Interview with Jenny Schimizu: Supermodel, New Girl on Dante's Cove on Here! TV

The girls in Dante's Cove didn't necessarily need any more heat in their here! TV soap opera, but they're gonna get it. This season brings gay guest stars galore, including the stunningly beautiful model/motorhead Jenny Shimizu. No stranger to television or drama, she was briefly married to Rebecca Loos for the documentary Power Lesbians on LOGO (which profiled successful lesbians in L.A.) and appeared on Tyra's America's Next Top Model.
A 2005 poll by The Pink Paper voted Shimizu sexiest woman, beating out other icons Angelina and Kylie. And in 2006, British tabloids alleged that Shimizu had an ongoing relationship with her Foxfire co-star Jolie, as well as with Madonna. Ever the classy and quiet ingénue, Schmizu keeps mum about these rumors. What she will talk about is her love of motorcycles, motorheads and enjoying the surf 'n' sand in Hawaii.

Matthew Ray: How are ya?
Jenny Schimitzu: I've been sick with a sinus infection, but I'm doing a bit better today.

I hope you're feeling better when you come to Philly!
Oh, I will. I'm looking forward to coming back to Philadelphia. I came last year for the Film Festival. I had never been there and I had a tremendous time.

And you're bringing a costar with you?
Reichen and I will be there, to promote the new season of Dante's Cove.

You're the new girl in town on Dante's Cove this season?
Yes, I play Elana, an antiques dealer and collector of old art. I come to Dante's Cove on vacation, then somehow I get mixed up in all the magic and mystery.

How many episodes are you in?
All five episodes, some of them I'm much more active then others.

Did you enjoy playing this character?
I really did. She falls in love with Brit, and they have a hot lesbian love affair. [Laughs] Both characters are very strong women, which I liked. Elana and Brit are both independent, but care about one another a lot. They have a great relationship, up until-well, I can't say what happens.

Cove has a pretty grueling shooting schedule, don't they?
Absolutely. It was the first time I had to go to work every single day, and at the most you got two takes. But I loved getting work done and quick. I thrived in that environment.

Doesn't hurt that it's shot in Hawaii either!
Yes! It's incredible. We shot near the north shore, so not a lot of tourists. It's very much Hawaii at its most original. It also gave me a chance to enjoy my time off, I got to look around and see this incredible environment.

So you'd go back for next season?
Of course I would, I'd love too!

What's Tracey Scoggins like to work with?
I remember watching her on TV for years, and being attracted to her. This exotic looking white woman, she was just gorgeous. Now, working with her-she is hysterical! She is self-deprecating, funny and just a professional. She is the first to make fun of herself in any situation, meanwhile she knows her stuff.

Acting is kind of new to you, how is it working thus far?
I think that there is this part of me that needs this type of attention, I need creative attention.

Are you considering becoming a full-time actress?
I don't know if I could do acting 24/7. I need to be grounded. I need to ride my motorcycle, work on classic cars, stay out of the spotlight sometimes.

You're a bit of a motorhead aren't you?
Motorcycles, classic cars, working on engines, all that sort of thing grounds me. I like to use my hands and get dirty and be constructive.

Is that easy, staying grounded and living in L.A., the capital of glamour?
I live in East Hollywood, and I have a group of friends that are all creative. But we also ride motorcycles. You need to find your niche, find a group of people that support you. That's the only way to do Los Angeles. It is what you make it. I don't want to die in Los Angeles. I don't want to spend the rest of my life here. But it's a city of inherent shallowness as well as a place with incredible and unique people.

So what's your next venture? More acting?
I'm going to open up a garage.

You're opening up a garage? Wow, that's not what I expected to hear!
[Laughs] Well, I said I didn't see myself as a fulltime actress. I'm going to open up a complete generic auto mechanic's garage. I will do a lot of the work myself. It is going to be an honest and responsible type of garage that people used to have in the 1950s. A place where everyone can come in and get their car repaired.

Fabulous! I'd have you check my engine!
I'm looking for some investors, spread the word!

WHAT THEY WEAR: OTTER FASHION
Some of the fancy frocks on Dante's Cove are provided by upstart and uplifting Otter Fashion. "They contacted us as soon as they started putting together the third season," explained Joshua Harrell. "I immediately said, 'Sure thing!' I sent them the whole line of our products, but after pulling it all together I felt we need some sexier, magical stuff so I designed the Disco Sex Angel, World Tree and Lotus Tees and rushed those over to the show. Our involvement has not only been a way for more people to see Otter clothing, but it inspired me to add more shirts to our line which has sparked so much more in the works." Harrell also designed the Dante's Cove tee that here! TV is using promote the show. "I love working with here! TV. They have been so amazing." Otter's clothes must be amazing, too. Cove hunk Charlie David has been producing a movie called The Mulligans and rang Otter to say how much he loved wearing Otter apparel and asked if they'd provide wardrobe for the film. Good enough for the stars, good enough for us.