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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > June > 29 > Entry
July 4 parade a good break for soap star
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Between scenes this week, “General Hospital” actress Julie Berman jokes that she’s been practicing her “parade wave.” The Emmy-nominated 24-year-old is headed here next week to appear in WSB-TV’s annual “Salute 2 America Parade” on July 4.
She’s looking forward to a break from the drama her character Lesley “Lulu” Spencer (the spitfire offspring of soap supercouple Luke and Laura) has been immersed in this summer. Lulu recently discovered, for example, that the father she idolizes raped her mother back during the disco era. Now, Luke’s bolted town with her catatonic mom. Oh, and there was that painstaking decision to have an abortion last year after sleeping with her stepbrother.
“It can get pretty crazy on our show!” Berman concedes, laughing. Still, Berman says a highlight for her was having her long-lost TV mom (played by soap icon Genie Francis) return to the show for a month last year. The guest stint earned Francis her first-ever Emmy win this month.
“We were too busy for me to spend time being scared about working with her,” she says. “I’ve learned so much from Genie and [Luke portrayer] Tony [Geary]. Mostly, they’ve given me great advice about being young in this business and not letting people take advantage of you. They’ve both encouraged me to stand up for myself.”
Berman says she’s pleased with Lulu’s development as an independent, gutsy gal.
“So many female characters this age wait around and cry over boys,” she explains. “It’s great to be able to play a strong young woman who makes mistakes but learns from them.”
WSB’s “Salute 2 America Parade” coverage officially kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Take a break with ‘The Simpsons’
We’ve already witnessed fans going nuts over this display at various movie theater lobbies around town. And on July 4, participants in the Peachtree Road Race also will have an opportunity to take a load off with TV’s most animated dysfunctional family. Yup, the folks at Fox have reserved space for a “doh!”-nut break in Piedmont Park for runners after enduring Heart Attack Hill on Wednesday morning. There’s an empty cushion waiting for runners at the end of “The Simpsons” couch with Homer, Marge, Bart, Maggie and Lisa perched next to you. Runners will be encouraged to pose for photo ops. The promotion is designed to get fans geared to spend money to watch the family in “The Simpsons Movie.” The big-screen ‘toon debuts in theaters July 27.
‘Mob’ heads South
Oscar winner Ray McKinnon’s filmed-in-Georgia comedy “Randy and the Mob” will open exclusively in Atlanta on Sept. 21. Plans are also in the works for a possible premiere here earlier that week. “Mob,” which won the audience award at this year’s Nashville Film Festival, stars McKinnon and his Hollywood-based Ginny Mule Pictures team of Walton Goggins (TV’s “The Shield”) and Lisa Blount. After its Atlanta debut, the film is expected to open in select Southern theaters in late September and October, then be screened nationally in November.
The comedy features McKinnon, a native of Adel, in a dual role as a man who owes money to low-level Italian mobsters and the man’s gay twin brother. “Mob” was filmed two years ago in various parts of North Georgia, including Douglasville, Covington and Decatur.
In 2002, McKinnon, Goggins and Blount’s made-in-Georgia “The Accountant” won the live-action short film Oscar. In 2004 the team released the stark Southern drama “Chrystal,” which co-starred the three and Billy Bob Thornton.
High five
Digital albums this week
1. “Icky Thump,” The White Stripes
2. “Lost Highway,” Bon Jovi
3. “5th Gear,” Brad Paisley
4. “Who We Are,” Lifehouse
5. “Back to Black,” Amy Winehouse
Source: Billboard Online
Celebrity birthdays
Saturday: Singer Lena Horne is 90. Jazz bassist Stanley Clarke is 56. Actor David Alan Grier is 52. Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 48. “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino is 23.
Sunday: Actress Olivia de Havilland is 91. Movie director Sydney Pollack is 73. Actor Jamie Farr is 73. Gospel singer-choir leader Andrae Crouch is 65. Singer Deborah Harry of Blondie is 62. Singer Fred Schneider of the B-52’s is 56. Actor Dan Aykroyd is 55. Actor Andre Braugher (“Homicide”) is 45. Actress Pamela Anderson is 40. Actor Henry Simmons (“NYPD Blue”) is 37. Rapper Missy Elliott is 36. Actress Liv Tyler is 30. Actress Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”) is 25.
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