Annie Potts was a newlywed 21-year-old theater scholar when a horrific automotive crash left her with a number of fractured bones and accidents, virtually derailing her promising profession. However her early ordeal solely served to make her extra decided.
In the present day, she displays with Senior Planet on her 50-year profession – her roles in Fairly in Pink, Designing Ladies, voicing Bo Peep within the Toy Story animated franchise, and her present position as Meemaw within the last season of TV’s Younger Sheldon.
However her most enduring character is definitely Janine Melnitz – the beleaguered receptionist she debuted within the unique 1984 movie Ghostbusters, now re-uniting along with her co-stars Invoice Murray and Dan Aykroyd, for a fifth outing with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Q: How emotional is it returning to Ghostbusters, having appeared in all 5 of the movies?
ANNIE: It’s great to have had the nice fortune to be solid in a movie that saved going for 40 years. I imply, it’s biblical. Only a few actors have that sort of factor of their life. And it all the time comes as a shock. It’s like, oh, hey, we’re doing one other one! I’m all the time completely happy to return as a result of I like the boys. We name them the boys, however they’re previous boys now – however they’re candy boys. And it’s additionally been great for Jason Reitman whose father Ivan directed the primary two – to hold this on. I believe that’s tremendous particular.
Q: What’s new for Janine this time? Is she nonetheless their receptionist on the NYC HQ 40 years later?
ANNIE: She’s nonetheless meddling in issues. However she will get a promotion this time as a result of I get to go well with up within the flight go well with and truly assist bust the ghost. So I’m there for ladies of a sure age all over the place. Exhibiting we’ve nonetheless acquired it!
Q: What’s it like working with Invoice and Dan?
ANNIE: They’re nonetheless the identical – each comedian geniuses – however Invoice is a singular occasion. It’s actually enjoyable to be on set and see them work, as a result of they’re so playful and improvise. And naturally Dan authored the unique factor so he’s free to make no matter modifications he needs. They’re actually enjoyable to observe.
Right here’s a sneak peek of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, opening solely in theaters March 22.
Q: Has it been troublesome saying farewell to the solid of Younger Sheldon having actually watched develop up on the present over 140+ episodes?
ANNIE: It’s been actually troublesome. Now we have 4 extra episodes to shoot so we’re savoring each one. And I can’t cease crying. I don’t know why. I imply, I’ve had loads of exhibits canceled and ended for no matter purpose, however we’re very connected and since the youngsters had been so tiny after we began – so tiny and proficient. They usually’re adults now and are like my household and I’m gonna cry once more now.
Q: And also you primarily based Meemaw by yourself mother?
ANNIE: Sure, she wasn’t fairly as naughty however there’s plenty of qualities of her there. God bless her. She was humorous and really Southern. I want she’d been round to see me sending her up on this method.
Q: Are you want Meemaw with your personal grandchildren?
ANNIE: Sure, however mine are little or no. They’re only one and a half and two and a half now. So I’m the one who offers them a cracker once they beg for it. However, I hope to develop into that as they develop as a result of they do love their grandmother, as a result of she’s extra forgiving than their mom is. As is often the case.
Q: You and your director husband James Hayman spent plenty of time aside; you’re LA-based and he labored in New Orleans for a decade on NCIS. Are you lastly capable of spend extra time collectively?
ANNIE: Properly kind of! We’re unbiased spirits and he’s focusing totally on his personal tasks. He’s a beautiful photographer too – so we principally have household dinners on Sunday. It’s a beautiful custom and we attempt to have as many children and grandkids which are round in there.
Q: What are you most acknowledged for?
ANNIE: I might say Ghostbusters. And although I’ve been on TV for 40 years virtually day by day, I just about run underneath the radar. I stay a quiet life and I work more often than not. However I believe increasingly since Younger Sheldon went on Netflix, and is the primary present there, being acknowledged has actually shot up there.
Q: What’s your favourite position?
ANNIE: It’s often the one which I’m doing presently. However I’ve to say that my favourite position was on a present referred to as Any Day Now. It was about friendship and race within the south and I had an excellent accomplice in Lorraine Toussaint. It was about issues that had been essential to me and I felt that had been essential to the universe. I’m very happy with that.
Q: Any vitamin and train routines?
ANNIE: I attempt to not eat sugar and flour. And I eat easy meals, simply greens and fruits and protein. I’m a meat eater. Not plenty of purple meat however hen and fish. I swim day by day that I can – which is often about three days per week hopefully. Swimming has saved me going. It’s kind of the one train that I’ve out there to me due to my accidents. And so I’ve actually swum for my life – and I believe it’s paid off as a result of I’m nonetheless right here.
Q: What’s your secret to ageing with perspective?
ANNIE: Properly, once I was very younger, I virtually died. I used to be in a really crucial automotive accident. And I believe when you’ve got an expertise the place you virtually lose your life very younger it simply offers you a sensational urge for food for all times. I believe it’s a survivor sort of factor – It’s like Man, that is nice, as a result of I virtually didn’t have it. So I simply attempt to relish it. It’s made me actually deal with my physique as a result of it acquired damaged up fairly badly. I’ve an urge for food for all times and I believe I even have a knack for happiness, so I believe that’s helped.
Gill Pringle started her profession as a rock columnist for standard British newspapers, touring the world with Madonna, U2 and Michael Jackson. Shifting to Los Angeles 27 years in the past, she interviews movie and TV personalities for prestigious UK retailers, The Impartial, The i-paper and The Sunday Occasions – and, after all, Senior Planet. A member of Critics Selection Affiliation, BAFTA and AWFJ, she wrote the screenplay for 2016 Netflix household movie, The three Tails Film: A Mermaid Journey. An award-winning author, in 2021 she was honored by the Los Angeles Press Membership with 1st prize on the NAEJ Awards.
Picture: High: Janine (Annie Potts), Peter (Invoice Murray), Ray (Dan Aykroyd) and Winston (Ernie Hudson) in Columbia Footage’ GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE.
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Pictures: (High) Jaap Buitendijk; (inset) Kate Romero