Jezebel Interview - January 2008

The love affair started 25 years ago when, at 10, Alyssa Milano made the move from Staten Island, NY, to Los Angeles for her debut as Samantha Micelli on TV's Who's The Boss?. That's when a generation of guys feel flushy-cheeked in love with her, and all the girls decided they wanted to be like her. As her cult sex appeal matured with roles in provocative films such as Poison Ivy II and Fear, Milano proved that she wasn't a kid anymore. In fact, neither was she just another pretty face. The same girl you've been lusting over since the 80's wants nothing more than to watch a ball game, spend time with her family and help make the world a better place. Now, with a successful line of team-logo fashions for women, her own blog on MLB.com, an active role in UNICEF, two new films and a sex appeal that only grows stronger with age, Milano is one of the hottest, most successful starlets of our time. The most surprising part of it all? She's completely, utterly and impossibly down-to-earth..and astonishingly, available. JEZ got straight to the heart with of the matter with the Italian-bred beauty on her 35th birthday, only to discover that there's a lot more to Milano to make America fall for her all over again. How does JEZ love thee? Let us count the ways.

She's a genuine talent
JEZ: From Melrose Place to Charmed, you've played a variety of roles, from sinners to saints. How do you get in touch with each character?
I don't really have a process. I go into projects as prepared as I can be. I'm kind of old-school in a way that I feel it's important to have your lines memorized, because, if you're thinking about your dialogue while the camera's rolling, you're not actually doing your job. Plus, there's always something you can find that relates to yourself in every project. If you can find that one thing, the rest is cake.

JEZ: You recently signed on for a recurring role on the award-winning TV-show My Name Is Earl. However, production has been postponed indefinitely. What are we going to do about this writer's strike?
It's really ugly; it's not going well. I have three more episodes to shoot, and who knows when that's going to happen? It's ugly and I hope it ends soon.

Her only vices are chocolate and coffee. No, really.
JEZ: Many child stars are corrupted by the time they reach adulthood. Congratulations on taking the road less traveled!
Thanks!

JEZ: Do you have any bad habits?
Chocolate. I really love chocolate; I think I'm addicted to chocolate. And I have one iced latte every morning, which I should really have to stop doing. I'm 35 today, and everything I should not still be doing, I'm doing, like drinking coffee.

She's one of the lucky few who can pull off a pixie cut and look ridiculously cute.
JEZ: You started a wave through Young Hollywood when you chopped your hair four years ago.
I loved, loved my short hair! It was so easy. The messier it was, the better. It really was liberating! Of course, now my hair is almost down to my bum, so I have the anti-pixie cut going on right now. I will probably chop it off again at some point.

The secret to her sexy figure is in her genes.
JEZ: You've always been in great shape. What's your secret?
Genetics! I think a lot of it is, I really do. The older you get, the more comfortable you are with your body. Being fit is important to me, but it's not important for body image; it's more about health. My body doesn't change that much when I work out, it pretty much stays the same.

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