The View, transcript of Marg’s interview

THE VIEW, TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW

Aired April 29, 2010

You can watch a clip of the interview on our YouTube Channel: Marg on The View, 4/29/10

Sherri: For ten seasons on CSI, Marg Helgenberger has been getting to the bottom of the most baffling crimes and showing the boy’s club how it’s done. Take a look…

(Clip of CSI is shown)

Sherri: Please welcome Marg Helgenberger!

(Marg comes out and greats all hosts)

Joy: That’s so pretty (referring to Marg’s dress)
Marg: Thank you. It’s made of vintage Indian saris, I’m told.
Joy: Looks Springy.
Sherri: You do. You bring out the spring. I love it.
Marg: I was hoping to do that.

Sherri: We were talking at the table today about postpartum depression. How do you deal with babies? I know when you were doing China Beach, you had your son Hughie, and you had to go to work immediately after you had the baby. How did you deal with that? Did you go through any craziness?
Marg: Well, it was a month afterwards. And that was a show that was really grueling. The hours are grueling. So It wasn’t as if they eased me into like a half a day. It was like the seventeen hour days that we were shooting. I was just a wreck. I just sobbed and sobbed all the time. It was hard. I would never do it again. I would certainly never encourage anyone who has a job that’s that challenging.
Joy: It was a good opportunity at that time, right?
Marg: The show? Oh yeah, definitely. It was a great show. I won an Emmy. But for a young mother, it was challenging.

Sherri: This is very funny. You grew up in Nebraska.
Marg: Yes, I did.
Sherri: And a talent scout discovered you, so you came to New York, and your very first start was on Ryan’s Hope. And I remember you as Siobhan Ryan on Ryan’s Hope.

(Pictures of Marg on Ryan’s Hope are being shown)

Sherri: When you see those pictures, what do you think?
Marg: (Laughing) I mean, come on. Check it out.
Sherri: It’s like, it’s memories, huh.
Marg: Yeah, yeah.

Elisabeth: We constantly talk to you about women’s roles. You know over twenty, over thirty women’s roles now are harder to get. Do you find that in the industry? Because you’ve been busier than ever. So you’re kind of the anti theory.
Marg: Well, thank you for saying that. It’s been a good decade definitely. You know, I think in television, there’s certainly a lot more opportunities for woman vs. films. So I’ve been really blessed.

Joy: Well, this is actually a congratulations because CSI — this is the tenth season of CSI. Congrats to you.

(Audience applause)

Joy: Can you even believe? It’s so funny when shows make it for a few seasons. You’re going ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t even believe this happened.’ Can you even believe you’re here?
Marg: It’s hard to believe. No, I mean, my son was nine when we started the show. Of course, he’s nineteen now. It’s amazing how quickly ten years can go by. But it’s been, I’m once of those fortunate actors that has been blessed with a television show that’s been as successful as it has been. And is still as of great quality, if I do say so myself. And I just feel fortunate.
Sherri: How do you think your character has evolved from that first season all the way now to the tenth season?
Marg: Well, I’m now the supervisor on the show. Yes, I got a promotion. I think definitely more of a probably take charge. Not that the character was passive by any means.
Sherri: Not at all.
Marg: But it has been fun actually to have the opportunity to sort of say the buck stops here, give directions.

Whoopi: How are you enjoying Fish? Laurence Fishburne, sorry.
Marg: I enjoy Laurence Fishburne.
Whoopi: He’s the best.
Marg: He is the best. He came on the show, and he had to step into Billy Petersen’s shoes. He’s a different character, of course. But, you know, he is such a class act.
Joy: He’s a great actor.
Marg: He’s a terrific actor.
Joy: My God, His Ike turner was beyond the pale.
Marg: Chilling, I agree.

Joy: You know, during the break I was talking to the audience. I was telling them about jobs I had before show business. And I was reading that you worked at a meat packing plant.
Marg: Oh yes.
Joy: What did you do there?
Marg: I was what they refer to as a Summer.
Joy: Did you pack meat?
Marg: Yes, I did.
Joy: Some people pack heat. She packs meat.
Guest host: You’re not a vegetarian now, are you?
Marg: One would think I would be, but I don’t eat that much meat anymore. It was summer relief. It actually was a hard job to get. My father was a meat inspector, so there was nepotism. But I’m so glad I don’t have to do that anymore.

Elisabeth: I want to let everyone know too – you’re co-hosting May 8th right? The Revlon Run/Walk for breast cancer.
Marg: I am. Yeah.
Elisabeth: Which is fantastic. Your mom’s a breast cancer survivor, I know. We all have a link to it. It’s an exceptional thing to do. Can you tell us anything else that we should know about it. It’s in L.A., right?
Marg: May 8th. It’s down at the Coliseum in Las Angeles. I think there’s one in New York here. Yes and around the country I know they’re in various states. They’re huge money raisers. And I’ve been involved in breast cancer awareness and fundraising for at least twenty years, I bet. I always get so much gratification. For selfish reasons I get enormous gratification from it. I love the sisterhood that takes place with all these survivors that get together and how they encourage each other and help each other. It’s very touching, and you raise money too. It’s a win-win all around.
Elisabeth: It’s a great cause.
Joy: Come on out everybody who’s out there in L.A.. Come out and join Marg in the walk.
Marg: Please!

Sherri: And thank you for coming by. Congratulations on the tenth season of CSI.
Marg: Thank you.

Sherri: And we just want to thank Marg Helgenberger. CSI airs tonight. Check your local listings for times.