25 pounds (that's what she had to lose to play this part)

**MickBeth** · 06-02-2007, 11:58 AM

LOS ANGELES -- When you see Amber Heard in a swimsuit, just know it took a lot of work for her to get there.

"They gave me the part, then asked me to lose weight," she says. "I lost 25 pounds."

It took four months, daily workouts and a ban on carbs. "It's hard being a woman in Hollywood because there's a lot of pressure to be things that are not natural. There's a lot of pressure to fill standards that are beyond you or just plain difficult. It's hard...very hard, but that's the expectation placed upon you to be the hot young thing."

Heard fills that role in "Hidden Palms," a new CW drama from Kevin Williamson, the man behind "Dawson's Creek." Since the series takes place in Palm Springs, swimming pools are everywhere. And bathing suits? They're practically the characters' uniforms.

Heard plays Greta, a hottie whose mother died several years ago. With her father away on business, she's alone a lot and, naturally, she attracts the new kid in town -- played by Taylor Handley, a veteran of "The O.C."

The comparisons between "Hidden Palms" and "Dawson's Creek" are obvious. Williamson doesn't deny them. "It's a teen drama," he says. "But there's more suspense. There's a mystery that sort of is the main character's drive."

Adds Executive Producer Scott Winant: "This would be a (series about the) group of kids who have seen 'Dawson's Creek.' The adolescent experience is the same. I don't care if it's the '40s or the aughts. There are certain things that are always the same when you're trying to define yourself as a person. That's what being a teen is. Those things don't change."

Heard agrees. "I was a 'Dawson's' fan. I was growing up at the right time and it hit me."

Originally from Austin, Texas, Heard embraced her school's drama department and decided to pursue acting as a career. As a "hot young thing," she got roles in "Friday Night Lights" (the film), "North Country," and the horror film "sideFX" as well as a string of teen dramas -- including "The O.C."

Then, "Alpha Dog" arrived. Based on a controversial murder in California, the film starred Justin Timberlake as a gang member and featured Heard as a teen luring the victim to a swimming pool.

"I had followed the story when it was actually going on," Heard says. "When we started the film, I did more research -- it was very scary to me."

To play the part, Heard "tapped into a reckless, naive teenager. It was difficult to channel but I had to completely disconnect any humane aspects she had. I've known girls like her....you don't have a lot of sympathy for them."

Timberlake, however, was a dream co-star. "He's one of the most down-to-earth people I've ever met. Because he's such an amazing musician, it's hard to believe he's so multi-faceted."

"Hidden Palms," she figures, will give her even more to play. "I get to live these crazy lives through my character. I experience things I would never normally be a part of."

"Friday Night Lights," she says, came closest to her reality.

Palm Springs? It's a wonderland of sorts even though Williamson believes the experiences of adolescence are universal.

"I don't think I'm writing a teenage character," he says. "You just sit down and write a really smart character that hopefully an audience would connect with and care about. If I start getting in the head of how a teen character thinks, (I'm) going to be writing down to the teenage audience. And I don't believe in that. I think you just write a smart character. It doesn't matter what age they are."

The size factor? That's a Hollywood thing, Heard says. After the weight loss, "I still had the body image of the girl being told to lose weight. It was very difficult to be placed in this position but, luckily, weight has never been a concern of mine. It's just a concern to other people."

And now? "I live a healthy lifestyle," the 21-year-old says. "I'm maintaining the weight and I'm eating well."

Worth it? "At first I said no, but it's about the work. I cared about the project and the character, so I was willing to do it. It's called dedication."

"Hidden Palms" airs this summer on the CW.

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/arti...ec006c9673.txt

**Plastic Flute** · 06-02-2007, 05:43 PM

great article TY

**open32** · 06-02-2007, 05:48 PM

She really didnt seem 25 pounds heavier in Alpha Dog. It must be hard for someone who really isnt heavy to start with to lose 25 pounds. She looks good on the show though.

**MickBeth** · 06-02-2007, 07:59 PM

I think Alpha Dog was shot after Hidden Palms. I already saw the premiere of Hidden Palms in August, soo...

06-02-2007, 11:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
MickBeth Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 5,850 My Profile	25 pounds (that's what she had to lose to play this part) LOS ANGELES -- When you see Amber Heard in a swimsuit, just know it took a lot of work for her to get there. "They gave me the part, then asked me to lose weight," she says. "I lost 25 pounds." It took four months, daily workouts and a ban on carbs. "It's hard being a woman in Hollywood because there's a lot of pressure to be things that are not natural. There's a lot of pressure to fill standards that are beyond you or just plain difficult. It's hard...very hard, but that's the expectation placed upon you to be the hot young thing." Heard fills that role in "Hidden Palms," a new CW drama from Kevin Williamson, the man behind "Dawson's Creek." Since the series takes place in Palm Springs, swimming pools are everywhere. And bathing suits? They're practically the characters' uniforms. Heard plays Greta, a hottie whose mother died several years ago. With her father away on business, she's alone a lot and, naturally, she attracts the new kid in town -- played by Taylor Handley, a veteran of "The O.C." The comparisons between "Hidden Palms" and "Dawson's Creek" are obvious. Williamson doesn't deny them. "It's a teen drama," he says. "But there's more suspense. There's a mystery that sort of is the main character's drive." Adds Executive Producer Scott Winant: "This would be a (series about the) group of kids who have seen 'Dawson's Creek.' The adolescent experience is the same. I don't care if it's the '40s or the aughts. There are certain things that are always the same when you're trying to define yourself as a person. That's what being a teen is. Those things don't change." Heard agrees. "I was a 'Dawson's' fan. I was growing up at the right time and it hit me." Originally from Austin, Texas, Heard embraced her school's drama department and decided to pursue acting as a career. As a "hot young thing," she got roles in "Friday Night Lights" (the film), "North Country," and the horror film "sideFX" as well as a string of teen dramas -- including "The O.C." Then, "Alpha Dog" arrived. Based on a controversial murder in California, the film starred Justin Timberlake as a gang member and featured Heard as a teen luring the victim to a swimming pool. "I had followed the story when it was actually going on," Heard says. "When we started the film, I did more research -- it was very scary to me." To play the part, Heard "tapped into a reckless, naive teenager. It was difficult to channel but I had to completely disconnect any humane aspects she had. I've known girls like her....you don't have a lot of sympathy for them." Timberlake, however, was a dream co-star. "He's one of the most down-to-earth people I've ever met. Because he's such an amazing musician, it's hard to believe he's so multi-faceted." "Hidden Palms," she figures, will give her even more to play. "I get to live these crazy lives through my character. I experience things I would never normally be a part of." "Friday Night Lights," she says, came closest to her reality. Palm Springs? It's a wonderland of sorts even though Williamson believes the experiences of adolescence are universal. "I don't think I'm writing a teenage character," he says. "You just sit down and write a really smart character that hopefully an audience would connect with and care about. If I start getting in the head of how a teen character thinks, (I'm) going to be writing down to the teenage audience. And I don't believe in that. I think you just write a smart character. It doesn't matter what age they are." The size factor? That's a Hollywood thing, Heard says. After the weight loss, "I still had the body image of the girl being told to lose weight. It was very difficult to be placed in this position but, luckily, weight has never been a concern of mine. It's just a concern to other people." And now? "I live a healthy lifestyle," the 21-year-old says. "I'm maintaining the weight and I'm eating well." Worth it? "At first I said no, but it's about the work. I cared about the project and the character, so I was willing to do it. It's called dedication." "Hidden Palms" airs this summer on the CW. http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/arti...ec006c9673.txt

06-02-2007, 05:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Plastic Flute ICHiBAN HoOT Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12,798 My Profile	great article TY

06-02-2007, 05:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
open32 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,570 My Profile	She really didnt seem 25 pounds heavier in Alpha Dog. It must be hard for someone who really isnt heavy to start with to lose 25 pounds. She looks good on the show though.

06-02-2007, 07:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
MickBeth Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 5,850 My Profile	I think Alpha Dog was shot after Hidden Palms. I already saw the premiere of Hidden Palms in August, soo...

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