On Vacation with 'Once and Again's' Evan Rachel Wood

By Vanessa Sibbald --
LOS ANGELES - For the past two months, Evan Rachel Wood, like many other 14-year-olds, has been spending time swimming in her pool and hanging with her friends -- or, "enjoying being a kid," as she puts it. It's a far cry from her day job on the show "Once and Again," in which she plays a teen stressed about her parents' recent divorce, her father's new marriage and her problems with bulimia. Wood's performance as Rick Sammler's (Billy Campbell) daughter, Jessie, on the ABC drama has earned the recognition of the media, even to the point that her name was mentioned as a possible Emmy contender in the supporting actress category. Although she didn't get nominated, Wood tells Zap2it.com that the attention is very flattering. "Just that people are recognizing it is an honor," she says.

Initially, the idea of her character suffering from an eating disorder worried Wood, who thought people might confuse reality with fiction." At first I was like, 'Oh great! Everybody is going to think I'm anorexic.' But after I started to think about it, I was really looking forward to doing it," she says. "And I knew I was going to have some really good stuff with [executive producer] Ed Zwick, who plays the psychiatrist."

In fact, her first concern turned out to be a valid one. She says people often do confuse the fact that it's her character that has an eating disorder." Even on set, I'll be eating lunch and people will come up and go, 'I'm so happy to see you eating!' And I'll be like, 'You guys, it's Evan, not Jessie. I'm not anorexic.'" Despite the drawbacks of her character's storyline, Wood says it also helps her do some good." I have gotten some letters from girls going, 'I am anorexic.' And thanking me for saying [the story] was very real, very dead on. I don't know, they said in a way it made them feel better," she says. "It's so good that you're in some way helping and giving something back to somebody because that's what acting's really all about."

The actress was first introduced to many TV audiences as the Chloe, Samantha's daughter on "Profiler" from 1998 to 1999. In addition she has appeared in the films "Practical Magic," "Digging to China," "Detour" and the upcoming "Simone," with Al Pacino and Catherine Keener playing her parents. Wood, who had most of her scenes with Pacino -- a dream co-star for many actors -- says that working with him was an education." I learned from him just by watching how he stays into the scene even when the director says, 'Cut' he's still there."

The season finale of "Once and Again" ended with the marriage of Jessie's father to Lily (Sela Ward) and the convergence of the two families under one roof, at least while Rick's children stay with their father. Part of what wasn't resolved was Jessie's eating disorder. Heading back into production for the next season starting July 25, Wood says she is unsure what will happen to her character, but that she's "definitely going to get better." "I don't know if she'll get fully better, but she'll definitely start getting better," she promises. "Now that the family's moved in, I know there's going to be some friction with Lily and the kids." In addition, Jessie will be facing a new threat -- boys, who start having an interest in her." Boys start liking her and she doesn't know how to handle it and she kinds of freaks out because she's not ready for it," she explains.

About to head into a few months of emotionally-charged storylines, Wood sounds light and happy."I think it's going to be a really good season," she says looking ahead to the next few months of long workdays. "I have a really good feeling about it." So much for the summer.__zap2it.com (July 26, 2001)