Brenda Bakke [Interview]

Hello Folks! We have a very special interview for you fine folks today. We have some words with a truly inspiring actress and novelist that has done some amazing work, of which you are probably already familiar with. Actress Brenda Bakke is a 30 year veteran in the world of acting, and has been in some of the most notable work of the last 30 years. from the smash hit film L.A. Confidential, to the brilliant series American Gothic, her plethora of stage work, to other television series like Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Supernatural, and beyond, Brenda has continued be a beacon of light in the world of acting that we all love and admire here at Trainwreck’d Society.

Now on a personal level, and still a huge project I may add, Brenda Bakke performed in two films that truly shaped my childhood as a kid growing up in the 90’s. The first would be Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, but we don’t really get into that one too much in the interview. I just really, really, loved this “intense” (for the 90’s) action flick so much, I just felt I had to mention it. But, the second, and which we do get into a bit, is the brilliant comedy Hot Shots! Part Deux. I promise that I am so far from lying when I say that I literally wore out the VHS tape that my father purchased from Hollywood video from watching this hilarious film. In the world of spoof movies, this one will always reign supreme to me. And Brenda is absolutely amazing in it. And I am so honored to have somebody here today that was involved with a daily reminder in my life of what it meant to laugh and enjoy life as I did watching this film. So so much thanks goes to Brenda for being with us here digitally today!

Brenda has a wonderful novel out now entitled Driving in LA, which is very autobiographical and also very dark. She tells us a bit about it in these wonderful words below, so let’s just jump right into it, shall we? Folks please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Brenda Bakke!

When did you first decide that you wanted to join the world of acting? When did you decide that this what you wanted to do for a living?

I started imitating comediennes Lily Tomlin and Carol Burnett when I was really little…probably around 3 years old, and realized later in life that it was truly to distract my very unhappy family. I was always a very dramatic child.

I really decided to pursue it as a career in High School…had a great Drama teacher that helped me arrange to audition for The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, to which I was later accepted and attended.

My short novel, Driving in LA is truly written in a character’s voice, but covers my life from pretty much age 16-20 and explains a lot of the somewhat amusing but tragic details regarding this!

I have learned that you hail from my beloved homeland of the Pacific Northwest, a stone’s throw from the wonderful city of Portland, Oregon. When you began acting in the City of Roses as a youth, what was the acting/theatre company like then? Was it a community that you can remember fondly that led you to move on and work as a professional actress?

I wasn’t part of any theatre company other than doing shows in High School. Again Driving in L.A. pretty much makes fun of being an Oregonian…however I now realize how lucky I was to live there! But at that time: Fondness…no…getting the hell out of there, yes!

In 1993, you had a brilliant role in what is still my personal favorite parody comedy film of all time, the brilliant Hot Shots! Part Deux. I am so very curious to know what it was like to work on such a hilarious film? Was it as much fun to work on as it was to watch?

Oh yes, it was just fun to go to work every day! We would come up with silly things to throw in for fun, and most of them ended up in the final cut!

Like in the bedroom scene at the end where I’m firing the gun and swinging the cowboy hat, everyone on the crew was yelling “Throw the hat!” And it landed smack on top of the camera!

It’s also the only film I’ve done where I was truly spoiled! I’m a lucky girl to have experienced that!

I understand you can put novelist down as one of your many talents with the release of your book Driving In LA. that was released last year. Can you tell us a bit about the book and where people can find it? What inspired you to take on this project?

As I mentioned before, it is told in a character’s voice but covers my life up until I turned 20…it covers being raped twice, once by two young men, cocaine addiction, a short bout of prostitution and survival in L.A. I had to change names and a few circumstances for libel, but all the stories are true. I first started writing it to get it out of my system but later realized it could help other people NOT make the bad choices I did. It’s available on my website www.brendabakke.com for autographed copies. Or Amazon, Kindle, etc.

Having had great success in just about every form of performance that you can do, from film to television and beyond, I am curious to know what is your favorite way to perform? If you were only able to work in one single field, what would it be? 

You are too kind!

I would say theatre is my favorite…love raw response and total control of oneself in a performance…also the growth that happens along the journey.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

Well, Billy Boy was recently released and a film called Foster Boy should be released next year, I hope!

But I really hope that people will want to read my book! It does have some great reviews and will give you a little glimpse into my darkness ;).

What was the last thing that made you smile?

A bird on my fountain…