Laurie Fortier’s exclusive interview
Laurie Fortier is an incredible actress and you will surely remember her for some of her many roles. She certainly can’t complain about not having the gift of versatility, she has really played everything, even men. She has starred alongside giants such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Peter Gallagher and Claire Danes. Laurie is also in the new The Walking Dead‘s season as the leader of a new group, which we really can’t wait to discover. Let’s go together to find out more about her, along with some funny anecdotes from the sets!
You are of Italian Mexican origins. How much and how do you think your origins have shaped you as an artist?
I definitely think that listening to my immigrant grandparents’ stories helped drive my curiosity for different people and cultures. I would certainly say that the fire in me comes from the Italian side!
Your story as an actress begins with a lead role in NBC’s teen comedy series Running The Halls. It must have been incredible the feeling of getting this role in the beginning.
It was! I had only been acting for 4 months, so it was one of my first auditions. Ignorance is bliss because I really didn’t have any idea what I was doing in that first audition. It ended up being such a fun experience. The show was really underrated and ahead of its time being a single camera comedy. I am still great friends with a couple of the cast members, and we get together regularly.
What are the best memories on the sets? Any funny anecdotes?
I worked on an Indy film up in Canada, James Caan was playing my father. It was the middle of winter, and it was us and 2 other actors in the scene. We were in a car and were supposed to pull up to where the action was, then get out of the car, except it was so damn cold none of us wanted to get out. In between takes, Jimmy started sharing stories about his buddy, the legendary Robert Duvall. Not only were they best friends but they did 5 films together.
As he talked about the films and cajoled his buddy Robert, it was like getting a masterclass behind the scenes from a Hollywood Legend. And no one tells a story better than Jimmy. I was so completely engrossed in the moment that when it came time to get out of the car I had forgotten where I was directed to go! Well… that and the temperature was below zero. Suffice to say, we got through the scene.
You are in the cast of the new season The Walking Dead, a project that needs no introduction. Can you give us some anticipation?
I have been sworn to secrecy and forced to sign multiple NDA’s, so all I can say is that I think the writers have some unexpected surprises in store for the fans!
So far you have had many different roles, from dramas to TV series to thrillers, all of this demonstrates your great acting ability and versatility. What has been your favorite role so far?
This is a tough question. It’s like asking a mama, which is your favorite child lol. But I would have to say that getting to play an 80-year-old man for an episode of CSI- NY stands out as one of my all-time favs. I was in full prosthetic makeup, which took 6 hours to apply each day. I studied the voice of my grandfather (the Italian one, to mimic it for the role) The final product was quite believable!
Is there a particular director you hope to work with in the future? Or an actor/actress you hope to find on the set?
I’d love to work with Taika Waititi! I thought Jo Jo Rabbit was incredibly original. I can’t wait to see him play Blackbeard in his new pirate series “Our Flag Means Death”.
We know you are a sports fan and we are big health advocates. Do you also have any secret “beauty routines”?
I try to drink 64 ounces of water daily. I have a Hydro Flask that helps me keep on track. I am also a big proponent of supplements & vitamins, like C, D & Zinc, which are key in keeping up one’s immunities. Minerals too. But probably my biggest secret is that I practice inversion & a good morning stretch daily. It’s good for circulation and relieves pressure off your joints and forces blood to the head. And stretching is good for flexibility and an overall feeling of wellness. I also set an intention along with it, then I am ready for the day.
We are very interested in the people involved in sustainability and we have seen that you are a strong advocate of preserving the oceans.
I think it is a travesty the degree to which our species has polluted the oceans. And it’s more than just pollution, it’s also all the illegal fishing practices and overfishing occurring. I am sickened every time I see a manmade oil spill…
Being LATEST primarily a fashion magazine, this question is always a must for us. Do you have any fashion brands that you particularly like, or that you think can represent you more?
True confession I haven’t been shopping (like, REALLY shopping) since pre-pandemic! I am LONG overdue. When it comes to fashion, I like simple, classy & sophisticated. Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton handbags. But you’re more likely to catch me hanging out in Adidas sneakers, Frame Jeans & Madewell T shirts.
