Joy Lauren’s character, Danielle Van De Kamp started out sweet and turned quite sour as hit show Desperate Housewives coasted through its seasons. The troubled teen continues to head down the wrong track, but in real life, Joy Lauren has it together.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Let’s start off with how you got involved with Desperate Housewives. What was the process like for you?
JOY LAUREN:
The process was rather short actually. My best friend took me to the audition and with in a few days after that, the call back. I read the script and the writing was so great I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Then I didn’t hear from them for a few weeks and had basically let go of the idea for two other projects that I was up for. After those fell through, I got the call from the show and never looked back.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Can you tell us about how your character, Danielle, has grown and changed through the show?
JOY LAUREN:
Well, when we started the show she was famous for snarky one liners, but was over all a good kid. Her father dies, her first real boyfriend breaks her heart and she has been on a steady down hill spiral since. The next love of her life holds up her mother then is shot by the SWAT team so she finds solace by sleeping with her history teacher. Her home life isn’t steady so she clings to men who don’t serve her well either. She’s really changed a lot in the past two years, more than I have for sure.
THE STAR SCOOP:
With all the new programs coming out, what has Desperate Housewives done to take it to the next level, so to speak?
JOY LAUREN:
I attribute most of the success of our show to the great writing. Without them, specifically Marc Cherry, the show wouldn’t stay as exciting as it continues to be. I wouldn’t trust such a huge job in anyone else’s hands.
THE STAR SCOOP:
On TV, Bree is a very difficult mother to deal with, at least from a teen perspective. What is your Mom like?
JOY LAUREN:
My mom’s the complete opposite of Bree. She gave up so much for me to come out to LA and follow this dream so fervently. She’s always given me a lot of freedom, which makes me want to show her that I deserve it. She’s one of my best friends, we’ve been through a lot together.
THE STAR SCOOP:
As a cast member of one of TV’s hottest shows, have you seen a change in your everyday life at all?
JOY LAUREN:
We’ve been doing the show for three years now and it’s been a gradual change from where I was when I was 14 until today. However it is rather shocking to look back and contrast my life then to now, and whenever I do I feel so blessed.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you have any other projects in the works or roles where fans can see you coming up?
JOY LAUREN:
The show takes up most of my year actually (we shoot ten months out of the year) but I am
looking at projects to shoot over the summer.
THE STAR SCOOP:
What lessons can younger viewers (and perhaps older) learn from Bree and Danielle’s relationship?
JOY LAUREN:
Hopefully to keep the communication lines more open. Their relationship is an example of what not to do.
THE STAR SCOOP:
To separate you from your character: What kind of person would your mother describe you as?
JOY LAUREN:
What an interesting question. I’ll have to ask her, but I think she would say that I work myself to hard. I’m a perfectionist, so I’m always doing something and can’t slow down.
THE STAR SCOOP:
How would you then, describe yourself?
JOY LAUREN:
I try to be laid-back, despite my perfectionism. My favorite thing to do on a Sunday is hang out with friends and watch football. I’m a little bit of a nerd, I really like reading and school and I try not to get caught up in the typical teenage drama.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Anything else you’d like to discuss or add, hobbies, favorite TV show maybe?
JOY LAUREN:
My favorite new show of the year is Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which I watch every Monday with my friends. Then on Thursday we Tivo NBC’s line up and Grey’s Anatomy and then rush home from whatever we’re doing to watch them with out commercials. When I get hooked on a show I refuse to ever miss an episode.
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