(Check out part 1 of the set visit)
You probably don’t know Virginia Williams. Despite playing both How I Met Your Mother’s Claudia and Monarch Cove’s Bianca Foster, she remains a relative unknown to the Hollywood by-lines; yet, her acting selection reflects quality and taste. In fact, 60% of the TV shows on Williams’ vitae are on my “favorite shows that don’t have a wide demographic (anymore)” list (i.e. In Plain Sight, The Mentalist) or my “good TV gone too soon” list (including Better off Ted, Lie to Me, In Plain Sight, Veronica Mars, Jackie & Bobby, and Strangers with Candy). With the exception of The Mentalist, and despite Veronica Mars’ rabid fan base, most of these shows are not known for their high numbers or longevity, but most were well-written, well-developed pieces shifted off the network plane to soon. I find myself partially impressed with Ms. Williams’ vitae. While Julianne Moore has the deplorable Nine Months to live down, and Nicole Kidman has her entire Tom Cruise canon to obfuscate, it says something that Virginia didn’t attempt the better known, yet less well-written shows for fame. Although I’m on the fence about Fairly Legal, it says something about the show if it’s on Virginia Williams’ current resume.
Fairly Legal surrounds a free-spirited lawyer-turned-mediator, Kate, who occasionally quarrels with her same-age stepmother/step-widow, Lauren (played by Williams), who now runs Kate’s father’s law firm. It’s very easy to see how an actress would interpret Lauren as the stereotypical, one-dimensional ice queen/sexual nymphet; yet, there are moments in the pilot when you see Williams rise above the script and give her character depth.
When I sat opposite her at the makeshift conference table in the studio housing all the sets, I wasn’t certain how to take Ms. Williams. She had an incredibly direct, unflinching stare which was almost disconcerting. I found myself stumbling over questions or asking partial-soliloquies. Luckily, media-trained actors know to smile and nod when an interviewer loses his/her head. Yet, because of my across-the-table location, I found myself entering into a mini-theatre discussion with her. If I had more time, I wish I could have asked her more about her acting vitae (i.e. why she chose her past roles) and her academic vitae which included studying drama at both Fordham and Oxford Universities.
Perhaps her dramatic experience is why Virginia Williams is an actor’s actor. She thinks about her character, creates the character’s biography off screen, and uses it to fill in the script. As a theatre buff, that appeals to me. I liked that she didn’t try to excuse her character. I liked that she didn’t pretend that Lauren did not marry Teddy with money in mind. And, I like that she respects Christine Baranski‘s character on The Good Wife.
People might like to know she rocked vintage cowboy boots, a white sundress and Lauren’s hair twist. After the group commented on her clothes and Lauren’s wardrobe, I asked about Lauren’s footwear, which started the rolling ball.
For more on what I managed to ask the newest addition to USA’s “Characters Wanted” family, read on.
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Jan 07, 2011 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
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I know you must be getting a bit sick of this, but curriculum vitae is literally “course of life,” with vitae being the genitive singular form of the word vita, “life.” So “Williams’ vitae” is actually saying “Williams’ of life.”
I understand that using the nominative form, vita, as shorthand is accepted, as are the usual abbreviations of CV, cv, etc.
I managed to refrain from commenting on a different CliqueClack author who habitually writes caché when he means cachet, though. ;)
Once again, I leave it to you to contact the following people for correction:
– https://cv.hms.harvard.edu/
– https://www.utexas.edu/research/eureka/resources/vitae/index.php
– And, I actually think you’d like this one :) https://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/cv.pdf
who cares this woman is so delicious words do her no justice