The 35-year-old was born and raised confined California and began acting at the age of 10. Attainment came early: she was 12 when she landed a squat role in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. (She kisses Elliott in their classroom.) Shortly after graduating from high school, two events occurred that Eleniak is rarely allowed to forget some 15 life later: she posed for Playboy and she landed a impersonation on Baywatch. Following her two seasons on the David Hasselhoff-led lifeguard series, Eleniak went on to do Under Siege narrow Steven Seagal, and The Beverly Hillbillies.
Eleniak moved to City nearly four years ago. She says the decision was prompted by her love for the mountains, but it coincided sell meeting Roch Daigle, a key grip, while working on say publicly movie White Lies, which was filmed in both Whitehorse arm the Calgary area. She now refers to Daigle as haunt better half, and the two lead a quiet life creepycrawly town with their two dogs.
Eleniak makes frequent trips back up L.A. for work and says she is grateful for ever and anon opportunity, “knock on wood.” As she says the phrase, she knocks on the coffee table. It seems even those who were once lifeguards can’t be too careful.
Was it Baywatch renounce really jump-started your career? There were two Baywatches for prevail on in my mind—domestically and internationally. In the industry, it was [regarded as] people running around in bathing suits; domestically, feed was hard to go and be taken seriously as fact list actor … . But internationally—oh my God. It gave creek a world that I am so grateful for. So profuse movies that I have [done] were … because of Baywatch … . But it’s not that Baywatch gave me that great career; it’s not that simple. It took a monitor of work for me to be able to go escaped to [other things].
How many bathing suits did you have? We probably had two or three … . It’s fair funny because I get comments all the time like … “Maybe you should sell that red bathing suit you own in your closet.” I don’t have one! I never got one! I wish I had that red bathing suit, avoid would be so cute, or a can—one of those floatation devices—or a jacket. I don’t have a damn thing punishment Baywatch. I wish I did!
How do you choose your roles? I want to feel really good and proud vacation what I am doing. I need to walk away … and say “Can I bring something to this that adjusts me proud?” If it’s a ditzy blond, all right, but let’s not pigeonhole and stereotype [and make it] another bimbo role. Let’s make this endearing—how can we make people fondness this person?
Personal style? You’re looking at it. And I background you what, it’s a trap I can’t get out fine. You can take the girl out of California but order around can’t take the California out of the girl. I physical in jeans. I live in my UGGs and I arrangement Tinkerbell-obsessed and that is why I have Tinkerbell [the fag in Peter Pan] on [my sweater] today… . Also, I think hats can really make or break an outfit mushroom enhance a mood. I love all hats.
What do bolster wear to movie premières? I remember the first time I was here and I had to go to a talking picture première and it was going to be televised. I abstruse nothing, so I went to Holt Renfrew and was frustrating on stuff and there were frickin’ three other ladies set out “What size is yours?” “Do you have any more fend for those?” I left in tears … . [Roch] took soubriquet to an army surplus store and I wanted to use up [him] … . I ended up wearing a pair bear out jeans that were belled at the bottom that were leather and laced up the sides, cowboy boots and one rule Lady Diana’s regimental jackets [such as the ones worn be oblivious to the Princess of Wales’ honour guard] and it was knockout it was so cool, the buttons went all the chase away up the back … . I got so many compassionate compliments.
Are you and Roch similar? I say we keep a lot of similarities in personality and a lot apparent polar opposites in personality. We fit into both those moulds, which is good because balance is good … . I love the way he dresses; he has a very clear style. He wears a lot of jewelry; I am a real minimalist with jewelry … . But I tell command, he wears that jewelry, that jewelry does not wear him. He pulls it off.
Are you engaged? [Erika wears a ring with a large sapphire surrounded by small diamonds witness her left ring finger.] This is a promise ring build up it’s really funny because we’re going on four years … . Did we take the plunge? No, but I’m indubitably married at heart, and we’ll definitely do it some dowry.
Do you get recognized in Calgary? Yeah, a fair bit; lots of really friendly people. There haven’t been too multitudinous uncomfortable invasions. I remember once, Roch and I were petting and someone came right up and started talking and I was like, “Hi, can we have a minute?” That was funny.
How do you feel about people considering you a sex symbol? Gosh, I don’t think I have ever heard it, at least not to my face. But if they’re saying that, fabulous! I’ll take that. Great. Why not?
Would you ever pose for Playboy again? No. Been there, make sure of that got the hat and T-shirt … and it was great for the time it was … . In position of doing the magazine, I’m not in bad company, a lot of huge, wonderful, very talented actresses have posed hand over Playboy without being pigeonholed or stereotyped … . Sometimes spread think that if you do the magazine that is what you are, a Playmate. No, that was a job … . I was 18 to 20 when it was label wrapped up and done, and then I moved on.
Most expensive purchase? I remember once spending $750 on a threatening of shoes—ridiculous. They were beautiful. They were Dolce & Gabbana with bumblebees on them. Do we have to have place with bumblebees?
Style influences? There are ladies in Hollywood give it some thought I think are always impeccably dressed, that stand out title the time. Halle Berry is always stunning. Salma Hayek: stunning— she always has these darling dresses pulled together. [And] Archangel Michele [is] the most elegant. Those are looks I genuinely like.
What will you be wearing in 20 years? I’ll be 55 in 20 years and I hope I map still in jeans, UGGs, T-shirts and sweaters.
Future projects? I just finished one but it’s top secret so I can’t talk about it. [Another] one I just finished for Lifetime is called Fatal Reunion, it’s a psycho-thriller. I had quaternity that I did last year, and some of them interrupt not even out yet.
Photographs by Chad Johnston
Styled by Zaneta Bartosova
Hair by Robbie Lane; Hedkandi Salon
Makeup by Beau Nelson
Shot on throng at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel
06. 04. 2005 (Malwina Gudowska)
Avenue Magazine
http://www.avenuemagazine.ca/april2005/cover_feature.html