2008
A Goldstar Interview with: Haviland Stillwell
| Hot: |  |  | | | |
Photo By: Layla Love
During the TLL Blog of the Year AwardsI was introduced to Riese from This Girl Called Automatic Win. From that blog I discovered Haviland Stillwell. From that point on I realized two things. 1. No matter how busy I think I am I’m never as busy as these two girls and 2. the three degrees of lesbian separation span into the blogging world as well as real life.
In Riese’s words via Haviland’s website she is described. “On a scale of one to ten, Haviland Stillwell is off the chain. Haviland is “little but fierce”; a born-and-bred Southern girl with a seductive city-girl edge — that rare and exceptional combination of smarts, ambition, beauty and ridiculous talent. She is often compared to Scarlett O’Hara, probably because they’ve both got pretty fairy-tale hair and Georgia roots. Actually, you wouldn’t ever leave Haviland without giving a damn.”
After doing some research I couldn’t have described her better myself. Haviland has recently embarked on a new project called FLIRT. It’s a talk show featured on Broadwayworld.com that exposes the true personalities and character behind today’s stars of stage, screen and music. In her second episode of FLIRT! Haviland is on an R Family Vacation cruise talking to the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Christine Ebersole, Andrea McArdle, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Seth Rudetsky, Christine Pedi, Lillias White and many more!
This is only the tip of the iceberg for this amazing performer. Recently I was lucky enough to interview Haviland and got to know a little bit more about the woman behind the name.
Photo By: Layla Love
Goldstardyke: Okay, first and foremost are you into girls? If not how much booze would it take?
Haviland: I’m into a lot of things. Girls, obvs. Booze, not so much.
Goldstardyke: Speaking of gayness. We’ve been discussing Lindsey Lohan’s penchant for muffs. What do you think, is she a diver or does she like to suck on the snorkel?
Haviland: I don’t know Lindsay, but I guess it’s probably very hard to be in that constant state of scrutiny. I know you sign up for some of that when you’re a celebrity, but it is obviously terribly invasive and also, sort of odd – the obsession that our society at large seems to have with these people being “just like us!” Which is, of course, totally ironic. That obsession fuels a major industry here in L.A. I wish we’d focus on celebrities for the things they’re doing to better themselves and the world. So many celebrities are involved with charities, like Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation and Brangelina’s Jolie-Pitt Foundation. Natalie Portman works with FINCA, George Clooney and others are involved with amfAR, Nicole Richie’s has a children’s charity, and David Hyde Pierce is the spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association. The list goes on and on. It’s so much hotter to throw focus there.
Goldstardyke: Your name alone says “Fucking Superstar” did you like your name growing up?
Haviland: I did, actually! There is a brand of motor oil that is pronounced the same way as my name, but is spelled differently. I was/am a tough little southern belle, and quite earnest in my flirtation. As soon as I could speak, I would introduce myself with, “My name is Haviland – like the china, not like the motor oil.” Ridiculous, right?
Goldstardyke: I see you were in Fiddler on the Roof. Which song gets stuck in your mind the most. It’s totally “Sunrise, Sunset” for me.
Haviland: Well, it’s a beautiful song! After doing the show for two years on Broadway, the song that mostly got stuck in my mind was Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl,” which she recorded during our revival. Jay-Z did that with musical theatre, too – “Hard Knock Life.” It’s a fantastic idea – more pop stars should do it. Can you imagine? Like, Snoop doing “Hello Dolly”? Also, everyone used to try and get Alfred Molina and Harvey Fierstein, who both played Tevye, to sing “Little bird, Little Haviland.” It’s a subtle difference, but I don’t think it ever happened.
Goldstardyke: After doing a little research I’ve found that you’re beautiful, intelligent, and funny. To this fat lesbian that’s just a little unfair! What is your favorite quality in yourself? What do you find admirable in others. (I ask the latter simply so I can brush up on whatever your answer is within myself)
Haviland: First of all, thank you. I hope you see yourself as more than a “fat lesbian”! My favorite quality in myself is my spirit – also sometimes my least favorite quality! I find many things admirable in others – awareness, honesty, resolve, compassion, kindness, and flexibility.
Goldstardyke: Tell us about FLIRT?
Haviland: FLIRT is the interview show on broadwayworld.com that I host. The first episode was an interview with David Hyde Pierce, who is obviously amazing. We spoke about being comfortable with who you are amidst the societal mayhem, his work with the Alzheimer’s Association, his role in the Broadway musical CURTAINS, and of course, memories from “Frazier,” The second show, which very recently dropped online, was a montage of sorts, and we shot it on the Rosie Cruise. It features interviews and performances from some of Broadway (and beyond!)’s hottest performers, like Daphne Rubin-Vega, the original Mimi in RENT, who I worked with in LES MISERABLES. I have known the O’Donnells for a long time now, and adore and believe in them and in r Family Vacations. This past cruise, in July, was my fourth one with Rosie, and FLIRT hopped aboard. It was edited impeccably by Riese, to show, for your viewing pleasure, the array of mind-blowing amounts of ass-kicking fun we all had.
Photo By: Layla Love
Goldstardyke: Who would you like to work with in the future?
Haviland: There are seriously so many incredible people. Bette Midler. I wallpapered my room with her pictures and articles when I was a kid, and am in this business in large part because of the way she inspired me. Also, Hillary Clinton, obvs. Meryl Streep. Rachel Maddow. Amy Brenneman. Madonna. I get really immersed into TV shows, and go through periods where I feel like I HAVE to work with the creators. Some of those are “My So-Called Life,” “Entourage,” “Arrested Development,” “Ally McBeal,” “Heroes,” “Golden Girls,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Nip/Tuck.” I feel extraordinarily fortunate when I think about who I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with so far, and I’m excited to keep going!
Goldstardyke: From my point of view you always seem to be so damn spunky. Trust that I really wanted to use another word. Do you ever get depressed, and if you do how do you deal with it?
Haviland: Do I ever get depressed? Of course! Make no mistake, I’ve certainly been through it, as anyone who has known me personally would effusively agree with. I’ve worked really hard to reach the point of letting the “spunky” girl shine, and so now I get by with a little help from my friends and I model through it.
Goldstardyke: One of this months topics on TLL is: Rant, Bitch, or Whine! Whatever you call it. Feel free to post about something that makes your skin crawl, do a top 10 of your pet peeves, or go off on someone that you can’t go off on in person. Have at it!
Haviland: I’ve been really trying to stay positive lately! Obvs, though, there are a host of things that drive me insane, like logistics and time it takes to meet basic human needs, like sleeping, eating, etc. Other things that annoy me are are passive aggressiveness, unnecessary drama, disrespect, irresponsibility, and dishonesty.
Goldstardyke: Any gigs coming up in the near future?
Haviland: I’m involved with a bevy of beautiful projects right now, most of which I can’t discuss…yet! As soon as I can, they will all be announced and written about on my website.
If you’re like me and couldn’t get enough of Haviland check out some of the links below and be sure to check out the next episode of FLIRT!
Haviland Stillwell’s website: http://havilandstillwell.com/
Haviland’s youtube page: www.youtube.com/havilandstillwell
Riese’s youtube page: www.youtube.com/marielyn176
Automatic Win: marielynbernard.blogspot.com
Haviland’s Talkshow on Broadway.com: FLIRT
I love Haviland Stillwell! That is all.