BRIDGING TV & THEATRE: DROP DEAD DIVA's April Bowlby

Over the course of the next several weeks, we are going to be taking an extensive look at the sights and sounds both onscreen and onset of the hit TV dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA - new episodes airing Sunday nights at 9 PM on Lifetime - featuring exclusive interviews with the leading lady divas and dashing supporting men on the LA-based supernatural legal series. Featuring a memorable collection of musical performances and Broadway guest stars over the years - Paula Abdul, Rosie O‘Donnell, Delta Burke and many more included - DROP DEAD DIVA is the quintessential TV series for Broadway babies looking for some laughs and levity - the latter available in many more ways than one, given the show's heavenly aspirations. DROP DEAD DIVA centers on a legal eagle named Jane whose body acts as the means for the indomitable spirit of a model, Deb, who loses her life, to make a second chance and how the girl inside must learn to adjust to looking like the woman on the outside that she is now. In other words, a model finds out what it means to look like everyone else, in a delightfully quirky twist of fate - and learns to be a lawyer, too. Season Three picks up with the cliffhanger car crash that closed last season in a dark and shocking way. What will Grayson remember of the conversation he had with Jane pre-crash? What will Jane do to save him? What about his engagement (to somebody else)? What will happen back at the office with Teri, Kim and Parker? What about Stacy and Fred? All these questions and many more will most assuredly be answered (or beginning to be answered) come Sunday night! Plus, there's always a musical number or two not too far off if you stay tuned!

All leading up to our finale with titular diva Brooke Elliott - and following interviews with Margaret Cho And Kate Levering - today we are talking to the hilarious and sexy April Bowlby all about her role as the model with a heart of gold, Stacy, on DROP DEAD DIVA. In the following weeks, we will also feature conversations with DROP DEAD DIVA stars Josh Henderson, Jackson Hurst and THE GRADUATE star Ben Feldman. Plus, we also have exclusive onset photos and video from the DROP DEAD DIVA soundstage in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as cast photos and videos and much, much more coming up!

Continuing the BRIDGING TV & THEATRE: DROP DEAD DIVA series just in time for its post-July 4th weekend return with new episodes tonight, here is my extended conversation with DROP DEAD DIVA star April Bowlby talking all about what can we expect for her bubbly character in Season Three - such as Stacy's new sitcom starring role and her future with Fred - as well as what April's impressions are of her character and the relationships she has with her castmates on and off-screen. Additionally, we touch on her work with Jon Cryer on TWO AND A HALF MEN as well as working with Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and her MAXIM swimsuit spread - plus, BLACK SWAN and her ballet roots.

Ballet, Bikinis & DROP DEAD DIVA

PC: I know you've worked quite extensively with two of the stars of the new COMPANY film, Jon Cryer and Neil Patrick Harris...

AB: (Gasps.) Yes! My two leading men!

PC: Neil is so very talented. Tell me about working with him.

AB: Yes, he's so, so talented - he just, like, exploded, didn't he? It was like, "Bam, bam, bam!" and the stars aligned and everything is perfect.

PC: What was he like onset?

AB: Oh, Neil is just amazing. He's super intelligent. I think that he has just been doing this for so long that he knows exactly what it is. He's very laid back and welcoming and warm. He's super great - and, he's a sexy guy!

PC: Why do you say that?

AB: Well, we had this scene where I had to make out with him and he is the only guy that I have ever made out with onset for a show that has, literally, been like, "All right, I'm gonna grab your ass." (Laughs.)

PC: What did you say back?

AB: I was like, "Oh? OK. So, here we go! This is great." It was awesome.

PC: That's hilarious.

AB: Yes, Neil is an awesome ass-grabber! (Laughs.)

PC: He was totally committed to the role, for sure! Maybe more?

AB: Hey, I'm just saying... (Laughs.)

PC: What was it like working with Jason Segel, as well?

AB: He's just unbelievable. So talented.

PC: Was he singing on set with Neil like Neil said they are wont to do?

AB: (Laughs.) You know, he never actually sang around me! But, did you know that he wrote THE MUPPETS movie that is about to come out?

PC: Oh, of course! The trailer just hit.

AB: When I was working on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, he was talking about it and I was just, like, so in awe of it.

PC: What did he say to you about it?

AB: He was so, so excited! He was like, "So, you know, this is the idea and I really think it is going to actually happen."

PC: Speaking of sitcoms, tell me a little about working on KATH & KIM.

AB: Oh, I loved working with Phil. He was fantastic. And Selma [Blair]. And, Molly Shannon is amazing, even though I didn't get to work with her on the show.

PC: That was such a fun show. I loved the opening sequence with the Scissor Sisters song.

AB: Oh, my gosh! I know! That was so great. In the mall...

PC: You and Kristin Chenoweth would be fantastic together in something, too, to cite another GLEE guest star.

AB: I can't believe you brought her up! She, I just saw on TV and I think I fell in love! She's so hilarious. I'd love to work with her someday - as sisters maybe!

PC: That would be perfect.

AB: Totally.

PC: Speaking of divas: Tell me all about Season Three of DROP DEAD DIVA. Is it true Stacy has her own show within the show?

AB: Well, this just happened in our writing like this week [Episode 10]. My character is on a detective comedy show. I don't even know my character's name! I play this rookie cop and I am not very good. (Laughs.)

PC: A model with a gun.

AB: Exactly! Yeah. A little - or a lot - like that. (Laughs.)

PC: What does everyone think of Stacy's newfound acting success?

AB: Fred - who, of course, is played by Ben Feldman - is very supportive of my career. I get asked back on the show. And, I think I might be involved with a new love interest.

PC: Do you think Stacy and Fred will ultimately end up together?

AB: I would like to think so, but the way the writing is going this year doesn't make it look that way! (Big Laugh.)

PC: Uh oh! So, Stacy won't be turned into an angel, then?

AB: Wouldn't that be fantastic? (Gasps.)

PC: And Fred and Stacy end up together in heaven...

AB: Oh, I do like that - especially because they really love each other so much!

PC: They really do.

AB: I feel like we are destined to be, in a way - I mean, we are like a normal couple in a lot of ways. We fight a lot.

PC: You can say that again!

AB: (Laughs.) But, we always get back together. So, I guess I don't want to ruin any of the surprises in this new season!

PC: The scene where he comes back the second time and you actually recognize him was so wonderful last season.

AB: Oh, thank you! Right, it's totally about "You have to win me over all over again!" in that scene.

PC: Tell me about working with Brooke - the "sweetie" exchanges and all the popcorn/wine scenes, especially, show that you two have such great rapport. You play off each other.

AB: Exactly. She's so wonderful.

PC: How do you not end up eating all the food on set since it looks so unbelievably well-prepared?

AB: The food is incredible - and, so yummy. It's really beautiful - really!

PC: Do you ever get tempted?

AB: Well, there's this scene where Fred and I get into a fight and I made this choice; I was like, "How about I eat ice cream?" - because, I said, "That's what girls do - when you are depressed about a boy you eat ice cream." And, I ended up regretting that decision so much! (Laughs.)

PC: Oh, no. What happened?

AB: I ate, like, an entire half pint of chocolate ice cream at eight in the morning. I was like, "Uhhhhh," and I couldn't remember my lines anymore because I had this, like, sugar high.

PC: Chalk it up to commitment to character.

AB: Right! (Laughs.) Generally, we eat a lot of good food, though.

PC: What is your favorite food on set - calamari or doughnuts, maybe?

AB: (Laughs.) No calamari, but I am a big fan of gummi bears! And, also, the occasional egg roll I also enjoy.

PC: What about in real life?

AB: In life, I love Taco Bell - I want to eat it every day!

PC: So good - but, so bad.

AB: Oh, my God! The cheese is so bad for you... and the shell.

PC: Will you be singing at all on the show this season? The musical quotient is quite amped up, it seems.

AB: No, I don't sing this season - Kate and Brooke are the big Broadway singers, as you know. Ben did Broadway for a little bit, too. They all break out into these musical numbers and I feel so left out! (Laughs.)

PC: You get plenty of chances to show off and pose and dance, though.

AB: Yeah, I can dance in the background as good as anyone! (Laughs.)

PC: Speaking of which: what do you do to stay in such good shape?

AB: Well, right now, I am doing nice easy cardio - I jog on a mill at a slow pace.

PC: And Stacy is always on the Elliptical in her apartment.

AB: I know! Always on the Elliptical.

PC: How would you define collaboration in terms of your experience on DROP DEAD DIVA?

AB: I feel that it is definitely a give and take. I mean, I have a lot of scenes with Brooke and she is so good - especially because if I am stuck on something I trust her to tell me, like, what sounds good and how to fix certain things. She is great at coming up with changes if something needs to change. And, I think we are just generally very supportive of each other. She's like, "Is there lipstick on my teeth?" And, I'm like, "Yes," and, she'll fix my hair if it's a little off or something at the same time, you know? And, we just look out for each other. We work together and meld and make it all fun; a team effort.

PC: What about working with Ben?

AB: I work with Ben a lot and he is so super supportive. But, it's different with a guy because, you know, you have to be like, "Hey, I can hold my own!" But, with a girl, it's more like you have to be, like, "OK, we're gonna do it now. Are you ready?" It's an emotional thing.

PC: Is it the same working with Margaret?

AB: With Margaret, yes. I love Margaret. She is so much fun.

PC: You two don't share enough scenes together, though!

AB: We don't get too much, I know! We are just sort of ships passing in the night.

PC: Moving beyond DROP DEAD DIVA, what's coming up for you that you are excited about?

AB: Oh, you're so fantastic for asking! I have a new MAXIM coming out - the one with Cameron Diaz on the cover!

PC: No way!

AB: It's super sexy! Check it out!

PC: What kind of shots did you do?

AB: Oh, I'm in a bikini in the sand and in the water. (Laughs.) Just, like, "Whatever," you know?

PC: Where was the shoot?

AB: We actually shot in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a really beautiful, sexy beach.

PC: Ballerina to bikini cover girl to DROP DEAD DIVA! So, it is true you had legit ballet training?

AB: Yes, I do come from dance and ballet.

PC: En Pointe?

AB: En Pointe. I wanted to be a ballerina and I stopped doing it when I was seventeen and I broke my foot.

PC: So, you really studied it extensively?

AB: Yes. I did it! I was totally going to be a ballerina if that didn't happen.

PC: Ala BLACK SWAN!

AB: Totally! How horrifying was that movie, though? But, you got it! You really can see what the ballet world is about.

PC: It put you right into the head of a ballerina - you would know! This was totally awesome, April. Thank you.

AB: You are so fabulous, Pat. This was such a pleasure to talk to you! Thank you so much!