Transcript from Sela's appearance on The Early Show about "Catch A Falling Star"

JANE CLAYSON, co-host of The Early Show: Emmy Award-winning actress Sela Ward is racking up both political--both ratings and critical acclaim with her hit series "Once and Again." But this Sunday, she's tackling a different role in the television movie called "Catch a Falling Star." In it, she plays Sydney Clarke, a spoiled actress trying to discover who she is right after getting lost in a small town during a film shoot.

(Excerpt from "Catch a Falling Star," courtesy CBS Entertainment)

CLAYSON: Sela Ward, good morning. The poofy lips.

Ms. SELA WARD: Poofy lips. Good morning.

CLAYSON: You've been busy lately. You've got this hit show, "Once and Again." You made your producing debut in this--in this show, "Catch a Falling Star."

Ms. WARD: I have been busy. That's very true.

CLAYSON: Is it all as fulfilling as you hoped it would be at this point?

Ms. WARD: It is fulfilling. It's--A, it's very exciting to have the opportunity to produce because Les Voon--Moonves, who is your esteemed president...

CLAYSON: Yes.

Ms. WARD: ...of the network, I've known for a very long time. And--and I am very fond of him, think the world of him. He gave me the opportunity--my first opportunity to produce. And my first result is "Catch a Falling Star" for CBS, which airs Sunday night. It's a very fun, romantic, adorable piece that makes you smile. Not to be taken seriously. I wanted to do something that was just light and would make you smile.

CLAYSON: Well, it has been written about you and I read that the rave reviews and the high ratings on--on the show " Once and Again" and some of your other projects, everything that you're enjoying right now comes after a 20-year career in which you were usually playing the bridesmaid and never the bride. Did it feel that way to you?

Ms. WARD: Well, if--if you mean I wasn't playing like the leading lady in those major films. I--I think I've been very lucky in my career, yes. No, it didn't happen in a huge way overnight. I started the business really late. I was 27. I was never "young" in the business, really. And I think--I--I have to say, though, I'm--I'm really happy with my career. I was on "Sisters" for six years, which Les Moonves was obviously involved in, and that was a show where I really sort of learned how to act, quite honestly.

CLAYSON: Well, you speak...

Ms. WARD: It was like going to school.

CLAYSON: Yeah, you speak about getting into the business a little later, where you sort of blossomed later. And you speak about age and--and beauty and women in the business. You just made a documentary called "The Changing Face of Beauty." What was that about and how did that address some of the issues that you've discussed?

Ms. WARD: Well, it was interesting. I had gotten off of "Sisters." I'd been on there for six years. And I--you know, we all think of ourselves as 10 years younger than our chronological age in our head. And I thought that when I got off the show, I--I felt like I--I really knew what I was doing in acting, finally, and that I would have the same opportunities and be going out for the same films as I had before when I was in my very early 30s. And the first thing I went on, the--the feedback was, this was a feature film. The director said, 'What I really want is Sela 10 years ago.' At which...

CLAYSON: That was for the Bond girl part, wasn't it?

Ms. WARD: Yes. But that was naive of me anyway...

CLAYSON: Yeah.

Ms. WARD: ...because they only hire women who are 20, barely, historically. So--but--but it served a really great point for me because I--I had to really wake up and look at where I was on the time line in this industry, and decide that I had to take more control of my universe, i.e., learning to produce.

CLAYSON: Right. Is the--is the success sweeter now amidst the--the teen craze in--in Hollywood and the--the younger is better sort of mentality?

Ms. WARD: Well, it is, because ironically, this is probably the highest point of my career. And I'm 43 years old. So it does feel--it feels good. It definitely does.

CLAYSON: What is your advice to women who are a little older, who are--are--are looking at--at all the images and everything that they see out there and thinking, 'Gosh, that was me and that was the best part of my life"?

Ms. WARD: Well, I think--you know, I've--I've never enjoyed life more than I do now. I think the 40s are--are wonderful. My 40s are great. And--and to women, I would say that we should really embrace our age, wherever we are on the timeline because there are many gifts of age. Yes, it's very sad to lose our youthful looks, but as long as we sort of find our passions in life and really enrich ourselves, then we'll--we'll live a really great life and productively and not focused on all the wrong things.

CLAYSON: Now "Catch a Falling Star" is Sunday night, CBS.

Ms. WARD: Sunday night.

CLAYSON: I was sitting around with some girlfriends a couple years ago and we were listing the most beautiful women in Hollywood and my pick was you.

Ms. WARD: Ah.

CLAYSON: It's really a pleasure to meet you.

Ms. WARD: Oh, thank you so much.

CLAYSON: Just as wonderful in person as I hoped you would be.

Ms. WARD: Thank you, Jane.

CLAYSON: Nice to meet you, Sela.

Ms. WARD: You, too.

CLAYSON: Thank you. Good luck with the movie.__CBS News Transcripts SHOW: THE EARLY SHOW (March 3, 2000)