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MIAMI LIVING 83 PEOPLE One-Woman Dynamo Siobhan Fallon Hogan is everywhere! Words by Marla E. Schwartz If you saw Siobhan Fallon Hogan walking down any NYC street, you'd feel you knew her, or at least recognize her from somewhere…. And there's good reason: She's one of those exceptional actors who has appeared in tons of television shows and movies. The skill she exemplifies in her chosen craft is admirable, though what's even more admirable is that she's not hounded by paparazzi and lives a normal life with her husband, Peter Hogan, and three kids, Bernadette, Peter, and Sinead, plus one dog and three cats (the two gerbils passed on) in New Jersey. This Syracuse, New York, native made a name for herself by appearing in her own one-woman shows. It was after one of these productions, Bat Girl that she was cast on Saturday Night Live in 1992. This experience opened doors for Siobhan, and shortly afterwards she began steady work in film and television. You may recognize her as Alec Baldwin's sister on 30 Rock, or in her recurring role on Seinfeld as Elaine's roommate, or in Lars Von Trier's movie Dancer in the Dark. Her newest film, New In Town, is now out on DVD. The movie is about a Florida businesswoman, Lucy Hill (played by Renee Zellweger), who journeys from a warm, posh Miami lifestyle to cold Minnesota to oversee the restructuring of a manufacturing plant and ends up falling in love with the local labor union rep (played by Harry Connick, Jr.). In the film, Siobhan plays Lucy's zany secretary, Blanche Gunderson, in nearly every scene of the film. Siobhan was kind enough to discuss the movie (and more) with ML readers. Miami Living: When did you first become interested in the idea of pursing acting as a profession? Did you have any mentors along the way? Siobhan Fallon Hogan: I became interested in first grade when my grammar school had an assembly in the gym, where there was a stage. The principal asked if anyone knew how to do the Irish Jig—it was a rhetorical question because she was about to introduce the professional jiggers— but I quickly raised my hand and ran to the stage to do my jig. I believe it was at that moment I was bitten by the bug. I just loved performing. ML: Did you study acting at Catholic University? SFH: Yes, I got my M.F.A. in acting from Catholic University—it's a great program. ML: In the movie New In Town, your Minnesota accent is flawless. Do accents come easy to you or do you need a dialect coach to help you out? SFH: I love doing accents. I did hire a dialect coach for this one, as it is tricky. ML: I just loved this movie, and I thought, as usual, that Renee Zellweger's performance was spectacular—but you stole the movie. In addition to many other scenes, you were in the opening scene and a priceless last scene. How much fun did you have making this movie? SFH: I had a blast doing the movie. I loved going to work every day. ML: There's a scene where everyone walks through the town singing carols, and it's so heart- warming. Do you happen to go around your neighborhood singing Christmas carols every year? SFH: As a matter of fact, we have a Christmas caroling party every year. We get a huge group and start at my house and end up at my friend's house, where we drink hot chocolate on the back porch. ML: What is your favorite scene in the movie? SFH: My favorite scene in the movie is the Christmas caroling. I love that the whole town gathers and sings "Come Let Us Adore Him" at the Christmas tree. It reminds me of It's Wonderful Life. Siobhan Fallon Hogan.