York to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After completing her education, she made her way into the field of music and became known as part of the indie rock duo, The Murmurs. Hailey appeared in the 1994 cult-hit lesbian film, “All Over Me” and quickly became an icon within the American lesbian scene. In 2004, after an end to the band, she took on the role of journalist Alice Pieszecki in The L Word. In 2007 she returned to her musical roots as part of the electro-pop duo Uh-Huh Her. Hailey is currently preparing to star in a spinoff of The L Word, sure to bring more attention her way.

Everybody’s favorite character from the stylish hit lesbian drama The L Word is Alice Pieszecki, a central character dating back to Episode 1. Alice has charmed her way into the hearts of viewers of all genders and persuasions with her cheery, chatty, and humor-filled approach to life. In fact, owing to her popularity, Alice was selected to head The L Word’s spin-off. The woman behind this beloved & upbeat character is out musician and actress, Leisha Hailey.

Last year, Hailey made a tremendous return to the world of music after taking some time off to focus on her role in the popular Showtime drama. Now, the long-standing queer girl icon is just as passionate about pursuing her dreams as ever – and she has plenty on her plate as she both tours with Uh Huh Her and works on filming for the upcoming L Word spinoff. Incidentally, the Japanese release of Uh Huh Her’s CD has been set for mid January 2009 and things are already looking good for the band here judging by downloads of their Japanese ringtones and a rapidly growing fan base.

Tokyo Wrestling spoke with Leisha Hailey on two occasions – once two and a half years ago for her first Japanese interview and once last month, with her band mate Camilla Grey, for the Japanese release of Uh Huh Her’s CD. In the following pages, we will post parts from both, starting with the earlier interview in which she talks about coming to Japan and seeing Shinjuku (back in her obscurity days) as well as the US lesbian baby boom and some LA hang out spots. The latter half of the interview covers what it was like on the set of Season 6 of The L Word, in addition to some of the newest information to come out about the spin off!

[2006 interview]

–Could you tell me a little about how and why you became involved in The L Word?

Well, I had studied acting for a long time, and was also in the film “All Over Me” (1994). For 10 years before I was in The L Word, I had been playing in The Murmurs and music was really central in my life. But just when I was beginning to feel like I was at a turning point in my music career, I heard about The L Word. It was going to be the first lesbian drama and everyone in the lesbian scene was talking about it. My friends and everyone was really excited. And I really wanted to be a part of it, so I went in to audition.

–You are yourself a lesbian, right?

Yes, the only out lesbian among the original main cast. But Daniela Sea joined from Season 3.

–Do you take part in the creation of the stories, as a lesbian?

Since I‘m an actress, I don’t usually get involved in writing. They just hand me a finished script and it’s my job to act it out.

–In my interviews with a few lesbians from Los Angeles, I had asked who on The L Word they thought most resembled a true-to-form real-life lesbian. Most people responded Alice or Shane. Do you have any friends that remind you of Alice or Shane?

Yes. But at the same time, all the characters resemble friends of mine in one way or another. But still, I have to admit, I do have one friend that’s exactly like Alice (laughs).

–Alice does have a special popularity among lesbians. Especially recently.

Thank you! I like her too, so it’s really nice to hear that!

–What do you think is most attractive about Alice?
The fact that she’s got a great sense of humor, and she’s so candid – she doesn’t try to hide how she feels. I think that’s why so many people relate to her. Not even just lesbians, straight women too. I really liked it when Alice and Dana were a couple. Alice had to face a lot of tough stuff in Season 3, which meant it was very challenging for me, but rewarding as well – to have to tackle such deep emotion.

–Is there anything that you have in common with Alice?

Unfortunately, no. I’m a very shy person, so I’m actually envious of how she can just come up with these perfect one-liners. I’m totally different (laughs).

2. Everybody’s watching

–Do you think that what we see in The L Word reflects the lives of lesbians in LA?

Yeah, sure. However, there really is a lot of diversity in the lesbian community, so it’s hard to reflect the lives of all people in just one drama. For example, the underground scene in LA doesn’t appear in the drama much. So some lesbians not represented in the show do feel disappointed – we especially heard this a lot early on.

–I heard that there was criticism in the beginning because the central characters portrayed were all very feminine, and women at the boyish end of the spectrum were lacking. However, the impression that I got while I was in LA was that everyone – even the lesbians that were so critical of the show – were watching it…and liking it! I got the feeling that since it’s “our” first drama, everybody was talking about it.

It really seems like that. People complain but, still, they’re watching (laughs).

–I hear that all the actresses from the show get along well together, and that you are particularly close with Erin – who plays Dana, Kate – who plays Shane, and Mia – who plays Jenny.

Yes, for a time there, the four of us were inseparable! We actually just had lunch together yesterday (laughs). I think that an era ended with Dana passing away in Season 3. Honestly, it’s a little sad sometimes since so much of the group has changed since the program started.

–I hear that you and the cast go out to lesbian bars and clubs in LA quite often.

Yeah. We’re always going (laughs). Not as much now as we used to though.

–Why is that?

Things are a bit different now.

–Do you mean that you’ve become a little too famous in the lesbian scene?

No, not that. But I guess there’s some of that too.

–Incidentally, what is your favorite lesbian spot in LA right now?

Probably The Falcon, run by Fuse Events. (Located at a hip West Hollywood restaurant right on Sunset Boulevard, this party is managed by well-known event organizers Fuse Events and features the unveiling of a screen every Sunday for a special group viewing of The L Word.)

–The Dinah Shore Weekend made an appearance of its own in Season 1 of The L Word. Have you ever been?

Yes, The Murmurs performed there in the 90s, so I went for that. I love huge events so it was a lot of fun.

–Any other big events that you attend often?

I used to go to the Michigan’s Women Music Festival a lot. It’s not a lesbian event per se, but it’s a big music festival held every August where more than 10,000 women go to camp and since it’s so popular with lesbians, you see them everywhere. For that reason, I’ve asked L Word producer/director Ilene Chaiken to incorporate the MWMF in the program! (laughs).

–Really?! I’d love to see an episode filmed there (laughs). You’ve personally been out as long as you’ve been in this business, and you’ve appeared in lesbian productions while staying active in the community as well. I was wondering, are you a member of
Power Up? I saw that Alice wears a Power Up T-shirt in one of The L Word episodes – and also you’re shown in a Power Up panel discussion on one of the “Extras” released on the US-release version of the Season 1 DVD.

Alice does wear a Power Up T-shirt, but I’m not actually a member. However, everyone on the staff – including me – is a strong supporter of Power Up and we all like to participate in their events when we can.

3．Los Angeles baby boom

–I was talking to one of Season 5’s directors, Jamie Babbit, about her films “But I’m a Cheerleader!” and “Itty Bitty Titty Committee”. She mentioned that there’s a baby boom in LA right now. Do you see this going on around you?

Yes, very much so! All my friends are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, or else they’ve already had a baby! (laughs) As a phenomenon, it’s so weird.

–Do you think you want children?

I’ve had never really considered having my own child, but once all your friends start having children – it does get you thinking. I don’t like babies as much, but I love children. However, rather than having a child, I’d want to adopt maybe.

–Right. By the way, you are out now, but were you out when you started? Have you ever been in the closet?

No, never. I came out in New York soon after finishing high school.

–How old were you?

17 or 18.

–That’s young! Was it hard?

Not really. It was hard coming out to my parents, but once I managed that, everything else seemed to progress naturally.

–Was it ever a problem where you worked?

Not much of a problem.

–When you say “not much” does that mean that something still happened?

Well, it’s not a big deal, but I’d been told before to not be too open about being a lesbian when signing with a record company. But personally, I can’t tell a lie and I’m very bad at hiding things (laughs). I explained that and it was OK.

–You’ve been active in the music industry since the 90s. Are there generally a lot of lesbians? Is it like what you find in the entertainment and film industries?

Actually, there are many lesbians, just like in the entertainment industry, so it was really fun. Wild, actually! (laughs)

4．Searching for Shinjuku’s Nichome

–I heard that you were involved in a documentary about teenagers with gay and lesbian parents. Could you tell us more about this?

It was really a wonderful experience. The families that I met were amazing and really living life to the fullest. The children were very open and creative. That make me kind of want children too!

–What is the name of the documentary?

It’s called “Raising Teens”. However, when it was shown on MTV, they used the title “I have gay parents”.

–That sounds so interesting! By the way, what is your own favorite lesbian movie?

Without a doubt, Go Fish. That happened right when I was coming out, so it was perfect for me.

–Who among lesbian figures do you respect most?

Definitely actress Sandra Bernhard. She played Professor Charlotte Birch from Jenny’s writing class in Season 2.

–What draws you to her?

Her humor. I love funny women (laughs).

–This may be a bit off topic, but you were born in Okinawa, right?

Yes, I lived in Japan until I was 4. For that reason, I always wanted to learn Japanese. But I never had time.

–Have you ever come back to Japan?

Yes, a month ago. My girlfriend had to go for work so I joined her. We were only there a week, but it was awesome!

–What was the best part?

Shopping (laughs).

–People usually say that the clothes in Japan are expensive.

Yes. But none of what you find here is in America, so for me it’s worth it (laughs).

–Where did you shop the most?

In Daikanyama.

–Did you go to the gay area of Tokyo – Nichome in Shinjuku?

Sadly, I couldn’t. I really wanted to, so we went to Shinjuku and searched for it, but we couldn’t find it! (laughs) We ended up in Golden-Gai and settled on drinking there. That’s not part of Nichome, is it?

――No. (laughs)

I thought not. (laughs) But Golden-Gai was pretty cool too.

5. Returning to Tokyo in 2008

Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey met by chance in 2006, and formed their own unit Uh Huh Her, in January 2007. Their debut and spirited rise to rock has been spectacular to say the least. Following their formation, Uh Huh Her wasted no time in scoring infective live performances and recording their first album Common Reaction – a swoon-inducing electro-pop mix already known for its stirring hits “Not a Love Song” and “Say So”. Their latest tour, too, has been roundly embraced by giddy fans at packed venues throughout the US and Europe.

Tokyo Wrestling interviewed Uh Huh Her just prior to the January 2009 release of their first CD, Common Reaction, in Japan. Before running the band interview, the TW editors have decided to include parts of the interview that relate specifically to Hailey. (The Uh Huh Her interview with both Camilla Grey and Leisha Hailey is scheduled to be posted in January.) Seeing as two and a half years have passed since our last conversation with Hailey, we decided to ask her about her past trips to Japan and Nichome, as well as the final season of The L Word.

[November 2008 Interview]

–The last time we spoke you mentioned visiting Japan. But at the time The L Word had not yet been released and no one really knew who you were here. However, when you visited privately just this last April, there was word of it all over the internet! Did fame affect your trip here at all this year?

Not really, everything felt very quiet. Very calm.

–Really? But there was a lot of talk about your stay, online that is. It seems that one of your fans bumped into you on the street – and news just exploded from there. Japanese fans were really very excited!

I did meet a couple of people randomly on the street, but very few and far between. I didn’t feel like anything big was going on in general. Nothing… I felt like a secret there. (laughs)

–Last time we talked, you said that you wanted to see Shinjuku’s Nichome, the gay part of Tokyo, but you ended up in Golden Gai instead. Did you make it to Nichome this time?

I still haven’t made it! (laughs) But I did go out to see a performance that was really fun. I can’t remember the name of it though.

–Was it, by any chance, an “onabe”…

Yes, all the girls looked like boys. They had on suits, and they performed in a show with dancing and singing. Do you know it?

–Yes, I’ve been to one before. One in Ebisu.

Yes! That’s where it was!

–Was it “Apollo?”

Yes! That was it!

–Oh, that’s a famous one.

It was really fun. And all the hosts were so nice! I had a great time.

6. “L” culture will keep on growing

–Several bands have performed on The L Word. Which were your favorite?

Definitely Slater-Kinney and Goldfrapp.

–Will there be any new bands to appear in Season 6?

No. Unfortunately there won’t be any music for the final season.

–Mia Kirchner said in an interview that she listens to the Uh Huh Her album all the time, in her car. And I’ve heard that the cast comes to your shows as well. Who do you think are your most enthusiastic fans from among the cast? (laughs)

(laughs) That would have to be Mia (Jenny) and Kate (Shane). And Rose (Tasha)!

– So the show has now reached its <final season. How were things on the set as you were filming? Had anything changed?

It didn’t really hit any of us until the last couple of weeks. And then things started to feel very nostalgic and sad. During the last two days, there was lots of crying. We couldn’t believe it was happening.

–But there will be a spin-off, and you’ve been chosen as the central character. How does that feel?

Yes, that’s true – but there’s just one thing. It’s only a pilot. The show hasn’t been picked up as a series yet. So, we’ll shoot the pilot in mid-December, and where it goes from there – nobody knows!

(@Tokyo Wrestling)

One Response to “ Interview: Tokyo Wrestling ”

1. Heather says:

   January 1, 2009 at 17:34

   Very interesting article. It’s sad that once Dana was killed off the show it kind of broke up the really tight friendship of Leisha, Kate, Erin and Mia. :( One more reason they shouldn’t have killed Dana off…

   Reply