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Cuthbert on the brink

 John MacKay

The Canadian Press

 

 At 16, Elisha Cuthbert is on the brink. The brink of stardom. And the brink of maturity.

The Calgary-born, Montreal-based actor is already a star to the younger crowd on such YTV shows as Popular Mechanics for Kids and Who's Afraid of the Dark?

And she's completed several soon-to-be-released films, including Mail to the Chief, a Disney TV comedy shot here with Randy Quaid, and a filmed-in-Montreal thriller

called Airspeed with co-star Joe Mantegna.

With her freshly scrubbed teen beauty and a melt-your-heart smile, Cuthbert will no doubt soon hear the call of Hollywood.

Meanwhile, she is surprisingly sensible about her burgeoning career prospects.

''I'm more focused on finishing high school,'' she insists, while admitting that everything seems to be coming together for her these days.

''Doing great movies with all these great people, and trying to finish school, and turning 16 which is kinda cool.''

The former child fashion model is torn between her duel showbiz pursuits these days. On the Popular Mechanics show (PMK for short) she's travelled all over North

America, as well as Hawaii and the North Pole, to do on-camera documentary items that make her look like a pint-sized genius.

She's filmed reports on everything from skydiving to surfing to riding the biggest rollercoasters.

And there was the visit to the White House and a chance to meet Hillary Clinton and Socks the cat, part of a promotional tour for PMK, an educational hit in syndication

in the U.S., too, especially, it seems, with the First Lady.

''We were so nervous,'' she said about the experience.

''Finally she came in and she treated us like we had known her for forever. And she was so nice to us. And she was really tall.''

No word on whether there were any tips from Chelsea Clinton, however, since Cuthbert is playing a presidential daughter in Mail to the Chief.

''I was a nice first kid. I had a good time.''

On the other hand, in her starring role in Airspeed, she played a computer software millionaire's spoiled bratty daughter who just got kicked out of her latest prep school.

''Yeah, totally what I really am not, you know?''

But on the flight home on her dad's luxurious private plane, the girl learns responsibility when the crew is conked out by lightning and she has to land the craft alone plus

rescue injured passengers. The demanding role called for her to show arrogance, fear, anger and tears.

''We'd have to breathe so much during the scene, like really getting nervous, then after the scene we'd be like blowing up a balloon, really dizzy!''

Even at her tender age, Cuthbert has already figured out some of the basic rules of the business. For example, in the beginning, she and her supportive parents took just

about any role that came along. Now, she says, she is becoming more choosy.

Also there's that border thing. So far her acting jobs have been in Canada, but she realizes the U.S. entertainment machine is all-powerful.

''Unfortunately the market is in the States. You can tell the difference when you go over there, everything's a lot bigger,'' she says.

''I might have to take that leap and go there. But that's just something you have to do to work with all those great people in Hollywood.''

Her favourite actors, the ones she'd like to work with? They tend to skew older: Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman, Helen Hunt and, especially, Jodie Foster.

''She was able to do all these great movies - like Taxi Driver, totally nothing like what she really is - and she turned out to be a director, producer, went to Harvard. It's

incredible, her whole story. I think she's wonderful!''

And she's trying to get accustomed to being recognized in airports and on the street.

''I get confused. Why are they looking at me that way? Then they eventually come up to me. 'Are you the girl from Popular Mechanics? My son loves you!' And I'm

like 'Migod, me? You want my autograph? OK!'''

So, which is it going to be? Acting or TV host?

''Either way, I'm having fun. It doesn't matter which one. If I can keep them both, great!''

  

 

ELISHA CUTHBERT 

Seventeen year old ELISHA was born in Calgary, Alberta, modeled in Vancouver, British Columbia and now has the coolest job on the planet. She's returning for the FOURTH season as co-host of the award-winning weekly television series POPULAR MECHANICS FOR KIDS.

Loving every minute of show biz, ELISHA has appeared in such films as "Who Gets the House", "Dancing on the Moon" and "Nico the Unicorn". This year, she flew to France to guest star in an episode of the TV series 'Largo Winch', starred in Showtime's "Time at the Top" with Timothy Busfield, 'Airspeed' with Joe Montegna and appeared with Randy Quaid in Disney's "Mail to the Chief." As if she's not busy enough with PMK and the movies, ELISHA is also one of the campfire kids on the TV show, "Are you Afraid of the Dark?" (Nickelodeon/Family Channel).

In addition to working in front of the camera, ELISHA also enjoys being on the other side and is discovering the art of photography. She's also perfecting her snowboarding technique and still loves a good game of basketball. She's looking forward to another year with PMK because she says the perks are the best... she loves the adventure and she loves to meet new people!

 

 

ALLIANCE ATLANTIS & TRIPTYCH MEDIA BEGIN PRODUCTION ON LUCKY GIRL,
A CTV SIGNATURE PRESENTATION 

October 26, 2000 - Toronto - ALLIANCE ATLANTIS COMMUNICATIONS INC. and TRIPTYCH MEDIA INC. announced today that production has started on Lucky Girl, a compelling new two-hour drama for CTV's Signature Presentation Series. Elisha Cuthbert (Popular Mechanics for Kids, Are You Afraid of the Dark?) and Sherry Miller (Due South, Traders) star in the movie directed by John Fawcett (The Boys Club, Ginger Snaps).

Elisha Cuthbert plays "Katlin Palmerston," a straight-A, high school student who becomes addicted to gambling. From scratch cards and poker to sports pools, gambling quickly takes over her life. Soon she is obsessed, and as her debts mount, her addiction to winning drags her into a downward spiral.

"Lucky Girl will be a hard hitting and realistic look at the devastating effects that gambling can have on an individual and their family," said Anne Marie La Traverse, Senior Vice-President, Television Production, ALLIANCE ATLANTIS and Executive Producer.

"Gambling is an addiction that doesn't discriminate. With Lucky Girl, we hope to provide a snapshot of real life for a teenager today; one that is filled with familiar temptations and peer pressure, the lure of material possessions and competition amongst classmates. In the mix, is a whole new means by which information and money can be obtained -- the Internet. Lucky Girl exposes us to the addictive dangers of teen-gambling, a serious issue affecting families from coast-to-coast," said Bill Mustos, CTV's Vice President, Dramatic Programming.

Lucky Girl also stars Evan Sabba (Wild Geese, PSI Factor: Chronicles of The Paranormal) as Katlin's boyfriend "Ron Lunderman," and Greg Ellwand (The Five Senses, Justice) as "Blair Noth," the ruthless loan shark who Katlin turns to when her debts escalate.

"Lucky Girl ups the ante on the realities of teen gambling - the growing numbers of compulsive addicts; the influence of the internet on teenagers' access to gambling, and the devastating effects on families," said Louise Garfield, Executive Producer.

Lucky Girl is the fifth film in CTV's Signature Presentation Series, which has enjoyed critical and ratings success with its previous offerings; Milgaard, The Sheldon Kennedy Story, Dr. Lucille, The Lucille Teasdale Story, and Blessed Stranger. Lucky Girl is shot on location in Toronto.


Lucky Girl is a Triptych Media Inc./ALLIANCE ATLANTIS production in association with CTV.

ALLIANCE ATLANTIS has worldwide distribution and merchandising rights.

 


Article From: http://www.etcetera.humberc.on.ca/week14/articles/ent3.html 

Canadian actress is one lucky girl


by Jeff Russell 

Eighteen-year-old Elisha Cuthbert likes to gamble. Well, actually, she pretends to like it. 

Cuthbert plays Katlin Palmerston, a straight-A high school student, in the made-for- TV movie Lucky Girl, airing on CTV this spring. Her addiction to gambling becomes more than just a hobby when it forces her life into a downward spiral. From scratch cards and poker, to sports pools and even the Internet, Cuthbert's character ‹ who makes Pete Rose look like the Pope ‹ becomes obsessed to the point where sheıs out of control.

"I'm sure her problem is not a familiar one," said Cuthbert. 

During a telephone interview from Montreal, Cuthbert said, "I'm sure a lot of people have the same sort of problems that she goes through. You hear a lot about kids and drugs, kids and alcohol, kids and smoking. No one really talks about kids and gambling, and I think itıs an issue, and itıs not talked about a lot. I think it is great that this kind of shows people the issue is out there and we should be looking at it."

Born in Calgary, Cuthbert recalls her teacher banned playing cards and exchanging money in her class. She doesn't remember anyone having a gambling problem, but she says, if the rule was there, it was affecting someone.

"It's a dark film, it touches a lot of different areas on the addiction."

Having starred in such kiddie fare like Popular Mechanics for Kids for the past four seasons, and occasionally as an extra on Are You Afraid of the Dark? since she was 12, the role of Katlin was obviously a new challenge for Cuthbert. 

"I'm at the point of my life where I'm done with school and I really, really pay a lot of attention to what I want to be doing next, and Lucky Girl, I think, is a great start because it was really different. It was really interesting, really complex, but yet, it also opened the doors to a lot of different things," said Cuthburt.

Like many actors who try to break into show business, Cuthbert recently moved to Los Angeles. She has a locked network deal with Fox until June, and might be starring in a yet-to-be-produced show for them.

"I wanted to focus more on acting and this is something at the time that I felt really strongly about," said Cuthbert.

"L.A. is basically a big step towards that, and, I see myself doing great films and being part of great movies with great actors and actresses, that's where I want to be five years from now."

Cuthbert discovered as far back as she can remember, that she wanted to act. 

She was mostly tutored on-set and tried to attend high school as much as possible, but Cuthbert said she missed around 500 classes during her last two years of school. Many actors who start in the business when they are kids feel they missed out on their childhood and growing up as a teenager, but not Cuthbert.

 

   (Article from  http://cgi.canoe.ca/TelevisionShowsL/luckygirl.html )

Friday, March 23, 2001

Charmed life

Rising teen star gambles on her future

By KEVIN WILLIAMSON
Calgary Sun

 Calgary-born actress Elisha Cuthbert knows a thing or two about gambling and good luck.

 Just three months after moving to Los Angeles, she's landed a role as Kiefer Sutherland's daughter in a TV pilot called 24.

 And she's about to be seen in the CTV drama, Lucky Girl, airing April 8 on DE.

 "2001 has been treating me very well so far," she says, adding 24 is "really cool. The character I play, she's a typical teenager -- tough on the outside."

 Cuthbert herself, at 18, is hardly a typical teenager. "When I look at my best friends who are my age, sometimes I feel a bit older," she admits. "But I feel like it's good starting to do what I want to do early."

 Born in Calgary and raised in Vancouver, Cuthbert began her career at the age of seven as a model.

 At 13, she began acting and eventually landed a gig as a globe-trotting correspondent on the award-winning series Popular Mechanics For Kids.

 "Everyone dreams of a job like that."

 Lucky Girl, by comparison, took Cuthbert down a much darker road. "It's a definite change from anything I've done before."

 In the drama -- based on interviews and research studies -- she plays a straight-A high school student who becomes addicted to gambling.

 "I was blown away after finding out what a problem gambling addiction is among teens."

 Blown away too by her success. Fans are already creating various unofficial websites in her name. And she's living in Los Angeles on her own -- her parents reside in Montreal, where she went to high school.

 "It's a little bit scary. I'm on the phone with my mom everyday. I'm missing Canada a lot but it's exciting here."

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