Laura Prepon says she is not pessimistic, but realistic. This is
her reality: When she was fifteen, she decided she wanted to act.
So, from their home about 45 minutes outside of New York City,
Prepon’s mother would drive her into the city every day and take
her around to castings. She acted in a few plays, then heard that
Fox was casting for a new sitcom set in a decade in which she
never existed.
The role, of course, was as Donna, the girl next door on That
’70s Show. The fact that she wasn’t even born until 1980 wasn’t
an issue for the show’s creators, and she was cast in the part.
In fact, unlike many shows revolving around teens, most of the
actors in That ’70s Show who play teenagers actually are, so Prepon
fit right in.
After two successful seasons on the show (and they have been confirmed
for two more), Prepon is sifting through feature scripts trying
to find the right role for herself. “The good thing about the
show is that it allows me to choose the right role,” Prepon says.
“I don’t have to jump into the first crappy movie that comes along,
which I wouldn’t do anyway or I’d be living in a cardboard box.”
That doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon. Prepon has just
bought a house in Los Feliz and is about to appear in her first
feature film scheduled for release some time in the early part
of 2000. Titled The Pornographer: A Love Story, the film is the
story of an obsessive relationship between a director and an actress.
Prepon says, “I thought it would be a really good first film for
me to do because there are really good people involved and it’s
a small role.”
Of course, there will be other features with Prepon. For now,
while she waits for another solid feature script, she’s happy
being the co-star of a hit sitcom. When your reality is Laura
Prepon’s, there’s no need to be pessimistic.
“When I’m acting, I’m so satisfied. I love it. It’s a constant
challenge for me.”
