A Conversation With Kate Walsh
Her shiny, cinnamon-colored waves bouncing with every step, the 5'9" Kate Walsh looks picture-perfect. But there's something about her mischievous smile that makes you think she'd walk straight into a pole just to get a laugh. In person, Walsh is infinitely funnier than Dr. Addison Shepherd, the intimidating surgeon she plays on the ABC hit Grey's Anatomy.
"When I first came on the show, my character was like a Wicked Witch of the East, dressed in Prada," she told Women's Health before sitting down for an exclusive interview. "Then throughout the season you see her becoming a little more vulnerable, a little more like me."
Walsh, 39, was born in California, grew up in Arizona, and studied theater in Chicago before moving to New York.
She headed to Los Angeles seven years ago, and though she earned some fans as Nicki on The Drew Carey Show, she remained relatively unfamous before joining Grey's Anatomy during Season 2.
Life has changed dramatically since, and Walsh admits to wearing sunglasses in airports now, after a fan ran up and literally screamed in her face.
Yet despite newfound stardom, she doesn't seem at all self-conscious amid a crowded Hollywood lunch spot. Here's what she told the magazine:
WOMEN'S HEALTH: I hate to sound corny, but you're glowing. Did you just work out?
KATE WALSH: Well… I was supposed to do Pilates this morning. I got as far as putting the sports bra on. Then I realized there was no way I was about to drive through traffic and go to the gym. Noooo. So I threw my bathrobe on over the bra and read the paper. Sometimes I hope that through osmosis I might get a workout — just by wearing the clothes.
WH: You wore a fat suit when you starred on The Drew Carey Show. Did that give you perspective on what it feels like to struggle with weight?
KW: I don't think there's any woman who doesn't struggle with body image or weight. I was intoxicated with the story line on the show — a woman who worked hard to lose weight then dates this guy who eats. And she eats with him and gradually gets bigger and bigger until she can't stand herself. I remember going out to eat wearing the fat suit, and some people stared at me like I was an animal going to the trough. People can be cruel.
WH: Ever done anything crazy to stay slim?
KW: I've done every diet there is. When I quit smoking years ago, I did the cabbage soup diet. I went on Atkins because I was going to have foot surgery. I knew I wouldn't be able to move or work out and I was afraid of becoming huge. I remember sitting by the pool with my legs elevated, eating a mixing bowl's worth of whipped cream with Equal in it.
WH: Yeesh.
KW: Yes, it was so disgusting!
WH: Why did you have foot surgery?
KW: I had bunions. Such a charming word. It's partly hereditary. Both my mother and grandmother had them. Part of it is from wearing pretty shoes. Your feet get screwed up. And I love high heels.
WH: How many pairs are in your closet?
KW: I probably have, like, 100 pairs of shoes. That's a pretty healthy shoe situation. I keep them in boxes with Polaroids on the front. That's how much of a shoe weirdo I am.
WH: Obviously you like to be organized.
KW: Yes… I struggle with control. I'm not anal. I'm not a clean freak. My house is a mess. But I definitely struggle with wanting things my own way.
WH: How so?
KW: I was going on a date recently, and the guy was like, "Okay, this place or this place?" and I happened to know of three better steak restaurants. So I texted back, "Well…how about this place instead?" and he was like, "Wow! Are you trying to take control of the date?"
WH: How long have you been on the dating circuit?
KW: My boyfriend and I split up a month ago, so I'm just starting to date.
WH: Are you heartbroken?
KW: No, I'm all right. We were together for a year and a half. He's a great guy, but it was long distance so it was really hard. It was a mutual, very adult breakup.
WH: Ever felt like you'd found a soul mate?
KW: I've had some amazing relationships, very transformational. But the idea of a soul mate is tricky. I get so many different things from so many different people in my life. Maybe it's dangerous to say, "You're the one, and there's only you." I really thought the last guy was it. So now I'm in this place where I'm like, "I don't know anything anymore." And I'm okay not knowing.
WH: In Under the Tuscan Sun, you played the lesbian girlfriend of your Grey's Anatomy co-star, Sandra Oh. What was it like preparing for that part?
KW: That's the fun thing about being an actress: You get to do things you wouldn't normally do — like be a lesbian. It was funny, that part came in the middle of a trilogy of lesbian roles for me. I had just played a closeted lesbian suburban wife in an indie movie, and then I played a lesbian detective on Karen Sisco. Do I give off a girl-on-girl vibe, I wonder? Or is it because I'm tall? I guess the chicks just dig me!
WH: On Ellen you talked about spending a night in jail. You threw a cue ball at a mirror in a Chicago bar?
KW: Yes — I was maybe 26 when that happened. It sounds so punk rock, doesn't it? The weird thing is I've always been relatively conservative. I take my risks onstage, in my work. So the one time I decide to rage, the universe goes, "Uh-uh, sorry, you can't do that!" I remember walking into the cell and there were two other women in there spooning. I was like, "Oh my God — lady sandwich! What's going to happen to me?!"
WH: Maybe that was the redhead in you coming out?
KW: Actually, naturally I'm a sort of medium mouse.
WH: Did people treat you differently when you changed your hair color?
KW: I behaved differently. When I was a blonde, guys treated me like a girl…a girly girl. Then as a redhead, I was a little more sassy, maybe a little more boorish — more how I am inside.
WH: So you feel like red is the real you?
KW: Yes. Being blonde was always other than what I really am. I thought I wanted to be one of those softer, girly girls. Then I grew out of that. I realized I'd never be a sweet girl. [Laughs] Never.
She looks more beatuiful as a redhead. Her blonde hair does make her look a little girly while the red hair makes her looks like a women.
i just love her in every show that she talks she semms to be so funny so outgoing and a kind person… nothing like addison… really like her!
shes beautiful. the blonde hair did make her look a little childish .. not totally natural. but the red hair on the other hand .. she’s so radiant and it looks so natural on her. very pretty.
I Love Kate Walsh, she is sassy and I love her!!!
I don’t like her.
Addison Montgomery…
She’s a goddess. I love her spunk. She’s this beautiful woman who’s so real and fun in the inside. I didn’t expect it at all.
Love her
i heart kate walsh!
b/w her character as neonatal specialist dr. addison forbes montgomery-shepherd and lusty intern dr. meredith grey, i choose addison, all the way! the woman wears prada, dammit! she may not be the love of derrick’s life anymore, but she deserves some mutual respect at least. and i hope in the end, she finds true love.
I think she is great, and all the extras on the Season 2 DVD with her narrating; she just seems so down to earth and fun! Shes is someone I would totally be friends with!
I totally agree Becki!!! She puts herself out there and seems so real–no publicist speaking for her! I’m coming around to liking Addison more too. We’re really getting to see the “human” side of her.
Forgot to add that I love the red hair too. She looks way better with it, and maybe also cuz she may have had a nose job! Sorry Kate!! LOL
It took me a while but I have really come to like Addison especially after her talk with Meredith. Even if Meredith was on morphin their conversation was sincere.
I really did not like Addison at first. She was too pushy and too perfect. However, just as Meredith said, it is really hard to hate her. The way that Kate Walsh plays this character with all of her flaws and also all of her strength and humor, it is impossible not to like her. Don’t know whether I like her better as a blonde or red head, but I really like the long wavy hair better than the short teased up bob.
I think she’s great . At first , of course , I hated her ( for the reasons everyone knows … ) but she turned out to be sensitive , sweet , generous …. One of my favorites scenes ever is the talk between Addison and Meredith when she’s on morphin !
i love the pictures they used in the magazine.
She’s so funny. I adore interviews with her
i love kate walsh. and i definitely like her better as a red head. and i love addison forbes montgomery shepherd. =]
PS: Where did the ‘Forbes’ come from?
I LOVE Kate Walsh! She’s an amazing person. She’s one of the few celebrities that takes their status and makes something of it. But also, as you see in her interviews, she’s a funny person and yes, would be awesome to hang with. And as i mentioned before, she’s even more beautiful in person
She’s right, chicks do dig her!!! I think she is the most beautiful woman on the planet. I’d take her with blonde hair, red hair, no hair, it wouldn’t matter!!!
Kate Walsh is the most amazing woman i’ve ever seen and woul so totally love to meet her!!
i watched season 2 before watching season 1. i didn’t get the chance to like meredith before seeing addison.. there was no bias against any character yet. And.. well…I liked addison more than i liked meredith. The former is definitely my fave character on the show.
And I like Kate Walsh. she’s so freakin’ funny!
i am a big kate fan! i have red hair, and i used to hate it, until i finally saw someone gorgeous in hollywood who has red hair! now i appreciate it so much more!
I totally love Kate Walsh! I didn’t start liking Addison at first (thought she was stern and cold) but as Season 2 went on, she really grew on me and now I’m totally sold on her! She’s spunky, beautiful and if you ask me, the right woman for McDreamy. Forget that whiny Meredith, Derek! Open your eyes and choose a real woman like Addison!
Yeah, she looks like a natural redhead. The blonde hair just doesn’t look right. Kate is by far my favorite actress on Grey’s. I’m not even sure I’d watch the show if she wasn’t on it. I think the reason people actually like Addison is because she does such a good job playing her. I think Addison and Alex should hook up. It wuld be really interesting to see what happens.
Kate Walsh is extremely hot, she’s one of my favourite characters one Grey’s. And I do agree: redhead beats blonde. It even seems like she was dying her hair blonde, I always thought she was a natural redhead. Seems I was wrong.
i love kate! she’s such a gorgeous woman and a really great actress. and she looks sooo much better as a redhead than a blonde!
so, chicks did her? i dunno about all chicks… but i definitely do. she’s just hot… it’s the red hair, i think, makes me think of fire…
She’s so sexy/hot! Even my wife agrees! There’s just something about these Libra women - they’re so sexy in a not-in-your-face kind of way.
Kate Wlash is an amazing person. I feel that if more actors and actresses were like her, Hollywood would be better. She’s the kind of actress the goes and does what she has to do, not drink and party around. I think that people have a right to say what they want to, but in my opinion both Kate and Addison are two amazing people with amazing stories and people should watch what they type in!!
Kate Walsh is Very HOT!!!!!!!!!! She’s so HOT!!!!!
I agree with McSatan, I would love to meet Kate Walsh. She’s a real role model!
I think KW is so great. I do also agree it would be great to meet her. She seems very down to earth and fun. KW is awesome!!!!
kate walsh is so gorgeous and funny and smart… sandra oh is so lucky to have gotten to play her lesbian girlfriend.
i want her to be my lesbian girlfriend.
yeah, the chicks do dig you.
hot.
I just love Kate……she is so beautiful and just someone you would like to hang out with. she seems so funni!!! i would also LOOVVEE to meet her…!!!!!! that would be the BEST!!! i agree…she’s a REAL role model!!!
wow she looks so much better as a red haired! i can’t believe she used to be blond. i think she is really sexy and one of the most beautiful woman in the planet. i love you kate! i your number one fan!
She looks so phony now….she doesn’t even look like the same person….tooooo much hollywood plastic surgery! She should have just been happy with who she is!
Yes, new nose, new chin, weight loss, redhair, I am thinking also a mini facelift, especially in the forehead area. It all looks good though! If you are going to have plastic surgery, so it subtley and improve on the beautiful you. She sounds cool as shit, and I would like to have a beer with her!
I love her roles smiles,shoes,giggles.and great actress. But it sad like begin season 3 when derrick kick addison out the house during the tunderstorm, and began to sobs. but thing change she drive i 5 south to l.a to feel happy.
omg! i am a her number onee fann!! she’s just perfect! smart, loving, sophisticated, down to earth, GORGEOUSS! what else do you need!?
LOVE YOU ADDYY!!
Kate really brings something special to Adisson on Grey’s.
She has such unique facial expressions! It has been really great discovering more about her character as the series progress.
Well done Kate!
You rock:)
kate walsh is hot, if ever she sees this message i want her to know i really really like her, if ever i would choose a life, i would likely choose being with her, just the same as she is right now, you rock kathleen i wish i will see you one day, and hope to get to know you for real.
Kate Walsh is so gorgeous! She has that sass and style that no other rolemodel of mine has. Kate is very unique in her own way. With the red hair, the blue eyes, and the best clothes and shoes (love abercrombie and fitch Kate!), she can never go wrong. If I could ever meet Kate I know I would adore her. I already do! You rock hard Kate! No one can break you down! I love you Kate, from your number one fan!
I love Kate Walsh ! she is my favorite actress! I agree that she looks pretties in red hair than in blonde! She is great!