What,
if anything, do you miss most about your native England?
Actually,
I feel I don't have to miss anything
because I go back frequently. On
the other hand, there are little
things like a proper Sunday lunch
and a long walk afterwards that I
do miss. I love the idea of getting
together with friends on a Sunday
and sort of making a day out of the
lunch.
Can you
tell us about your
sister Sally's
illness?
She's doing brilliantly now. She had a brain hemorrhage and
was not expected to live. Not only is she very much alive but
she has recovered fully. I can got to see her at Christmas
and we had a wonderful time together.
How did you
cope with being so far away from her?
I left Medicine Woman 3 1/2 weeks to be with her. James and
I sat by her bedside, morning, noon and night. We never left
the hospital. Once the worst was over I returned to work.
Your current series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine
Woman, has become one of our top shows. Did
you expect it to be such a huge success?
Not
really, because the experts
were cynical about putting
on air an hour-long show
about a frontier lady doctor.
But I think the reason
for its success is that
the show is about real
people and has a storyline,
and everyone can relate
to it. 
Do
you
feel
your
background
prepared
you
well
for
the
role?
Sure,
I grew
up
around
medicine.
My
father
was
a doctor
and
I used
to
watch
him
working
when
I was
quite
young.
I was
used
to
the
sight
of
blood.
In
fact
I worked
in
hospitals
as
an
auxiliary
nurse
for
some
time.
So
I feel
comfortable
playing
a doctor.
Both Katie and Sean had acting roles in the show. What was
it like performing with your children?
Actually,
I get very nervous when my children are acting,
so I leave the set. Katie and I were in the
same scene in one episode and I was much
more concerned about her acting than my own.
Of course, she did really well. And Sean
was splendid in the Christmas show that James
directed.
How do you cope
with the stress of a family
and a fulltime job?
Extremely
well.
I don't
really
get
stressed
out
all
that
much.
I have
only
been
to
a chiropractor
three
times
in
my
life.
Of
course,
like
most
people,
I get
upset
or
annoyed
once
in
a while,
but
I find
relief
most
of
the
time
in
dealing
with
it
- by
letting
it
out
so
to
speak,
or
by
trying
to
find
a solution.
In
general,
if
I feel
stress
I like
to
paint.
I paint
quite
a bit
when
I'm
on
the
set.
What would you wish for most of all for your children in the
future?
I just hope
they grow up finding some way to contribute
to society and to feel good about themselves.
It's probably the most important thing for
a human being,to feel needed and to be able
to help others.
Interview
Kristina Bonnilla
Photos
Charles William Bush ©luxury
lifestyles 1994
