Nina Siemaszko- actress
License to Drive & Tucker: The Man and his Dream
picture taken from IMDB.com Interview with Nina Siemaszko----April 12, 2012
Today we are interviewing Nina Siemaszko, 1988 relevant for her roles in “License to Drive” and “Tucker: A Man and his Dream”. We have to add that Ms Siemaszko was extremely kind to us, never hesitating to come aboard the Project to talk about her 1988 memories. She will always have our respect and our loyalty towards her projects. It is always a pleasure to talk to someone so genuine. She has also told yours truly, where to find the best pizzas in Chicago. Our unending thanks to her!
If you read Nina's bio, it reads like a veritable who's who of directors and cast members that have had the great fortune of working with her; Francis Ford Coppola, Sopia Coppola, Tarantino, Aaron Sorkin, Robin Williams, Rob Reiner, Annette Bening, and of course, the two Corey's. I am always happy when she pops up on movies or on numerous TV shows, because she always brings an energy and intensity to her scenes that is refreshing. Plus, as I said...she is always forthcoming to share her memories with us of her own work or the work of her family. Her brother Casey was in 1988's Young Guns (see the review). The other aspect of Nina that I admire is her ability to avoid being typecast...she truly plays a variety of interesting and different roles. Whether it is the social activist in "License to Drive" or the wonderfully straight forward Eli Bartlett on "West Wing", heck she even kissed Adam Sandler in "Airheads" as radio hostage, Suzzi. 1988 found her starring in 2 major studio movies, one of which ,"Tucker", I use in Economics class to discuss government intervention in the market system. (reviews on both to come later) You should also know that Nina leads a very active Yoga instruction.
We welcome the super awesome Nina Siemaszko to the 1988 project!
1988 Project: That year (1988) you worked on “License to Drive” and “Tucker..” These films hold supreme cred status on our blog. What do you remember most about 1988?
Nina Siemaszko: Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album… Man in the Mirror… My Walkman and traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to Chicago to San Antonio on planes by myself because I was finally old enough, listening to Man in the Mirror over and over again. Being so happy LIVING THE DREAM! Also being in San Antonio, Texas with my crush Adam Horovitz on a movie listening to what HE listens to, discovering Bill Withersand Donovan and Jonathan Richman.
Project: Is there anything you would change about your life in 1988?
NS: Nope. It was awesome. I shot 3 movies and Lonesome Dove. I started acting school.
Project: Out of your 1988 projects, what would you consider to be the most challenging work and why?
NS: Lonesome Dove- my costume had me wearing a potato sack and nothing else. No shoes. No undies. Itchy!
Project: In License to Drive you played Nathalie, who was a Reagan era activist dating a bolshevik who resembled Perchik from “Fiddler on the Roof”(or Graham from the Saved by the Bell episode when they protest foam cups) How much of your own '88 ideals were in the character?
NS: Maybe that we are both smart. But that is about it.
Project: Who inspired you in 1988? Do they still inspire you?
NS: Meryl Streep. Madonna. My parents. And they all still do. I picked good ones!
Project: I have noticed that you work with Aaron Sorkin quite a bit, which must be so amazing! In fact, we watch “The American President” (in which Ms Siemaszko plays Beth Wade) at the beginning of each school year to focus the lessons on “what is America”. What are you currently working on?
NS:I am currently in a 3 year yoga ” university” for Iyengar yoga My passion is becoming a huge part of my life. And I am shooting Sofia Coppola’s new movie (FP: The Bling Ring). So excited to play a Las Vegas Detective.
Project: Ok, the Lightning Round
It is 1988, you are on the lot, listening to your walkman..is it most likely?
A. George Michael’s “Faith”
B. Whitney Houston “I get so Emotional”
C. Beach Boys “Kokomo”
D. Debbie Gibson “Foolish Beat”
E. Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
F. Guns N Roses “Sweet Child of Mine”
G. (‘specially for you) Billy Ocean “Get out of my Dreams”
H. None of the above, I preferred to listen to__________________
NS: Refer to #1 and yes!
Project: It is 1988, you want to catch a movie to unwind from…the movies. What are you most likely to watch?
a. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
b. Rain Man
c. Cocktail
d. Big
e. Twins
f. Crocodile Dundee II
g. Naked Gun
h. Beetlejuice
i. Coming to America
j. None of the above, I preferred to watch_____
NS: All of the above. I see everything. But I saw h) Beetlejuice first!
Project: It is 1988, you have a break from shooting. You were most likely to read…
a. a Tom Clancy book like “Patriot Games”
b. Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time”
c. Stephen King’s “The Tommy Knockers”
d. Thomas Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities”
e. None of the above, I was reading________________
NS: Autobiography of a yogi
Project: It is 1988, you manage to catch some TV…would it most likely be?
a. Roseanne
b. Cosby
c. Cheers
d. The Wonder Years
e. None of the above I was watching ____
NS: Cosby
Project: Bonus question from the girls of 1988…You worked with Christian Slater and Corey Haim that year. Were you in heaven?
NS: No. But I was when I saw Jeff Bridges, I died and went to heaven. Those two played my brothers and acted like em in real life too!
Project: Dziekuje. Thank you soooooo much for taking the time to answer these questions. Thank you also, for all of the years of entertainment.
NS: Aww! Thank you for loving the movies! …Nie ma Za co!
If you read Nina's bio, it reads like a veritable who's who of directors and cast members that have had the great fortune of working with her; Francis Ford Coppola, Sopia Coppola, Tarantino, Aaron Sorkin, Robin Williams, Rob Reiner, Annette Bening, and of course, the two Corey's. I am always happy when she pops up on movies or on numerous TV shows, because she always brings an energy and intensity to her scenes that is refreshing. Plus, as I said...she is always forthcoming to share her memories with us of her own work or the work of her family. Her brother Casey was in 1988's Young Guns (see the review). The other aspect of Nina that I admire is her ability to avoid being typecast...she truly plays a variety of interesting and different roles. Whether it is the social activist in "License to Drive" or the wonderfully straight forward Eli Bartlett on "West Wing", heck she even kissed Adam Sandler in "Airheads" as radio hostage, Suzzi. 1988 found her starring in 2 major studio movies, one of which ,"Tucker", I use in Economics class to discuss government intervention in the market system. (reviews on both to come later) You should also know that Nina leads a very active Yoga instruction.
We welcome the super awesome Nina Siemaszko to the 1988 project!
1988 Project: That year (1988) you worked on “License to Drive” and “Tucker..” These films hold supreme cred status on our blog. What do you remember most about 1988?
Nina Siemaszko: Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album… Man in the Mirror… My Walkman and traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to Chicago to San Antonio on planes by myself because I was finally old enough, listening to Man in the Mirror over and over again. Being so happy LIVING THE DREAM! Also being in San Antonio, Texas with my crush Adam Horovitz on a movie listening to what HE listens to, discovering Bill Withersand Donovan and Jonathan Richman.
Project: Is there anything you would change about your life in 1988?
NS: Nope. It was awesome. I shot 3 movies and Lonesome Dove. I started acting school.
Project: Out of your 1988 projects, what would you consider to be the most challenging work and why?
NS: Lonesome Dove- my costume had me wearing a potato sack and nothing else. No shoes. No undies. Itchy!
Project: In License to Drive you played Nathalie, who was a Reagan era activist dating a bolshevik who resembled Perchik from “Fiddler on the Roof”(or Graham from the Saved by the Bell episode when they protest foam cups) How much of your own '88 ideals were in the character?
NS: Maybe that we are both smart. But that is about it.
Project: Who inspired you in 1988? Do they still inspire you?
NS: Meryl Streep. Madonna. My parents. And they all still do. I picked good ones!
Project: I have noticed that you work with Aaron Sorkin quite a bit, which must be so amazing! In fact, we watch “The American President” (in which Ms Siemaszko plays Beth Wade) at the beginning of each school year to focus the lessons on “what is America”. What are you currently working on?
NS:I am currently in a 3 year yoga ” university” for Iyengar yoga My passion is becoming a huge part of my life. And I am shooting Sofia Coppola’s new movie (FP: The Bling Ring). So excited to play a Las Vegas Detective.
Project: Ok, the Lightning Round
It is 1988, you are on the lot, listening to your walkman..is it most likely?
A. George Michael’s “Faith”
B. Whitney Houston “I get so Emotional”
C. Beach Boys “Kokomo”
D. Debbie Gibson “Foolish Beat”
E. Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
F. Guns N Roses “Sweet Child of Mine”
G. (‘specially for you) Billy Ocean “Get out of my Dreams”
H. None of the above, I preferred to listen to__________________
NS: Refer to #1 and yes!
Project: It is 1988, you want to catch a movie to unwind from…the movies. What are you most likely to watch?
a. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
b. Rain Man
c. Cocktail
d. Big
e. Twins
f. Crocodile Dundee II
g. Naked Gun
h. Beetlejuice
i. Coming to America
j. None of the above, I preferred to watch_____
NS: All of the above. I see everything. But I saw h) Beetlejuice first!
Project: It is 1988, you have a break from shooting. You were most likely to read…
a. a Tom Clancy book like “Patriot Games”
b. Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time”
c. Stephen King’s “The Tommy Knockers”
d. Thomas Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities”
e. None of the above, I was reading________________
NS: Autobiography of a yogi
Project: It is 1988, you manage to catch some TV…would it most likely be?
a. Roseanne
b. Cosby
c. Cheers
d. The Wonder Years
e. None of the above I was watching ____
NS: Cosby
Project: Bonus question from the girls of 1988…You worked with Christian Slater and Corey Haim that year. Were you in heaven?
NS: No. But I was when I saw Jeff Bridges, I died and went to heaven. Those two played my brothers and acted like em in real life too!
Project: Dziekuje. Thank you soooooo much for taking the time to answer these questions. Thank you also, for all of the years of entertainment.
NS: Aww! Thank you for loving the movies! …Nie ma Za co!