I’m so excited to share with you my interview with an Olympic Ice Dancer Tanith Belbin! I love watching figure skating and ice dancing therefore interviewing Tanith is a dream come true.

Tanith Belbin is a Canadian-American ice dancer. Though she holds dual citizenship, she competes for the United States and has competed for the U.S. since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four time World medalist, three time Four Continents champion (2004–2006), and five-time U. S. champion (2004–2008). 

Photo credit: NBC Sports / USOC

Tanith Belbin was born in Kingston, Ontario and raised in Kirkland, Quebec. She lived and trained in Canton, Michigan for many years, before moving to Aston, Pennsylvania to train at Ice Works. Belbin’s mother, Michelle (McKinlay) Belbin, is a costume designer and she makes some of Belbin’s costumes. She trained as a figure skater in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

In this interview Tanith Belbin talks to Marta Walsh about when and how she has discovered the love for ice dancing. How does she find the right balance between a busy career and normal life. Gives advice on what does it really take to become a successful ice dancer. Reveals what’s in her makeup bag, favorite city, and future plans.

Marta Walsh: How did you discover your love for ice dancing and what were some of your greatest achievements in your career?
Tanith Belbin: I began skating with the intention of becoming a singles skater but because of my body proportion (thin, long legs), I was placed with a dance partner when I was 8 years old and fell in love with the element of interacting with another person on the ice. I am a performer and dance offered the greatest outlet for my creativity and desire to portray different characters in a program. Since finding my perfect partner in Ben, I would say the most satisfying moment in our career for me personally was when we won our first National title. To be able to say that you are the best in the country at something you’ve dedicated your life to is incredible. Now, on to the world!

I’m excited to share with you my interview with actress, singer, musician, and artist Persia White.

A little bit about Persia White (via wikipedia.org): she was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and Miami. At the age of three, she earned a scholarship to the Nassau Civic Ballet Company. At age eight, she joined the Miami Coconut Grove Children’s Theater. As a teen, White studied dance, acting, singing, and painting. Her films roles include: various independent films, including Red Letters (opposite Peter Coyote) and the cult horror Blood Dolls.

Persia White’s TV movies roles includes: Operation Sandman (opposite Ron Perlman), and Suddenly, opposite Kirstie Alley. Her television work includes guest starring roles on Angel, NYPD Blue, The Steve Harvey Show, Brooklyn South, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as a series regular role on Breaker High with co-star Ryan Gosling. In 2008, White appeared in The Fall of Night, as the character Dawn. She can also be seen in Chrisette Michele’s video, “Be OK”. White recently completed the drama Spoken Word, set for release in 2010. Persia is a vegan and an animal welfare and environmental activist.

I spoke to Persia White on the phone this past summer. I had the most amazing conversation with her about her beginnings as an actress. Her role on the long-running sitcom “Girlfriends”. The award-winning documentary Earthlings which she co-produced and was narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. What does fame really mean to her. What’s in her makeup bag. And future plans. Persia to me came across as absolutely beautiful inside out. I want to thank Persia for taking the time to chat with me!!

Marta Walsh: How did you decide on a career in acting, and what were some of your first breaks as an actress?
Persia White: I loved acting since I was 8 years old. I started to do theatre in Miami on the Coconut Grove Children’s Playhouse. That was my big introduction to acting. Then a talent scout founded me suggested I should find an agent. I was also a dancer and kept dancing but eventually I got into acting, which is a bit easier. Dancing is such a hard career. I still love dancing. I used to be one of these artistic kids and always loved make people laugh. I would do stand-up comedy skits when I was young. I moved to LA when I was a teenager and booked my first TV Series: “Breaker High” with co-star Ryan Gosling. I did several TV guest star appearances like in NYPD Blue and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I then booked a soap opera in New York which so happened to get cancelled. I moved back to LA, which was good because I booked the role of Lynn Ann Searcy in the sitcom “Girlfriends”.

This week, Giorgio Armani Beauty unveils the secret to achieving the perfect complexion with the debut of the “Armani A-List Essentials”.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Celebrity Makeup Artist Tim Quinn has hand selected his favorite pieces from the collection that are essential to his highly coveted makeup kit. “There are a few products that I use on all of my celebrity clients – from Sophia Bush to January Jones – in order to achieve that flawless complexion. I always start with the Fluid Master Primer to create a smooth surface and follow with a foundation that is appropriate for both my client’s skin tone and complexion. I finish by applying Fluid Sheer liquid highlighter along the outer edge of the eye and along the tops of the cheek bones to create that perfect luminous glow. The one tool that I use with all three products and absolutely cannot live without is our Blender Brush – it’s my secret weapon!”

Watch Marta’s video blog for today talking all about brows & her favorite brow pencil: Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil, $28.

Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil is so easy to use and to control. The fine pencil mimics the small hair on your brows which gives you a natural look when you fill in your brows. It is light and thin so you can carry it in your makeup bag, for a quick brow touch up anytime. I don’t leave my house without it!
 

Today marks the premier of much anticipated ABC series: FlashForward. Now, I’ve watched the trailer and the script looks very captivating. The FlashForward story line is about what happens when everyone on Earth blacks out, only to awake and be able to foresee the future. The show was created by David S. Goyer who also wrote the screenplays for Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Flash.

I’m excited to bring to you an interview with star of FlashForward, Christine Woods. Christine plays the role of Janis Hawk FBI Agent at the Los Angeles Field Office with superior analysis abilities. Her character is a bit of a tomboy with a quick wit, and was trained at the Academy with fellow agent Demetri Noh (played by actor John Cho).

In this interview Christine Woods talks to Marta Walsh about her love for acting. What attracted her to the role of Janis Hawk in the new ABC series FalshForward. Her meeting with actor Joseph Fiennes on the set. reveals what’s in her makeup bag. What some people may not know about Christine and future plans.

Marta Walsh: How did you decide on a career in acting, and what were some of your first breaks as an actress?
Christine Woods: I was a singer and a dancer my whole life. I was a musical theatre major in college. I moved out to LA about 4 and half years ago and started auditioning every day. I did couple of guest stars here and there. This is honestly my first big break.

Watch ABC’s FlashForward trailer here:

MW: What attracted you to Janis Hawk character on the new ABC series Flash Forward? How much of Janis’ personality is similar or different to yours?
CW: I read the script, it was pretty small role. I was more taken by the script and story as a whole, and of course by the creator, David S. Goyer. David is absolutely brilliant and I love his work. I’m also very interested in strong female characters. Janis Hawk is intelligent and smart. She is a career woman. She is in a job that is predominantly male. I’m always fascinated with women who can do that. It’s atypical for a woman to rise to top of the FBI world.