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!

MW: How do you find the right balance between your busy career and normal life?
TB: We, as competitive skaters, lead very A-typical lives and it can be difficult to keep things in perspective sometimes in terms of “the bigger picture”. This bubble we live in can be judgemental and superficial, and very tiring on a young person’s confidence. I’ve found the most important thing for me to do is keep my family and best friends as close to me as possible and remember the kind of person I am and want to put out into the world. It’s too easy to get caught up on think that our placement at an event determines our worth and what we’ll be able to achieve in the future. Spending an adequate amount of time away from the rink and not talking about skating is key to maintaining a good mental balance.

MW: What are some of the lessons and disciplines ice dancing has thought you as a person?
TB: I was never the most talented figure skater. I lagged behind my peers in group classes when I was a child, and struggled in dance class to be graceful, but the reason I’ve been able to succeed is because I am driven and I have high expectations for myself. Ice dancing is a challenge that brought all my ambition and competitiveness to the surface, and the discipline required to reach the level I have is something I will take with me and apply to all future endeavors. You can’t reach the top without passion, confidence and determination. I believe those qualities will help drive me to a successful career in any field.

MW: What does it take to succeed as an ice dancer? What advice can you give to anyone interested in this career?
TB: To reach the top in any sport you need to have a clear goal identified, and the willingness to make sacrifices for it. Some days it can definitely feel that you’ve completely lost your drive and direction, but remembering that goal and what you set out to accomplish is all you need to accept that you had a bad day, and prepare to make the next one better.

MW: What is next for Tanith Belbin?
TB: The scariest…and most exciting question I can ask myself at this stage in my life is; what’s next? Truthfully, I have no idea! If I try to plan it, I get stressed and feel out of control because so much of the next year will have to do with our outcome at the Olympics and our feelings once we’ve completed the season. My partner and I both feel that the time has come for us to make a change and transition into another phase of our lives. We are so anxious to see what other adventures the world has in store for us beyond skating, but at the same time we don’t want to feel pressured or rush our departure from the competitive world if we still have more we feel that we want to accomplish. Whenever that day comes however, I hope to pursue a career in broadcasting and journalism. Whether that begins with opportunities that come up after the Games or with enrolling in university, only time can tell. Either way, it’s a very exciting time to be me!

MW: What is your signature fragrance?
TB: My signature fragrance is Bvlgari Rose. I’ve been wearing it for so many years I don’t even smell it on myself anymore but my friends always know when “Tanith’s been here”. It’s definitely my signature scent.

MW: What’s in your makeup bag?
TB: In my makeup bag I always have my Cover Girl: lash blast length mascara and outlast lip stain. When you’re training and sweating all day, less is definitely more in terms of makeup! All I need to feel fresh is a little pop of color on the lips that wont stick to my hair while I skate and a nice lengthening mascara to open up my eyes.

MW: What’s in your shower?
TB: Right now I’m obsessed with the Olay body wash with body butter ribbons! Not only does it hydrate my skin, which I definitely need after all the hours I spend in the freezing rink temperatures, but it smells amazing!

MW: What is your philosophy about beauty?
TB: I think the most beautiful thing a woman can put on her face is a genuine smile.

MW: What are your favorite beauty treatment destinations?
TB: I love going to the salon and getting my hair done. I used to be scared of it because I dye my hair blonde and it always got so damaged with the color treatment, but since I’ve started using better shampoos&conditioners like Pantene’s restorative line and my hair is so much healthier. Now I can just relax and enjoy being pampered!

MW: Who are the Celebrities that inspire you with their talent and beauty?
TB: I’m a big fan of fashion and people who use their image as a way to express their personal style while still looking really comfortable in their own skin. I love actresses like Sienna Miller, Natalie Portman, and Diane Kreuger who are bold with their fashion statements yet always looks so effortlessly beautiful.

MW: Which city do you love the most?
TB: My favorite city is probably Paris. I speak french from growing up in Montreal so I feel comfortable with the language and the richness in culture is so stimulating. I feel like become more relaxed and more creative when I spend time there.

MW: What one or two things some people may not know about Tanith Belbin?
TB: I’m a huge romantic and I believe the ultimate satisfaction in life is finding someone to connect, and share all your experiences, with….. also, I hate tomatoes, am deathly afraid of clowns or anything in a mask, and know how to spell my name in morse code (kind of sounds like la cucaracha).

For more information about Tanith and the rest of the US team, go to nbcolympics.com

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.

MW: How was it working on the set of Flash Forward with your director and co-stars? What some memorable moments did you have and what did the experience thought you as an actress?
CW: A lot of people are British on the show like Joseph Fiennes who is a huge movie star, which made me a bit nervous. Then couple weeks went by and everybody have been so fun and really easy going. David S. Goyer, the creator of Flash Forward, is so no-nonsense. You know where you stand with him. He is very direct and positive. It was a real good experience for me.

MW: What do you love most about acting in a thriller such as Flash Forward? Which other film genres are you interested in playing in the future?
CW: I had to do research for my role. You could really fake it. I can barely send an email. I am not a tech savvy in any way. However, my character Janis is very tech savvy. She loves computers and surveillance. That’s what she does best. So I had to learn to look like I knew what I was doing and saying all these big words about different surveillance cameras. Singing and dancing are my first love and have a special place in my heart. These are the two things that brought me to the art. So I would love to do film and comedy. I would like to do it all! When I first read the script David S. Goyer asked me: “What kind of stuff do you do, and why did you pick this script to audition for. Do you like comedy or drama?” My answer to that was: “I just like stuff that is really good and different.”

MW: What is next for Christine Woods?
CW: I’m really trying to focus on Flash Forward and kind of go from there. It’s my first series and if I think of something else at the same time my head would explode.

MW: What is in your makeup bag?
CW: I do own a makeup bag and I have to say it’s very small. This is what you find in my makeup bag: a Maybelline mascara from Target, for sure all the way. I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $10 on mascara. I can’t go anywhere with my under-eye concealer by Lancôme, because when you work long hours you need a little help. I always have a Laura Mercier blush, whether or not I use it, it’s up in the air. I also have a Kiehl’s lip gloss, and like 55 sunscreen lotions for the face. I’m so obsessed with sunscreen. I’m freckly so if I didn’t wear sunscreen I would turn into one giant freckle. But, it’s a good thing to be obsessed with!

MW: What’s in your shower?
CW: I don’t wash my hair every day, but I do love Bumble & Bumble shampoo and Frederick Fekkai’s Glossing Conditioner.

MW: What is your signature fragrance?
CW: I’m wearing Coco Mademoiselle by CHANEL since I was 16. You get very attached to your smell. And I tried to branch out saying that this year I’m going to find a new perfume, but I always go back to my smell.

MW: What is your philosophy about beauty?
CW: Natural is the way to go, and less is more. I love makeup and I love to play with makeup and skincare. You need to take of your skin especially as an actress. I just like to put on my sunscreen and a lip gloss and call it a day. It is really liberating to take care of your skin and let that be your makeup.

MW: What are your favorite beauty treatment destinations in LA?
CW: I love to go to Kinara Spa in West Hollywood on Robertson. They do the best facials. I use some of their facial skincare products too and my skin has never looked better. The place is very quaint, cute, and not snobby. They know what they are doing. Luckily I get my hair cut and done on set by Katherine Rees. I don’t remember when was the last time I got my hair cut in a salon. Katherine actually won an Emmy Award (2009) as as the Key Hairstylist for “Mad Men”.

MW: Who are some of the celebrities that inspire with their beauty and talent?
CW: I love Robin Wright Penn, she is stunning, her work is unbelievable, and she always knocks my socks off. You watch her movie once and you think she is talented, you watch it again you go: God she is beautiful. I also love Jennifer Jason Leigh, and of course, Cate Blanchett.

MW: Which city do you love the most?
CW: I know this as answer you hear a lot, but I do love Paris. And I really love Southern California; I was born and raised here. I live in Venice Beach now and I absolutely love it. I probably couldn’t’t live anywhere but Southern California and be truly happy.

MW: What one or two things some people may not know about Christine Woods?
CW: Some people may not know that I currently train in Taekwondo a Korean Marshall Art, something a picked up for my role. I was a tap dancer my whole life, and I failed out college, I thought I was too cool for school.

I would like to thank Christine Woods for taking the time to interview with me. It was such pleasure to chat with you!

In Marta’s Shower:

Patyka Mandarine Organic Bath Shower is occupying a good real estate in my bathroom these days. I’m a fan! It is a very delicate body wash which can also be used to wash hair, good for hubbies who like to keep it simple. The Mandarine scent is soft, fresh, and pleasant. Skin doesn’t feel stripped after use. Perfect for summer time, or anytime if you are into citrus scents. Want your friends to really love you:), you can even leave it by the sink before you invite guests so they can use it to wash their hands. Don’t be then annoyed by the frequent visit to your bathroom:)

Visit www.patyka.com for additional product details.