Introduction (01-03)
Josie's Head (04-65)
Acknowledgments
Articles
Biography

Introduction

^[01] I am the youngest of five in my family. Two are older sisters. I hated all my life being compared to them, so I will say this only once: Josie Ryan is Lucy Lawless' younger sister.

^[02] Josie Ryan has a stage show out in New Zealand called, "Sister WonderWoman". It was written by and starring herself, John Parker, and Jennifer Ward-Lealand. It was directed by Michael Hurst. Ms. Ryan states plainly, "it's about growing up and taking responsibility for your own happiness." It was a smash hit in New Zealand, and is scheduled to be performed in the United States during the February 2002 Pasadena Xena convention. The show was a master's degree solo project at the Royal Scottish Academy of Drama and Music in Glasgow, Scotland, where Ryan majored in acting and directing. Her one-woman show is based on her life and what it was like growing up.

^[03] This highly-educated up-and-coming star is a hoot to read, and I am left screaming, "Why was I born in the U.S.?" All the good stuff seems to be in New Zealand these days. Keep a lookout for Josie Ryan. She is very impressive. I cannot thank her enough for giving the interview. It is short, but sweet. She will have more to say as time goes on, but this, hopefully, will hold you for a while.

Josie's Head

AMY MURPHY:
^[04] Why did you start acting and writing?

JOSIE RYAN:
^[05] For fun.

MURPHY:
^[06] Which do you prefer, acting or writing?

RYAN:
^[07] The writing.

MURPHY:
^[08] If you had to do it all over again, would you be an actor?

RYAN:
^[09] Yes, definitely.

Josie Ryan

MURPHY:
^[10] How do you handle stress?

RYAN:
^[11] Dial a friend.

MURPHY:
^[12] What is your pet peeve?

RYAN:
^[13] When someone puts an empty milk bottle back in the fridge.

MURPHY:
^[14] What do you see yourself doing in the future?

RYAN:
^[15] More of everything.

MURPHY:
^[16] What are your dreams? Hopes? Wishes?

RYAN:
^[17] Stay surrounded by people I love, work on new and challenging projects, and help some others on the way.

MURPHY:
^[18] Whom do you trust?

RYAN:
^[19] Friends, family, and myself.

MURPHY:
^[20] Tell us about your stage show.

RYAN:
^[21] It is a one-woman comedy show about self-acceptance, self-definition, and coming to terms with who we are. The show is pithy, poignant, and good for a laugh.

MURPHY:
^[22] Will we ever see you on the big screen?

RYAN:
^[23] Yes.

MURPHY:
^[24] What would you say every actor or writer needs?

RYAN:
^[25] A rich and diverse life apart from their craft and outside of the industry.

MURPHY:
^[26] What makes your best friend your best friend?

RYAN:
^[27] I have several. They are all very honest, intelligent, funny, and very compassionate.

MURPHY:
^[28] What theme would you like to tackle in your next work?

RYAN:
^[29] Good question. I haven't got that far yet.

MURPHY:
^[30] How would you categorize your best acting or writing?

RYAN:
^[31] Honest, moving, and beautiful.

MURPHY:
^[32] What the stupid thing did you do as a teen?

RYAN:
^[33] I probably said and did them all.

MURPHY:
^[34] What, if anything, can stop you acting or writing?

RYAN:
^[35] Fear of the unknown is one of the greatest reasons for procrastinating.

MURPHY:
^[36] What, to you, is the worst feeling in the world?

RYAN:
^[37] Wondering what might have happened if only I'd dared to try.

MURPHY:
^[38] The best feeling in the world?

RYAN:
^[39] When you've been really scared of trying, done it anyway, and succeeded. Or, almost as good, is when you don't succeed but realize that having egg on your face isn't the end of the world -and it makes you better prepared for next time.

MURPHY:
^[40] Which part of acting or writing do you enjoy the most?

RYAN:
^[41] Working with other actors.

MURPHY:
^[42] How often do you think about a piece when you are working on it and when do you think about it?

RYAN:
^[43] Often, randomly, and everywhere.

Poster for "Sister WonderWoman"

MURPHY:
^[44] What book are you reading now? What about it is holding your attention?

RYAN:
^[45] "Teach Yourself Italian". I wanted to learn a new language and the librarian recommended this particular book. It's very good.

MURPHY:
^[46] Do you have any particular bedtime rituals that you follow every night?

RYAN:
^[47] I brush my teeth.

MURPHY:
^[48] If you find a spider in the bathtub, do you help it out or squish it?

RYAN:
^[49] I scoop it onto the shower curtain, then out the window.

MURPHY:
^[50] What was the last thing you bought that you really did not need?

RYAN:
^[51] A ticket to a Robbie Williams concert. I'm glad I did though.

MURPHY:
^[52] Do you keep a diary and if so what do you call it?

RYAN:
^[53] Do people really name diaries?

MURPHY:
^[54] Who is your real life hero and why?

RYAN:
^[55] An old friend (who shall remain nameless) who faces life with such bravado and panache.

MURPHY:
^[56] How would you describe your parents?

RYAN:
^[57] Wonderful.

MURPHY:
^[58] What is the hardest thing you ever had to do?

RYAN:
^[59] Can't remember.

MURPHY:
^[60] What was the easiest?

RYAN:
^[61] No idea.

MURPHY:
^[62] What movie touched you so much that you still remember it vividly?

RYAN:
^[63] RAIN.

MURPHY:
^[64] What is the first thing you notice about someone when you meet him or her?

RYAN:
^[65] Their body language.

MURPHY:
^[66] What is the source of your inspiration?

RYAN:
^[67] People I admire and love.

MURPHY:
^[68] What are the three things you enjoy most about acting or writing?

RYAN:
^[69] Exploring my creativity, the challenge, and the potential to entertain others.

MURPHY:
^[70] What is your idea of a perfect world?

RYAN:
^[71] This one, with a bit more effort in a few directions perhaps.

MURPHY:
^[62] Who do you read for inspiration?

RYAN:
^[63] I think inspiration shows up in anything if you're looking for it.

MURPHY:
^[64] How hard is it for women to be taken seriously in show business?

RYAN:
^[65] So far, I've not felt this to be a problem for me personally. Perhaps this question would elicit a different answer in five years time though.

MURPHY:
^[66] When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

RYAN:
^[67] A pilot. I wasn't sure what they did, but I liked the word.

MURPHY:
^[68] If you could interview your favorite actor, what questions would you ask? Why?

RYAN:
^[69] I'd ask them what they regularly do to prepare for a part. Which writers/directors they most enjoy working with. What their most recent part was, and what they learned from the rehearsal process for that job. And, I'd ask what their favorite three films/plays were. I'd ask them general questions to get an overall picture of the way they work/their influences, because even when it is expressed in the most general of terms every actor's method for working is unique. The more specific the questions the less the answer tends to tell me, I think that's because any other actor's method is specialized to their own personality and experience and will be less comprehensible to me if I look for meaning in the smallest parts of the process. I suppose I ought to have said: it's a bit like looking at an Impressionist painting.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Kamouraskan for the beta. Special thanks to Helen Bartle from the Auckland Theatre Company. Another thanks to Mary D. and Richard K. for the pictures from the NZ Herald.

Articles

L. J. Maas and Murphy Wilson [Amy Murphy]. One Step Beyond ... Uber, That Is. WHOOSH #49 (October 2000)

The "Inside the Head of…" series in Whoosh issues #58, 61-

Biography

Amy Murphy
Thirty-one-year-old Amy Murphy resides in Indiana, and is an avid reader of Xena: Warrior Princess Fan Fiction. If it exists in the Xenaverse, chances are she's read it! Murphy has also tried her hand at writing fan fiction, turning out two very nice pieces that reside on a couple of web sites throughout the Xenaverse.

Favorite episode: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Favorite line: "I have many skills" (various episodes)
First episode seen: THE TITANS (07/107)
Least favorite episode: LYRE, LYRE HEARTS ON FIRE (100/510)