Edgemont
Questions & Answers

You have had quite an amazing career trajectory in these past 4 years. And, as it always goes with those in the spotlight, people want to know all about you, all the time.
One of the most often asked questions is: Can that really be Kristin in that men's magazine?

Yeah -

That was in Germany?

No, it's a UK magazine but the shoot was done here in Vancouver.

And when the photos came out people went, "O.M.G.! That's not something Laurel or Lana would do!!" - forgetting you're not REALLY Laurel or Lana. Did you catch a lot of flack?

Not personally, no. But it was one of those things...I had no idea it would turn out that way.
I'm against men's magazines in general. In American men's magazines they write really poorly about women. I've never thought sexy photos, in context, were bad. Artistic values can be applied there - it's when a publication presents photos in a way that demeans women that they become a problem.
Arena magazine asked me if I'd do a shoot with them so I checked them out. The Arena magazines I saw were well written and weren't just concerned with the female body as an object. They had articles on literature and fashion and they spoke about women with respect - one of them had Britney Spears on the cover and she was like, in jeans and a tank-top, and I thought, "that's the MOST dressed I've ever seen her" - so I agreed to the photo shoot.
A few months later it was time to go to the hotel where the shoot was happening. I got there and all I could see was a bed piled up with all these clothes - or parts of clothes I should say.

You must have panicked.

I thought, "I don't know if I can do this", but I also knew I had agreed to do a 6 page spread and the cover - and they had flown all these people in from Europe too.

Nothing like a room full of people depending on you for their daily bread.

So, I did what I always do, I told myself to just suck it up and get on with it. And I tried too, but when I was putting on the clothes, I just lost it. I broke down into tears - said I just couldn't do it, that it was against everything I ever believed in, and that this was NOT who I am. And they're like, "oh no, no, no, if you're not comfortable you don't have to do it. But you have to give us something", ... and I realized they were right. I had made an agreement and I couldn't just walk out of there.

What then?

We made a compromise and picked out a couple of outfits - I was still a little uncomfortable but as the day went on it got a little easier. And...well, ...you trust people to tell you if things don't look right or are going a little too far...

You're not looking through the lens...

Exactly - you don't know how things are going to look. You think they'll crop the shots or tell you if too much is being revealed. But they don't.

Did you like any of them?

Oh yes. In the end there were only a few pictures in that spread I was uncomfortable with and the rest I thought were beautiful. It did take me a little while to see myself that way but talking to people I trust and looking at them esthetically I ended up thinking they were very artistic. And the article was good for the most part - maybe one or two questionable parts.

How many read the article I wonder?

I don't think many did and to me that's the most important part of the whole thing.

So who ended up with the rights to those photos?

Not me. And the person who did sold them to the very magazines I dislike so much - and, of course, they ran those photos with interviews I never even did with them - they just put a bunch of quotes from other interviews together and made it what they wanted it to be.
And it's sad because people don't realize what's going on.

A celebrity really takes a big chance just saying yes to an interview or a photo shoot don't they? The stuff gets put out there incorrectly and it takes on a life of it's own.

Things you never said, pictures you never approved, popping up again and again - it can make you really mad.

Have you lost some trust and innocence from this kind of stuff?

Well, I guess I've never been a really trustful person - I have, like, 3 or 4 really close friends in my whole life, which proves I don't trust easily. What's changed for me is that I've learned a lot so I'm less insecure professionally. I know now that I can say no if I need to. I need to be able to live with myself at the end of the day - a cliché but true.

There are a lot of negatives in this business, over the past 4 years what have been the positives?

I've done things that I never thought I would do; I've grown as a person and as an actor, which is really great. I'm much more comfortable in front of the camera now. I've met really interesting people and I've been able to travel a lot. And I've been able to treat my friends to some things, which is great.

Have you moved out of your parent's house yet?

It's taken a year because I'm packing and moving stuff when I'm not working but - I just packed all of my CDs so now I HAVE to move because I have no music at my parents place.

Is this like the big escape?

No, not at all. My parents were great; strict when I was growing up - very strict, but they always said when I was 18 I could do what I wanted. And since I turned 18 I have so my life isn't going to change much that way.

Do you read your mail?

I get a lot of mail and it's very important to me - it's nice to know people like your work and that they'll take the time to tell you so. Unfortunately I can't answer them all - I wish I could. But if people write to my management company the mail will get to me and we send out pictures and stuff from there.

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