The Biz Traveller 4/1/1998 Catherine Bell, Actress

Los Angeles, California It's a wet, El Nino-swept February day in Southern California when we telephone Catherine Bell, but the voice on the other end radiates the kind of sunshine that has made the state famous. It's Bell's day off-her rigorous schedule on the CBS series "JAG" has her routinely working up to18-hour days-but she's more than happy to talk about the job she calls "a perfect fit for my talents." Now in its third season, JAG (Judge Advocate General) centers on Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr., a Naval attorney (played by David James Elliott) and his partner Sarah MacKenzie-"Mac" to her friends-one of the youngest women in the USMC to have achieved the rank of Major. Their task: to investigate criminal cases under military jurisdiction. "I love playing Mac," Bell enthuses. "She's intelligent, she's strong, she's athletic. It's one of the best roles for women on television." Her accuracy and spirit in playing Mac, have won her a host of admirers, including Internet devotees who contact her at CathrnBell@aol.com. (One episode that involved Mac's possible exit from the military drew some 400 e-mail messages from heartbroken fans.) Bell's landing of the role was something of a fluke. Appearing in a small role in JAG's first-season finale (as a character that was killed), Bell so impressed the producer and director that they thought of her as a second-season lead. "I knew I was perfect for the role," she says, "but I was a little timid about going after it. My friends urged me on." That timidity may come as a surprise to those who have seen Bell's no-nonsense characterization. "I was shy," she admits. "I got into acting as a way of dealing with it." What won't come as a surprise-particularly to devotees of a recent JAG episode whose plot line put her in a bikini-is Bell's initial career as a model. While studying at UCLA and heading for a degree in medicine or biomedical engineering, Bell began modeling part-time. As that career prospered, she was contacted by a theatrical agent, and the rest is movie and TV history. Roles in "Death Becomes Her" (with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn) and "Men of War" (with Dolph Lundgren) brought her to the big screen, while appearances on "Friends" and "Hercules" raised her television profile. "Movies," she claims, "are a piece of cake compared to television, especially a series like JAG. I'm in nearly every scene." Born in London, Bell was raised in Los Angeles. "My mother is Iranian. Her father worked for the Shah," she says. One legacy of her heritage is an ability to speak fluent Farsi, a skill she put to use in one key episode of JAG. Another career highlight: co-hosting the Rose Bowl Parade for two years. "It's great," she says, and in explaining her easy fluency over several hours on live camera, she confides, "It's scripted. Every word." Bell and her husband, Adam, are active outdoor enthusiasts: sky diving, bungee-jumping, kick-boxing, and their newest love: snowboarding. "The producers aren't crazy about my risky activities," she says, "but basically they just say, 'We don't want to hear about it.'" Travel is a passion, too. Her career has taken her to Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, and a number of European locations. "A trip to Portugal was the craziest," she says. "My husband and I were there four days to do a television show. It took me three days to get over the jet lag. But in those circumstances, you just do it: Gear up, drink lots of water, and sneak in as much sleep as you can." Facing a five-week hiatus from shooting JAG, Bell hopes to land a role "in some small movie." Asked about the future of her character as it relates to her co-star's, she admits that the attraction between Mac and Harm is "pretty evident." But whether or not that will grow into a relationship is unsure. "It's a possibility," she says. One thing she is sure about is that she's looking forward to some well-deserved rest. As the rain pounds outside her window, she wistfully sighs, "The Caribbean would be really nice." The bizTraveler Dossier Questionnaire 1. What is your latest accomplishment/exploit/pursuit? Learning to ride dirt bikes. 2. Favorite city? Why? Drumnadrochit, Scotland. My husband and I biked across Scotland on our honeymoon. 3. Favorite hotel? Why? An adorable B&B on the shore of Loch Ness, Scotland. It was quaint and romantic with a view of the lake and mountains and it had a Jacuzzi tub (a rarity in Scotland). 4. Favorite airline? Domestic? Foreign? Why? No domestic preference. I love Virgin Atlantic. They have very comfortable seats and great service. 5. Most memorable meal? Why? I ate lunch in Portugal at a vineyard where the old grape pickers (in their 70's and 80's) made port. They were all guzzling port wine and singing and dancing. It was hysterical. 6. Three things that are always in your carry-on bag? Hand cream and lip moisturizer (they get so dry on the plane), and a spare outfit in case the luggage gets lost. 7. Design an in-flight entertainment package-your favorite movie, album, book, magazine, beverage, and snack. Movie: Good Will Hunting. Album: Classical music. Book: Anything by Tom Clancy. Magazine: Allure or Elle. Snack: Hot tea and fruit or veggies. 8. Greatest luxury for under $5? Magazines! 9. Greatest business gift under $20? It may not be a traditional business gift, but I love to give champagne. 10. Best piece of business advice? My best piece of advice in general is follow your dreams!