Joan Benedict Steiger Talks Her Actress "Days"

Joan Benedict SteigerJoan Benedict Steiger was Elizabeth Taylor's stand in from Butterfield 8, trained with that Stella Adler of the acting academy fame and has had roles dating as far back as Candid Camera and as recently as Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and 2011's Dead Border, covering stage, film and television. Contrary to Amanda Bynes' early retirement at age 24, Steiger doesn't see retirement in her future...at any age.

What special skills are required when acting on a soap opera that an actor normally doesn't use? How else is the soap experience unique?
Working on a soap is one of the most difficult and wonderful experiences. Your mind has to be very quick and sometimes you memorize lines, and the next day they will change; so you have to learn them quickly. Many of our stars all started on soaps, including Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Johnny Depp.

Do you think one has to be born with acting skills or can anyone acquire them over time starting from nothing? What did your acting classes teach you? Did you feel they improved on something already there or reinvented you?
Let's face it - you can either be born a Mozart, or you can just have a passion. If you have the passion, desire, and talent, you can study and become an actor. Studying builds your reservoir so that when you're acting you can dip into that reservoir of knowledge. Also voice is very important; voice and speech are excellent requirements for an actor.

Why do you think people look back on TV and film productions up to about the 1980's as nostalgic? Is it because the younger generation didn't live through the days of the original airings, much like people think past loves were better in hindsight? Were any of the shows you starred on that much different than today's television shows or are they same, just version 2.0?
I think we all look back with some sort of nostalgia towards everything, probably -reliving our younger days. When I started in the late 1950's, the requirements as an actor were more stringent; I feel today's TV since the advent of reality TV shows, has made it easier for people without training to become so-called "stars." With that result, a lot of the basic rules of acting, like speech and creativity are being lost. Film actors today however, are for the most part excellent. A lot of the film actors have had stage experience.

Your husband won an Oscar. It is easy for any woman, and absolutely someone in acting, to become known as "that person's wife" when married to a successful actor. How did you work hard to make sure you were known as your own person in your career and lifestyle choices?
Rod Steiger, besides being a superb talent and actor, was a very giving and loving person. He respected my acting, and after having seen me on the stage, he was thoroughly convinced, and whenever a film script arrived for him to do he would say, "Joanie, did you pick out your part yet?" So you can see, I never felt neglected in any way.

Do you still keep in touch with friends you met on sets decades ago? How are things different now?
Yes, the wonderful thing about entertainment business is that you make some great friends and from time to time you'll meet again on another set.

Which do you like most: stage, film or television?
Stage!

What are you hoping to do next?
A play; I'm hoping to get the rights to Sweet Bird of Youth, by Tennessee Williams. I'm trying to put it together at the present time.