28
TheGilmore Girlsstar recalls finding the courage to change her life.
But life at 28 for Kelly Bishop, the actor who played her, was a lot less simple.
After buckling under societal pressures to marry before 30, Bishop quickly realized shed made a mistake.
But despite the marital strife, Bishop recalls having a fabulous time living and working in New York.
I was doing the best kind of job you could do: I was dancing on Broadway.
Kelly was one of hers, whom she imagined as a snotty little rich girl.
Take me back to 1972, when you were 28.
Did you have a signature look?
We were moving into the disco years, so if you went out, you were wearing hot pants.
Do you even know what those are?
Teeny shorts, right?
They would be satin or something totally fabulous.
And by then, we were wearing the little white Courreges boots and very often exposed midriffs.
And lots of hair and eyelashes.
What we were really into then was faux.
We were having a good time.
Was your living situation equally fabulous?
Well, not so much.
I got married a couple years before.
Now, thats ludicrous to think about considering I was a professional dancer on Broadway.
Its not like I was anold maid.
But its the mores of what I was raised with.
So I was in the midst of realizing I made a dreadful mistake.
What were you most proud of accomplishing at 28?
The idea of being a dancer on Broadway in a hit show wasreallygood.
It was really cool.
That was it, just being a professional dancer.
You had already been in multiple shows then.
Did you think transitioning to acting was within reach at 28?
That part didnt occur to me.
I was wanting to transition out of the chorus [but] my problem was I wasnt a singer.
I didnt have a good vocal technique, and I knew it.
And if youre gonna be a principal in a musical, youre gonna have a song.
The magical moment happened when I saw this production ofCompanyat the Actors Fund Benefit, and theres Elaine Stritch.
Boy, it was a showstopper.
It was a big number she won a Tony for that.
But Elaine Stritch was not a beautiful singer by any stretch of the imagination.
And I looked at her, and I went, I can do that!
That was my moment.
And I remember the night that Elaine Stritch came over and we started talking.
YourChorus LinesongAt the Balletwas based on your audition for the part!
How did it feel back then to perform a mini-memoir?
When I read the script, I [went], Thats exactly what I said.
This is just the transcript.
I realized that my story was completely Sheilas story and actually verbatim quotes.
So I was very flattered because I didnt think I was that interesting.
I just want you to know that this is theatricalized.
She was just thrilled.
Of course, she [was] terribly proud of me.
In an interview, you mentioned your relationship with your mom was more like Lorelai and Rorys onGilmore Girls.
But I seemed to be sophisticated enough to handle them.
She was just straight out with me, and thats one of the great things about her.
That happened to me.
And she looked at me and said, No.
Youll be very attractive.
Youll be different, and youll have a lot of flair.
And I was sitting there [thinking], But I [want] to be pretty!
Thats the perfect example of my mother.
I asked a question, I got an answer.
But her relationship withhermother was like Lorelais and Emilys.
My poor mother could not do anything right the entire time I was growing up.
That was so sad.
It really bothered me.
So when we got toGilmore Girls, I understood those characters completely.
Mrs. Maiselis like aGilmore Girlsreunion.
Were you able to reunite with any old castmates on the set?
Only cause I only did a couple of episodes.
Im still close with her, but thats pretty much it.
Cause he was cute!
Big, tall, cute guy!
And he was nice.
They were all good, and they all made sense, [but] it definitely wouldve been Dean.
WasJared [Padalecki]like his character at all?
Hes a sincere, gentle guy.
Hes professional, kind, and hes not a diva.
Hes just a good guy.
I think they nailed him when they cast him.
I read that you wanted to be 30 when you were 12.
Im gonna do a little self-analysis here.
What it boiled down to [was] I wanted control of my own life.
Somehow being 30 meant no one could treat me like a child anymore.
And I always found thatsoinsulting.
So thats what being 30 was all about; it was a representation of being an autonomous adult.
Did that preoccupy you at all when you were pushing 30?
No, no, no, no.
Why lie about my age?
Say Im younger and have everybody say, God, she looks terrible for her 20s?
What advice would you give your 28-year-old self?
Go ahead and leave [your] husband right away.
Before your entire savings is wiped out.
Believe that you are more desirable, more worthy than you think you are.
Treat yourself like your own best friend in all ways.
If your best friend is doing something really inappropriate, tell them.
If your best friend is doing something wonderful, root for them.
Be your own best friend.
Watch your own back.
Give yourself a break.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
