Introduction (01)
Claire's Head (02-104)
Claire's Résumé
Acknowledgments
Articles
Biography

Introduction

^[01] When I first began to do these interviews, I decided the sole purpose of them would be to show the person behind the artist. I was dying to interview Claire Stansfield ever since I met her in May 2001 at the Xena convention in Pasadena. I like to do research on the Internet. If you read all the information on a web page, you can learn quite a few things. On Claire's website, I read all about her grandmother. In Hawaiian her grandmother's name means "sea". I also read about her family and her dog, Dino. After checking out her website, she was no longer Claire the actor, but Claire the person. We fans at times, usually more than half the time, forget that actors have regular day to day lives.

^[02] My impression of Claire at the convention was, "WOW!" She was fun and bluntly honest. I got the message that she cares. She takes time out to talk, sign, or just get to know her fans. As a fan, I find this very refreshing. She is a tough cookie who probably had to fight all her life to get as far as she has. She is smart and has a wonderful vision behind the camera as a director. She does naughty quite well also, especially as Alti. Her best friend is one lucky soul to have Claire in her life. Thank you for this honor, Ms. Stansfield.

I hope she'll autograph this scroll for me!

Claire's Head

AMY MURPHY:
^[03] Why did you start acting?

CLAIRE STANSFIELD:
^[04] To make money.

MURPHY:
^[05] If you had to do it all over, would you be an actor?

STANSFIELD:
^[06] No.

MURPHY:
^[07] Give us a brief day in the life of Claire.

STANSFIELD:
^[08] Wake up at 8:30am go to the gym, hike with my dog, bathe, edit on my computer, laugh, love, flirt, and sleep.

^[09] [Note: Claire's dog is named Dino. She adopted him from "Pet Orphans" in LA. In Claire's own words, "Dino and I have been together for 7 years, and besides the gas and occasional ear infection, he is the greatest." ]

MURPHY:
^[10] How do you handle stress?

STANSFIELD:
^[11] Sleep and yoga.

MURPHY:
^[12] Years from now, how would you want to be remembered?

STANSFIELD:
^[13] As an artist who cared about people.

MURPHY:
^[14] What is your pet peeve?

STANSFIELD:
^[15] Talking with your mouth full.

MURPHY:
^[16] Who is Claire?

STANSFIELD:
^[17] An artist who cares about people.

MURPHY:
^[18] How hard is it growing up a tall girl? What advice would you give other girls?

STANSFIELD:
^[19] Stand up straight and wear flip flops.

MURPHY:
^[20] What is the most sensitive part of your body?

STANSFIELD:
^[21] My ego.

MURPHY:
^[22] What do you see yourself doing in the future? Future projects?

STANSFIELD:
^[23] Directing and writing in any area.

MURPHY:
^[24] How do you handle depression?

STANSFIELD:
^[25] Sleep and alcohol.

MURPHY:
^[26] What advice can you give to future actors?

STANSFIELD:
^[27] Love the theater.

MURPHY:
^[28] What are your dreams? Hopes? Wishes?

STANSFIELD:
^[29] To have a child and live long enough to be a grandmother.

MURPHY:
^[30] Who do you trust?

STANSFIELD:
^[31] God.

MURPHY:
^[32] What is the stupidest thing you have ever been asked?

STANSFIELD:
^[33] "Can we just cuddle?"

MURPHY:
^[34] What are you tired of being asked?

STANSFIELD:
^[35] "How tall are you?"

MURPHY:
^[36] What is the greatest wish you would have for a child?

STANSFIELD:
^[37] Health and happiness.

MURPHY:
^[38] What would you say every actor needs?

STANSFIELD:
^[39] Ears and eyes.

MURPHY:
^[40] Tell us about the XXX Review please?

STANSFIELD:
^[41] Fan Fiction, sexy clothes, role-playing, subtext. What can I say?

[Pictures of the XXX Review can be seen here and here.

The Fan Fiction they read, May 5th, 2001, Pasadena. XXX Cabaret Show:

Bedtime For Warriors And Bards by LN James
Down Home by CN Winters

^[42] CN Winters: "I wasn't aware that Alex and Claire would be reading one of my stories. In fact I didn't learn of it until the next day when people came up to me and told me about it. With so much fiction on the net I was delighted to hear they choose my work for the biggest con of all. When I returned home I emailed them and told them how flattered I felt in regard to the reading."

XenaFanAddicts R Us, by Mil Toro
Sinful Adventures, by Mil Toro
Xena's Kisses, by Mil Toro

^[43] Mil Toro: "I was quite honoured and flattered to hear the news on Sat morning that Claire and Alex were going to do my skits. An added thrill came at the cabaret when they used my skit "Xena's Kisses" to end the show with a kiss of their own (as Xena and Gabrielle). Reciting the fanfic was a lovely way to acknowledge the plethora of bards in the Xenaverse who have written literally thousands of stories and skits. I could never thank them enough for giving us that very special evening. Thank you, Claire and Alex!!!"

From the keyboard of Alex Tydings:
^[44] "Who had the idea about the XXX Cabaret show? Claire and I worked on it together, but I have to give Ms. Stansfield credit for coming up with the fan fiction idea. It was brilliant. We knew we were onto something, and we knew people would probably dig it—but we had no idea!)"]

MURPHY:
^[45] Do you believe in prayer?

STANSFIELD:
^[46] I believe in faith, and talking to your guardian angels.

MURPHY:
^[47] What makes your best friend your best friend?

STANSFIELD:
^[48] Years of experience.

MURPHY:
^[49] Did you ever ask the writers to tone down your character(s)?

STANSFIELD:
^[50] Never.

MURPHY:
^[51] Do fans expect too much from actors?

STANSFIELD:
^[52] Not mine.

MURPHY:
^[53] What's the most romantic thing anyone has done for you?

STANSFIELD:
^[54] Plant my garden full of flowers while I was away.

MURPHY:
^[55] What theme would you like to tackle in your next work?

STANSFIELD:
^[56] Suicide and fear.

MURPHY:
^[57] What was the last thing that made you smile recently?

STANSFIELD:
^[58] My friendship with Claudia Christian and Alex Tydings.

MURPHY:
^[59] What made you angry?

STANSFIELD:
^[60] My fear of abandonment.

MURPHY:
^[61] You now have absolute authority over the world. Omnipotent in all areas. What's your first move?

STANSFIELD:
^[62] Spread all the wealth and knowledge completely.

MURPHY:
^[63] Do fans scare you?

STANSFIELD:
^[64] No, but sometimes I scare them.

[See http://www.clairestansfield.net/conventions.html: Now do these fans look scared? I think not!]

MURPHY:
^[65] Do you have stalkers?

STANSFIELD:
^[66] No.

MURPHY:
^[67] How would you categorize your best acting?

STANSFIELD:
^[68] Reacting without fear.

MURPHY:
^[69] Are you afraid of always being remembered as "Alti"?

STANSFIELD:
^[70] Nope. Thank God for cable, and reruns!

MURPHY:
^[71] When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

STANSFIELD:
^[72] A teacher.

MURPHY:
^[73] What are the limits in sacrifices for true love?

STANSFIELD:
^[74] Losing yourself.

MURPHY:
^[75] What Disney character do you most identify with and why?

STANSFIELD:
^[76] Bambi, long gangly legs and very shy. Just like I was as a child.

MURPHY:
^[77] What do you read for inspiration?

STANSFIELD:
^[78] The end credits in great films!

MURPHY:
^[79] What do you like about the Convention experience?

STANSFIELD:
^[80] Meeting the fans and making contact face to face, letting them see that I am nothing like Alti.

[http://www.clairestansfield.net/conventions.html]

MURPHY:
^[81] What do you dislike?

STANSFIELD:
^[82] The rush to sign autographs.

MURPHY:
^[83] What are the three things you enjoy most about acting?

STANSFIELD:
^[84] Locations, money, and meeting new people

MURPHY:
^[85] What were your favorite book, TV show, and movie when you were a teenager and what do you think of them now?

STANSFIELD:
^[86] A tie between Harriet The Spy and Charlotte's Web. Happy Days—Chiachi was a babe. Rocky—I still hear the music when I run. I still love them all!

MURPHY:
^[87] What's your idea of a perfect world?

STANSFIELD:
^[88] A ton of love and great sex with no stress.

MURPHY:
^[89] What literary character did you most identify with as a child?

STANSFIELD:
^[90] Pippi Longstocking.

MURPHY:
^[91] What is the source of your inspiration?

STANSFIELD:
^[92] Music.

MURPHY:
^[93] Where do your ideas come from?

STANSFIELD:
^[94] Listening to music driving in my car.

MURPHY:
^[95] What do you find most satisfying about your job?

STANSFIELD:
^[96] The hours and the constant change.

MURPHY:
^[96] What is the first thing you notice about people when you meet them?

STANSFIELD:
^[97] How they look at me.

A signed torso and headshot
Click the graphic for a larger picture

MURPHY:
^[98] Have you ever done something that accidentally caused something really bad to happen to someone?

STANSFIELD:
^[99] Not that I know of.

MURPHY:
^[100] How is $25 well spent?

STANSFIELD:
^[101] On a manicure and pedicure.

MURPHY:
^[102] Would you rather live in a sociable suburb, or alone in the deep woods?

STANSFIELD:
^[103] Social baby. Big city, noise, lights, and action.

MURPHY:
^[104] How would you describe your parents?

STANSFIELD:
^[105] Father's tall, handsome, a genius, and shy. Mother's fit, strong, caring, and classy.

MURPHY:
^[106] What is the hardest think you ever had to do?

STANSFIELD:
^[107] Say goodbye to my grandmother Kai.

MURPHY:
^[108] What was the easiest?

STANSFIELD:
^[109] Putting on weight.

MURPHY:
^[110] What movie touched you so much that you still remember if vividly?

STANSFIELD:
^[111] Betty Blue, a French film. Funnily, now that I think about it, a film about suicide.

MURPHY:
^[112] If you could only choose a single climate with no variation, would you prefer it to be sweltering hot or freezing cold?

STANSFIELD:
^[113] Freezing cold—yikes!

MURPHY:
^[114] What skill would you like to have that you don't have now?

STANSFIELD:
^[115] To dance beautifully.

MURPHY:
^[116] Who is your real life hero and why?

STANSFIELD:
^[117] My stepmother, because she is always there when I really needed her and she selflessly adopted me as her own.

MURPHY:
^[118] Would you like to write a script?

STANSFIELD:
^[119] I have written three scripts and plan to write more.

MURPHY:
^[120] Do you like directing more then acting?

STANSFIELD:
^[121] Yes!

MURPHY:
^[122] Is it harder for women actors to gain respect?

STANSFIELD:
^[123] Yes!

MURPHY:
^[124] Is it hard to do a love scene?

STANSFIELD:
^[125] Nope! Well, not with Karl Urban. D*mn them for not writing one for Kevin Smith and me, though!!!

MURPHY:
^[126] Do you consider yourself to have a muse?

STANSFIELD:
^[127] No muse really, just great friends.

MURPHY:
^[128] Tell the truth—are you your favorite actor, or in your own top five?

STANSFIELD:
^[129] No way … near … my favorite.

MURPHY:
^[130] Why or why not?

STANSFIELD:
^[131] I am a filmmaker. I was never as passionate about acting as I should have been.

MURPHY:
^[132] Would the world be a better place if women ran it or would it be basically the same?

STANSFIELD:
^[133] I think it would be a better place … sorry guys.

MURPHY:
^[134] What is your favorite spot where you live now?

STANSFIELD:
^[135] In my garden.

MURPHY:
^[136] What books are you reading now? What about them that holds your attention?

STANSFIELD:
^[137] Gertrude Stein - wonderful repetition. And a new Dorothy Parker book of poems - she reminds me to laugh.

MURPHY:
^[138] What would your friends say is your worst trait?

STANSFIELD:
^[139] Hyper-sensitivity.

MURPHY:
^[140] What is the longest any plant in your home has been with you?

STANSFIELD:
^[141] 15 years.

MURPHY:
^[142] Do you have any particular bedtime rituals (glass of warm milk, etc) that you follow every night?

STANSFIELD:
^[143] Sit ups, unless I'm having sex.

MURPHY:
^[144] If you find a spider in the bathtub, do you help it out or do you squish it?

STANSFIELD:
^[145] Help it out and give it a new home.

MURPHY:
^[146] What was the last thing you bought that you really did not need?

STANSFIELD:
^[147] Most of my clothes.

MURPHY:
^[148] Have you ever smoked cigarettes? Explain.

STANSFIELD:
^[149] 10 years too long.

MURPHY:
^[150] Who is you favorite Greek God?

STANSFIELD:
^[152] Alexandra Tydings.

MURPHY:
^[153] Why do fools fall in love?

STANSFIELD:
^[154] Hormones.

MURPHY:
^[155] Do you keep a diary?

STANSFIELD:
^[156] Nope, too risky, I just film it.

MURPHY:
^[157] What did the show Xena mean to you?

STANSFIELD:
^[158] So much. New friends mostly and New Zealand. Danielle Cormack, Lucy Lawless, and Alex Tydings.

MURPHY:
^[159] If you had thirty seconds to live, what would you think, feel, or say?

STANSFIELD:
^[160] I would try and relax and trust that I am in good hands.

MURPHY:
^[161] What stupid thing did you do as a teen?

STANSFIELD:
^[162] Sex, drugs, and rock n roll.

MURPHY:
^[163] What, if anything, can stop you from acting?

STANSFIELD:
^[164] My directing career.

MURPHY:
^[165] In your opinion, do you fit your astrological sign?

STANSFIELD:
^[166] Absolutely to a neurotic tee.

MURPHY:
^[167] What to you is the worst feeling in the world?

STANSFIELD:
^[168] A broken heart.

MURPHY:
^[169] The best feeling in the world?

STANSFIELD:
^[170] Great sex with a new love.

MURPHY:
^[171] Favorite song of the moment?

STANSFIELD:
^[172] Tricky - "Bury the Evidence".

MURPHY:
^[173] What is the first thing you think of in the morning?

STANSFIELD:
^[174] Where am I?

MURPHY:
^[175] Is there one part of the acting process where you usually get stuck?

STANSFIELD:
^[176] Auditioning.

MURPHY:
^[177] What have you tried to change that was successful or not?

STANSFIELD:
^[178] Biting my nails, no success.

MURPHY:
^[179] Does the best acting flow for you, or does it come from retakes?

STANSFIELD:
^[180] First take is usually my best.

MURPHY:
^[181] Which part of acting do you enjoy most and why?

STANSFIELD:
^[182] Getting the job.

MURPHY:
^[183] When someone walks into your bedroom, what are the first two things that they're likely to notice?

STANSFIELD:
^[184] The smell, I love scented candles, and how tidy it is.

MURPHY:
^[185] Do fans matter?

STANSFIELD:
^[186] To me they do. They make the experience more real and fulfilling.

MURPHY:
^[187] Do you think actors take themselves too seriously?

STANSFIELD:
^[188] Oh yeah!

MURPHY:
^[189] What makes a great kisser?

STANSFIELD:
^[190] Eye contact and a sense of rhythm.

MURPHY:
^[191] What have you learned from your animals?

STANSFIELD:
^[192] To be gentle.

MURPHY:
^[193] Does our society glorify violence to the point we have become desensitized to it and the consequences?

STANSFIELD:
^[194] No, I believe in artistic expression in any form.

MURPHY:
^[195] What is your motto?

STANSFIELD:
^[196] Respect your elders.

MURPHY:
^[197] What questions should I have asked?

STANSFIELD:
^[198] You should have asked me . . .

Claire's Résumé

Congratulations to Claire Stansfield for her victories at Argo Awards 2001!
Claire won:

1st place as Best Villainess in WHEN FATES COLLIDE (Alti).
2nd runner up in the same category for SEND IN THE CLONES (Alti).
1st place for Best Guest Appearance in WHEN FATES COLLIDE (Alti)

Claire's mailing list
Claire's message board
Claire's website
Claire's résumé
Claire's directing projects
Favorite Claire picture

Films

Sweepers (1999) Michelle Flynn
Steel (1997)
Darkdrive (1996) Tilda
The Outpost (1995) Joanne
Gladiator Cop (1994) Julie
Sensation (1994) Paula
Drop Zone (1994) Kara
The Favor (1994) Miranda
The Swordsman (1993) Julie
Best of the Best II (1993) Greta
Nervous Ticks (1992) Lu
The Doors (1991) Warhol Eurosnob
The Lovely Leave (1999) Director

TV appearances

Xena: Warrior Princess

Alti
"When Fates Collide" (episode # 6.18)
"Them Bones Them Bones" (episode # 5.5)
"Between the Lines" (episode # 4.15)
"Adventures in the Sin Trade II" (episode # 4.2)
"Adventures in the Sin Trade" (episode # 4.1)

Alti/Alexis Los Alamos
"Send In The Clones" (episode # 6.16)

Two of a Kind

Tarah James
"Model Behavior" (episode # 1.9)

Cybill

Dolores
"Where's Zoey?" (episode # 2.14)

Ned and Stacey

Jordan
"Accountus Interruptus" (episode # 1.13)

Platypus Man

Rabbi Rachel Shulman
"Lower East Side Story" (episode # 1.11)

Frasier

Kristina
"Can't Buy Me Love" (episode # 1.14)

The X-Files

The Jersey Devil
"The Jersey Devil " (episode # 1.4)

Raven

Marta Kelsy
"Checkmate"

Red Shoe Diaries

"Bounty Hunter"

The Flash

cyborg Alpha
"Alpha" (episode # 1.19)

Twin Peaks

Sid, Judge Sternwood's assistant
"The Orchids Curse" (episode # 2.5)
"Laura's Secret Diary" (episode # 2.4)

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Bardic Circle for a few of the questions. Thanks to Kamouraskan for the beta.

Articles

L. J. Maas and Murphy Wilson [Amy Murphy]. One Step Beyond ... Uber, That Is. WHOOSH #49 (October 2000)

The "Inside the Head of…" series in Whoosh issues #58, 61-

Biography

Amy Murphy
Twenty-nine-year-old Amy Murphy resides in Indiana, and is an avid reader of Xena: Warrior Princess Fan Fiction. If it exists in the Xenaverse, chances are she's read it! Murphy has also tried her hand at writing FF, turning out two very nice pieces that reside on a couple of web sites throughout the Xenaverse.

Favorite episode: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Favorite line: "I have many skills" (various episodes)
First episode seen: THE TITANS (07/107)
Least favorite episode: LYRE, LYRE HEARTS ON FIRE (100/510)