TheCelebrityCafe.com Interview with Alicia Minshew

Alicia Minshew is known and loved among soap opera fans for her role as Kendall Hart in the daytime series All My Children. She’s kept busy with her family and other projects since the show ended its long run last year. Alicia chatted with TheCelebrityCafe.com’s Robert Kirchgassner about her mark on soaps and what she has planned for the future.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: Alicia, first of all, let me start by saying that my sister is a big fan of All My Children.

Alicia Minshew: Thank you. That’s really cool. How did she react to hearing that it was cancelled?

TCC: She was down about it although we both heard a while back that it would be online now. I’ve heard, though, that plans to revive the series are currently suspended.

AM: Yeah, I thought that might happen. I just wasn’t sure how it would work. Right now, we’ve been doing fan events to show the fans we appreciate them, so be on the lookout for future projects.

TCC: Would you be willing to be part of the online series if you were asked?

AM: I don’t know, maybe as a recurring character. But, after being on the series for 10 years playing Kendall (Hart), I’m looking to do other things. I don’t think I’d do it full-time again, though.

TCC: Kendall was previously played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. Was it intimidating to play a role that was already established by another actress?

AM: It was very intimidating (laughing). I heard how great Sarah was so I thought ‘I’d better kick ass in this.’ But she played the role seven years before I did, so I thought there was long enough period of time for me to establish myself in it. But, yeah, I was scared out of my mind for the first few weeks and felt I really had to prove myself.

TCC: Did you ever meet her?

AM: I actually met Sarah a year after I started playing the role. She and Eva LaRue are friends and she came to the set to see her. We just gave each other a big hug and she said I was doing a great job. Sarah had actually sent me a basket of flowers, cakes and cookies with a note saying that Kendall was a great role and for me to have fun playing her. That was really gracious.

READ ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE.

Alicia Interviews about Fitness and Healthy Eating: Sun Sentinel

Why do you keep fit?

No. 1, I was raised with it. My mom is a Pilates instructor today in her 60s in Stuart. Exercise makes me feel good and centered, makes me feel healthy. Exercise is a way to relieve stress and feel good. And being a woman, you want to keep your butt tight, arms lean. You want to look good.

As I got older, [I realized] the health reasons: to maintain a healthy heart. My grandmother in Stuart is 100 years old and she does her recumbent bike every day.

I’ve always been a skinny kid; I remember my mom giving me milkshakes [to gain weight]. I still struggle to keep weight on. I do weight training to give muscle on top of my small frame, so I don’t look too skinny and unhealthy.

What’s your workout routine?

Before I had my daughter, Willow — she’s 2 — I worked out right till the day I gave birth. I did the elliptical [machine] the night before I gave birth.

I do weights and the elliptical. With a trainer, I do different weight routines and lots of sit-ups and push-ups and bands. Strength training keeps the muscles on my body.

Sessions are about an hour. If I’m doing cardio with the elliptical, I’m stretching then doing 45 minutes of cardio, then stretching again after. If I’m doing weights, I’m focusing on my core [abs and back], legs, arms.

There is a gym that’s within our development where I do my elliptical and weights with the trainer. But at home, I have weights and bands and great little dumbbells and a mat — my mother bought these. If I don’t feel like going to the gym, I’ll work out at home.

I used to dance when I was younger and continued with Pilates, which is good for dancing. Did Pilates, running and weight training before the baby.

How much baby weight did you gain?

I was a little underweight to start. I started at 108 and put on 16 pounds. I ate so healthy and good, it all went to the baby. I gave birth three weeks early, which was fine. She weighed five pounds, two ounces. My whole family was always petite babies.

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