The Strength of Louise Stratten

Louise Stratten is the sister of the late Dorothy Stratten, the actress who was murdered by her jealous ex-husband while she was dating prominent film director Peter Bogdanovich.  On December 30, 1988, Peter Bogdanovich married Louise after dating her for a few years after Dorothy's death.  Shortly after her marriage to Bogdanovich, Louise pursued a career as an actress. They’re now divorced, but are developing a film together. 
  

Dorothy’s high-profile murder had a profound impact. Louise became an activist for abused women. She speaks passionately throughout the nation, advising women and building awareness of abuse. She is also working on a book about Dorothy, developing a shelter in Los Angeles for victims of domestic violence, and working on domestic abuse issues at homeless shelters in Los Angeles.  Her core message is women can escape, or avoid, abuse by expressing themselves, and educating themselves about the warning signs. Action and awareness are empowering. 



October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We know that one in four women will be the victim of domestic violence in their lifetime, and it is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, rapes and muggings combined. We also know that boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.



I enjoyed meeting and working with Louise.  She is warm, intelligent, talented and obviously beautiful.  Our photo session was a lot of fun and as you can see we ended up with great results.  Louise was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.





AM:  I know you’ve been acting for awhile Louise.  When did you start?




LS:  Yes, when I was in high school around 16 or 17.




AM:  Obviously it’s something you enjoy.




LS:  I love it!  I did my first film when I was 18.  I’ve also been doing theater in New York along with some television movies.




AM:  What do you like about being on stage?




LS:  There’s something really great about doing theater because it’s live and that’s really rewarding.




AM:  Have you done a lot of theater?




LS:  Well I lived in New York for quite a few years so I did a lot more theater while I was there.




AM:  Theater is very respected in New York.




LS:  Yes, even off Broadway.  Even in the tiniest little place.  People will come and see you and it’s just so cool.  You can feel the true sense of what it’s all about.  I’d love to do a Broadway play.  It’s one of my dreams.  I want to make that happen at some point.





AM: Were you ever interested in anything else or was it always going to be show business for you?




LS:  My sister Dorothy was in this business from the time I was 10 years old.  When I was really little I started to figure skate and I wanted to be in the Olympics, but I got injured and couldn’t skate anymore so I decided to look at what she was doing, so I wanted to act.  Of course Peter Bogdanovich came into my life.  There’s no better mentor to teach you about film and acting.  Then I got to meet Stella Adler through Peter so she became my teacher when I was really young.




AM:  So you’ve had some of the very best exposure and teachers.




LS:  Yes, I got to meet Orson Welles.




AM:  Isn’t that amazing?




LS:  I got to meet John Cassavetes.




AM: You’ve met all the legends.  Can you tell me a few more you’ve met?




LS:  Unbelievable people like Gena Rowlands, Uda Hagen, just incredible people.




AM:   You’ve met every big name Actor!




LS:  I was thinking to myself, seriously you’ve gotten to meet all these people!  Isn’t it just amazing?  Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, John Ritter, the list goes on.





AM:  Obviously your sister Dorothy was a big influence on you.  I know it’s been many years since it happened, but is it still part of your daily life?




LS:  There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her.




AM:  She’s literally inside you isn’t she?




LS:  Of course, she was my greatest teacher from my formative years, more than my mother, and she was a real good role model and example in my life.





AM:  Do you like the biographies that have been produced about your sister that you have been interviewed in?




LS:  There’s been quite a few.  They are fine.




AM:  Are you happy with the way they turn out?




LS:  Not always.




AM:  What do people get wrong about that time?




LS:  It wasn’t all about a murder or a tragedy.  It isn’t all a Hollywood Babylon story.  It is about real people, a real family.




 AM:  So you think the story has been exploited.




LS:  Absolutely, but those kinds of stories always are.  I have to understand that and accept it, but when I am here as a sister, it’s a much more personal story on many, many levels.  That’s why I’m writing the book right now, which I’m really excited about.




AM:  That is good news!





LS:  Isn’t that great?  It’s a sister story and it’s just fantastic.  She was an unbelievable lady.  Did you ever see her on Johnny Carson?




AM:  I did.




LS:  So you remember her.




AM:  Like yesterday.  Your essence is very similar to hers Louise.




LS:  Oh thank you.




AM:  How far along are you with the book?




LS:  I’m going to be handing in the proposal soon.  The work is ahead of me.




AM: Is it ready to spill out of you?




LS:  Absolutely, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, but now is the time.





AM:  What do you miss the most about your sister?




LS:  The greatest thing I miss the most is, when I was little she said to me, “Right now we’re big sister and little sister, since there is 8 years between our ages, but when we get older there won’t be any time between us and we are going to have the best life together.”  I was cut short from that and it’s the biggest robbery in my life.  But with that being said, she gave me a lot and she gave the world a lot.  Everybody who met her has the most magical things to say about her.  To this very day, even younger people remember her.  That’s why I need to write this book.  It’s been a long time waiting.




AM:  Probably the time has been good for you since it takes a long time to process something like this if you ever do at all.  




LS:   Yes that’s true.




AM:  You’ve been able to live a happy and fulfilling life haven’t you?




LS:  Absolutely, I got over a lot of obstacles.  It’s what helps me survive.




AM:  So you are strong?




LS:  Yes.




AM:  Are you more fearless?




LS:  I don’t know if it’s fearless or more being in absolute acceptance and 'knowingness' of who I am.  I also know I am going somewhere after this time on earth.





AM:  So you have a spiritual faith and foundation?




LS:  Yes I do.  Again if she can do it I can do it.  If she can get over there I can do it too.  The greatest thing is I’ll be able to get over there and she’ll be waiting for me.  If I can feel that strong and calm about it, then there isn’t anything else that can scare me.




AM: In a way this is a bountiful blessing.  Life has already taught you what’s important.




LS:  Yes, but a little bit of Photoshop won’t hurt!  (Laughter)




AM: You’ve mentioned Peter Bogdanovich.  You were a couple weren’t you?




LS:  I was married to him for over fifteen years.  I was a baby.




AM:  And you’re still friends, right?




LS:  Incredible friends.  We wrote a comedy screenplay called ‘Squirrels To The Nuts” and it’s fantastic.  We’re getting it made with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.  He’s directing and we’re both producing with Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach .  




AM:  Did you always want to be a movie producer?




LS:  Yes.




AM:  Have you produced before?




LS:  Yes, a couple of things that Peter directed around ten years ago.




AM:  Do you work all the time or do you choose to enjoy what your life has to offer?




LS:  I don’t work all the time.  I work and I enjoy life.  It is about balance.




AM:  Do you have a part in the new movie?




LS:  Yes I do.




AM:  When are you filming?




LS:  We are planning to shoot in Manhattan in the Spring.  We’ll be there this Winter looking for locations.  We wrote the script when we were close to the end of our marriage and we were so depressed and it’s a comedy.




AM:  Is the script based on real life events?




LS:  A couple of things in the script are based on his life but we went off on a rift and it turned out really good.  We think it’s funny!  It’s a cross between ‘What’s Up Doc’ and ‘They All Laughed.’




AM:  Do you have lots of friends?




LS:  I have a good solid base of friends.




AM:  Do you still have ties to Vancouver?




LS:  Yes, my Mom and my brother are still there and my childhood friends.




AM:  Are you close with your family?




LS:  Yes, my brother is a lumberjack!





AM:  I know you are involved with the domestic violence issues.  What have you done recently for that?




LS: I spoke at the White House with Michelle Obama about a year and a half ago.




AM:  How exciting was that?




LS:  That was incredible and amazing.  It was so cool.  I’m going on a tour to speak about domestic violence.  This is also what prompted me to start the book.




AM:  What kinds of questions do people ask you about domestic violence?




LS:  A lot of times people ask me if I saw any signs of this abuse before the murder.




AM:  Can you tell me about the new web site you are involved with?




LS:  The new website is called Three Woman. Three Lives. It was launched this month of October for Domestic Violence Awareness month. It is fantastic. It is a trio of woman including myself on one mission, to help end Domestic Violence. Check it out! www.3women3lives.com




AM:  Do you get tired of talking to reporters about the past?




LS:  No, it’s part of my life.  Oh yeah, I did the new Quentin Tarantino movie, ‘Django Unchained.’




AM:  You are full of surprises!  It’s already filmed right?




LS:  Yes, I shot my part last November.  I knew Quentin from New York.  I’m hoping to be in ‘Kill Bill 3‘ as well.