BRIT CHICK LOVING THE L WORD LIFE: RACHEL SHELLEY IS BACK!
Jen Kilchenmann checks up on our favourite L Word Brit…

Now that Season 3 is well underway, full of its drama, sex, tears and laughter, no self-appointed lesbian film editor could call herself dyke without bringing you the latest gossip from the land of the word – The L Word. So here we are again, gorgeous Rachel Shelley and I, on the phone, catching up on the last year…

JK: Hey Rachel, long time no speak! Looks like Helena Peabody’s finally turned nice…
RS: Yeah. It’s great! I’m really pleased. Helena is more fully rounded this season.

JK: Did you bug the writers to get that, or did they realise by themselves that Helena was a mean ol’ character?
RS: Well, there was a long gap between seasons this time, so the writers had time to build her transformation. This happened to other characters too, like Alice who’s totally broken down. And with Helena, well she’s mellowed because of what she went through. She’s definitely less mean. She couldn’t stay like she was in Season 2!

JK: In Season 3, it seems Helena is the only character to be getting decent sex!
RS: (Laughs) Hadn’t thought of it that way!

JK: You were making out with a pregnant woman last season, and Alexandra Hedison (Ellen’s ex). Do the sex scenes get any easier?
RS: Those scenes were fairly easy because Alexandra and I really got on, we laughed. I mean they’re never easy really. But it helped. Though, the biggest sex scene we had was really the most daunting one I’ve ever done. We were on location in LA. It’s a pretty full on scene even though we’re not actually naked. The crew there was full of strangers. It was unnerving. I was glad to be with Alexandra. We looked out for each other.

JK: Do you miss England while you’re out in Vancover?
RS: I do miss England, the people I love, my family. But I don’t like it when it’s this hot!

JK: During Season 3 I noticed the writers pointed out you were from England by having Alexandra’s character bring Helena some “English things”? Did you pick those?
RS: No the writers wrote that in! Some have English girlfriends. It wouldn’t be my choice really. I like Marmite – well actually Vegimite!

JK: You realise now that you’ve said that lesbians from around the world who read this will be sending you kilos of the stuff!
RS: I never receive anything. It never gets to me…

JK: One of the actresses leaves the show in Season 3. How sad was the last day of shooting?
RS: Oh my god! It was so sad! We did our usual table reading in the morning, and when we got to that scene… everyone was balling!

JK: You were at last year’s L Word Convention – how mad was that?
RS: I loved it! It was quite insane! But I was really pleased. Previously, I didn’t feel I was getting any feedback. A lot of the girls on the show would talk about women telling them how the show changed their life, or just discussed it with them. I never really had that until this. Some people came from so far away. There was this woman I spoke to from Malta who told me how the show impacted on her. It was really heart-warming.

JK: So Rachel, you’ve played a lesbian for two years now. Any chance of falling in love with another woman!?
RS: (Pause) Who knows… never say never! I mean it hasn’t happened yet, but there’s still time!

JK: Good answer! So you’re currently shooting Season 4 – what can we expect (without giving too much away)?
RS: I go through a change at the end of Season 3 which gives me much more comedy in Season 4. Cybill Shepherd has joined the cast. I love her, she’s really funny! This show is great as it keeps changing its focus.

JK: Thanks Rachel, enjoy the rest of the shoot!
RS: No problem. Speak to you next year!

The L Word is currently screening on Living TV.
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