All Photos: Alan Mercer
I first met Christa Woomer when she played the character of Lynn Ette Rogers in the cast of ‘Dixiewood’ that I featured on my blog last February. Christa is not only very talented and smart, she is also a natural beauty with heart of gold. Since her early teens and her first role in ‘The King & I’ back in her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, Christa has known she was meant to act. Born with a love of performing, whether it be singing, acting or dancing, the applause drew her like a moth to a flame.
After working successfully in regional theatre she took on other challenges including touring, children’s theatre, musicals and even Shakespeare. Despite the joy she received performing throughout the Southern United States, Christa knew that her journey as a performer was just beginning. Packing up whatever would fit in her car Christa headed west to Hollywood.
A veteran of the stage in Los Angeles, Christa has performed in numerous plays, television shows, independent and commercial films as well as commercial ads, including starring in the 2008 Super Bowl television ad for Planters Peanuts as ‘The Unibrow Lady’ and the American Express ‘My People’ ad with Ellen Degeneres. You may have caught her in ‘Mr. Woodcock’ starring Billy Bob Thornton and Susan Sarandon and ‘Smiley Face’ starring Anna Farris.
In 2005, Christa started producing her own work as well as her other projects. The first play she produced was “East Lynne”, in which Christa played the lead. “East Lynne” received great reviews and was sold out nearly every performance which spurred the community to bring the play back in 2006 by popular demand for a return run which also sold out. In September of 2007, Christa produced her first original play, “My Husband Is My Sister-In-Law”, by Theresa Shell, a gay romantic comedy, in which Christa also starred and directed. The play has a wonderful tolerance and a human rights theme that drew kudos from the audiences and was honored by being in contention for an NAACP award.
AM: Christa! I know you recently filmed a commercial but I don’t know a thing about it.
CW: It came out of nowhere. I filmed a commercial for Acer Computers with a big name celebrity who I can’t name. I had to sign a confidentiality agreement.
AM: Was the celebrity easy to work with?
CW: Yes he was nice and sweet and fun to work with. I went in to audition for the role of ‘Lazy Employee.’ I thought, “Well...I can do that! (laughter) My boss thought it was hilarious and a real stretch for me to play a lazy employee!
AM: Did you give a good audition?
CW: I went in there chewing gum and doing all the things you aren’t supposed to do and they called me said they had to have me. It was great!!!
AM: This was a return to commercials after a long break wasn’t it?
CW: It was the first commercial I made in almost three years.
AM: I’ve seen your very well known Planters commercial.
CW: The uni-brow lady! (laughter) I love that commercial! I really do.
AM: Is that your most high profile one so far?
CW: By far the most popular. I did an American Express commercial with Ellen DeGeneres that played 400 trillion times, but for some reason everyone just looked at Ellen and not at me. (much laughter) She was also wonderfully kind and fun to work with, but the Uni-brow Lady started out as a Superbowl commercial that was only supposed to air once. Then the National Organization of Women called it the second most offensive Superbowl commercial of all time.
AM: What happened after that?
CW: All the entertainment shows like ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ ‘Extra’ and ‘The View’ were all calling me for interviews to discuss this issue of is it offensive to women. I felt it was more offensive to men if they were that stupid to follow her around because she smelled like nuts...but whatever.
AM: Did you do the interviews on those shows?
CW: No, Planters asked me not to do the interviews.
AM: What were they willing to give you in return?
CW: They were willing to run the commercial for thirteen months as well as do a print campaign. My manager at the time Barry, told them they couldn’t expect me not to get the publicity. They brokered a lovely deal for me. It was hugely successful. It worked out for all of us.
AM: How awesome is that! You are also an experienced theatre actor as well aren’t you?
CW: I did Shakespeare for ten years before I can out to Los Angeles. I also did Ibsen, Neil Simon, the whole she-bang.
AM: Does that experience help you or mean anything at an audition?
CW: It means nothing. (laughing) I have friends with masters degrees in theatre who have not even gotten as far as I have and I have no college degree at all.
AM: At least theatre proves you have some experience.
AM: You don’t regret it do you?
CW: No, I’m glad I have that experience. It gives you more confidence as an actor. It’s good to know the classics so when you work with a director who asks you to do something the way they did in ‘Taming of the Shrew,’ I know what he’s talking about.
AM: How long have you been acting professionally?
CW: Twenty years.
AM: That’s long enough to see changes in the industry. Have you seen changes?
CW: Oh yes, the Internet has absolutely changed the way anything is done. My first head shots were black and white! When I started there were no cell phones. You either had a pager or while on break you would go to a pay phone. You would have to call your agent or manager and ask if there were any auditions.
AM: How important is a manager and an agent to an actor?
CW: They are vital. I feel as if it’s a team effort. We’re all working together to be successful and make money. There are doors that I cannot open as an actress. The agents submit me and make the phone calls. My manager introduces me to people who would never talk to me if I didn’t have her. So they are very important for your team.
AM: A lot of actors hate their agents. I hear it all the time.
CW: I hear it all the time too and I don’t understand it because I love my agent. My commercial agents work so hard. They are great guys. I really do love them. I found my agents from a blind submission. I’ve been with them for seven years now. It was meant to be.
AM: What do you enjoy most about making a living as an actor?
CW: I like it all! Sometimes actors who are struggling don’t get it. You have to love the whole process. I love going to class. I love going to auditions. I love meeting new people. If you just love fame and money you’re in the wrong place. I love being somebody else. I love entertaining people. I’m a comedian by nature so I love to make people laugh. That’s why I love theatre because when people clapped I would get so excited. (laughter) If people are laughing I know I’m making them happy. I’m giving them an escape and I get to escape my own life. I love that!!
