Alexandra Paul Interview (December 2004) - THANK YOU Alexandra for your kind interview and autographed photo!

Hoff Online: What was it like working with David on Baywatch?

Alexandra Paul: David was a wonderful actor to work with. He was always on time, knew his lines, and had a positive attitude, no matter how tough the conditions were on the set. Since he was not only the star of the show, but an executive producer also, his demeanor set the tone for the workday. But because he was always so upbeat, it was a very happy, relaxed environment.

Hoff Online: I have heard David likes to pull practical jokes on the set...did you ever witness any of these or have one happen to you?

Alexandra Paul: Because he was so funny and goodnatured, he brought out the clown in all of us! Once, we had Mary Lou Retton co-starring in an episode. She is the American gymnastics gold medalist. So after her first scene with David, the entire crew held up signs that gave her a "10" and David got a "2". He thought it was very funny. I shot a scene with him in the ocean in December - our characters are stranded in the middle of the ocean and a shark is circling us - and David made me laugh so much between takes I forgot how freezing I was.

Hoff Online: Which episode did you most enjoy working with David in?

Alexandra Paul: I really liked the episode my first season where he and I go undercover on a boat and pretend we are a rich married couple. Stephanie and Mitch are trying to suppress their attraction to each other but also had to pretend they were married, so it becomes hard to hide their feelings. There was a fun black and white montage where I was a lounge singer from the 50's and he was in a tux and I had to sing a love song to him and dance a slow dance. That was fun!

Hoff Online: Out of all your activism work, which issue would you say are you most involved in?

Alexandra Paul: I am an environmentalist first and foremost, and the human overpopulation issue is the topic I see as the most vital to solve if our children and grandchildren are to have a good quality of life. I am 41 years old and the population has more than doubled in my lifetime, from 3 billion to over 6 billion! And in another 41 years, it is expected to go to at least 9 billion. The planet cant handle that, and unless everyone grasps the importance of having only 2 children per couple, and they do it NOW, wars wont be over just oil anymore, they will be over water and food. Actually, scientists are certain we wont be able to keep the population below 9 billion. The question now is, are we going to let it just keep growing and growing?

Hoff Online: What was a typical day like on the Baywatch set?

Alexandra Paul: Our call time to work was usually right as the sun was coming up, so around 6am. The actors went through hair and makeup and body makeup (to give us an even tan) and by 9am we would be shooting on the beach. We filmed until sundown, about a 12 hour day. Each actor had a trailer to go to between shots to get out of the sun, or our chairs were set up on the beach with umbrellas. Tourists could come watch the filming if we were on the beach. We shot each episode in 5 days, and then we'd take a day every couple weeks to do "2nd Unit" which was all the water work from two or three shows - all the rescues. That was fun: sometimes the whole cast and crew would go out on a big boat for the day and the actors would be doing different rescues, changing suits to fit whatever episode was being shot at the moment. It could get hectic, but it was fun to all be on a boat all day, hanging out until we were needed in the water. Other days, there would be actors shooting on the beach (1st Unit) and other actors on 2nd Unit in the water filming rescues a few hundred meters away. When it was really busy, an actor might be going between 1st and 2nd units on the same day, but production tried not to schedule it that way as it was hard for makeup and hair to go from wet to dry.

Hoff Online: Out of all the Baywatch memorabilia that has been made, which Baywatch item did you like the best?

Alexandra Paul: I like having a doll modeled after me! She doesn't look much like me except that she has brown hair, but she is the Stephanie Holden doll. I also like being in the Hollywood Wax Museum with David and Pamela. It was an honour to be picked out of all the dozens of cast members from the show.

Hoff Online: What's the best thing about working with David?

Alexandra Paul: He works very hard, is extremely kind to his fans, and he doesn't take his successes for granted. He once said to me, at the height of Baywatch-mania: "Alexandra, enjoy it while you can, because it isn't going to last forever". He has a wise perspective on stardom: he knows that just because you are famous doesn't mean you are better than anyone else. I also really appreciate his sunny attitude on the set - he never complains because he is grateful for what he has. I have worked with many actors who whine and gripe over the littlest things, but not David. Never.

Hoff Online: Can you please tell us about your upcoming projects?

Alexandra Paul: I star in "Saving Emily", a movie out now on Lifetime Television. I have a movie coming out called "Landslide", and "10 Attitudes" is out on DVD. I also tape an environmental talk show called EarthTalk Today here in Los Angeles every month. Last month, I swam in a 10K ocean swim race, so I continue to stay in Baywatch shape!

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