Actress Ali Larter here.

I'm pretty new to Reddit. I kept hearing about it, especially during SOPA/PIPA coverage, and finally checked it out. A friend of mine urged me to do an AMA...which is going to be awesome, terrifying, or a combination of both. Bring it on.

I'll answer questions for the next couple hours, then I need to work and be a mom. However, I'll come back later today/tomorrow morning and answer the top voted questions remaining.

In addition to acting, I love fun...food...festivities...friends. I'm from New Jersey, live in California.

Verification:

My original Reddit photo http://i.imgur.com/UAvTE.jpg

Me on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/therealalil

Me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AliLarterOfficialPage

UPDATE: THANK YOU for all of the great questions. I need to get to work...but I'll be back tomorrow morning to answer any top-voted questions b/t now and then. My morning AMA fuel: http://i.imgur.com/Dg02l.jpg.

FINAL UPDATE: Answered a couple more. Thank you for your good questions (and for the bad ones, too)...I wish I had time to get to them all. I had a great time, Reddit!

Comments: 4279 • Responses: 35  • Date: 

Grlmm1730 karma

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?

AliLarter1769 karma

Duck-sized horses, FOR SURE.

bacongobbler1724 karma

Here is a compilation of the top questions and their answers so far:

Question Answer
What do you think about the way Heroes ended? link Disappointed.
What was it like working with Kevin Smith? link Love Kevin. He is a gentle, sweet soul...underneath a crass exterior. Was fun working with a fellow Jersey guy.
What is your favorite meal to cook? link Meatballs.
Are you working on any cool projects we should know about? link I'm developing a TV show. I love the brainstorming and creative process...exciting to be a producer, help guide the show, and be an actress. I've also been working on a cookbook about entertaining. I started traveling at a young age, and cooking/entertaining was a way to create a familial environment everywhere I went.
What's the TV show going to be about? Can you give us any details? link It's a dark comedy based in the charity world...it's about doing bad in the name of good.
Did you have any trouble with working with so many different versions of yourself in Heroes? link I did not initially know I was going to play someone with multiple personalities (or multiple characters). It was like playing a new character every day, and I got to dive into Jungian theory. Win/win.
As a professional actress what's your view on SOPA/PIPA? link Working in a creative industry, I am obviously concerned about piracy and copyright protection. I just don't think the laws, as written, truly address that...we shouldn't trade piracy for censorship. It's a slippery slope.
Just curious what your favorite movie and TV show is? link Truly obsessed with Breaking Bad. I was blown away they didn't get recognized at SAG awards and Globes. I thought the last season was one of the best things I've ever seen on TV. Took me a while to get into it but ended up loving Boardwalk Empire...I like to watch it late at night in bed, it slows down my heartbeat. Modern Family is always an easy watch. Very excited for Mad Men to come back. Oh - and Downton Abbey...Mary, enough said.
Best on-screen kiss? link Colin Farrell.
One question that was always intriguing me is how you deal with your fame. In particular, the part where star-struck people on the Internet publicly fantasize about you. Are you amused, disgusted, or do you simply ignore that? link I ignore it. I have a fantasy world/life, too.
Are you a gamer? Do you play any games from time to time? link Scrabble. I bought my husband a backgammon set for Christmas and promised we would learn. Don't really play video games.
What's your dream role? (Is there any character or character-type you would like to have the opportunity to play that you haven't? Or any existing character you'd love to be able to inhabit?) link I respond to work that bisects human psyches. I want to work with filmmakers that have a comment on the "hero's journey." I love Jessica Lange in "Frances" and "Blue Sky" but she inhabits those roles so completely I would never dream of tackling them. It's more about inspiration that wanting to take over a role.
If you could have a Heroes superpower in real life, which one would you want? link Invisibility.
Just curious what your favorite acting role has been for you so far, and why? link I have been very lucky to have roles that have created incredible times in my life, from my first movie (Varsity Blues) to working with Reese Witherspoon on Legally Blonde to the Heroes pilot.
What are some of your favorite books? Do you have any recommendations? link I just finished Hunger Games trilogy, Wanderlust; The Psychopath Test is next. Ultimate favorites include Shantaram, She's Come Undone, Madame Bovary. Many years ago I was traveling through London with a boyfriend. He was busy with work so I went off to Bath, England, and I sat in the lavender gardens and read Madame Bovary. And I felt such despair for this woman, and the expectation of how she was supposed to live her life. I spoke to my parents about it and my Dad asked "why would you respond to that whore?" and I just didn't see her like that...I felt sorry for her, and responded to her passion to seize/live life on her terms.
How did you get into acting? link It is a creative way for me to express my feelings and comment on life. I've worked with different coaches...different classes...I feel it's ultimately the study of one's self.
What would you say your worst habit is? link My worst habit is being self-critical.
Use five words to describe yourself. link Adventurous, decisive, curious, loyal, passionate.
I would love to hear about how you balance such a demanding career with being a mommy. Any tips? link From stay at home moms to corporate ladies, I think there's always some sense of guilt in the choices you make for yourself. For me, I have been so lucky being able to be at home with my son for his first year. I'm also a working mom, and to be a great mom I need to honor my creative desires. Also important to take time to be with my husband. I believe how you spend your time together is more important than the amount of time you spend together.
I've always wondered this, and now seems like an appropriate time to ask since you're an actual celebrity (huge fan by the way). Whenever you need something, say like groceries or like batteries or something, I don't know, do you just go out and buy it? I'd imagine at least some people recognize you. Does that bother you or keep you from venturing outside sometimes? link It definitely makes me think twice about about whatever outfit I'm wearing before I run out to get something @ Coffee Bean or run errands. The paparazzi are why you'll usually see me wearing huge dark sunglasses when I'm out doing that.

Some things to remember:

  • If you liked a question, upvote its original author. It's only fair.
  • You can PM me requests of IAMAs that you would like me to do this for.
  • Check out other questions in the thread since I didn't include all of them here.

AliLarter101 karma

Thank you for taking the time to compile this...I added a couple more answers. :)

_Dimension1387 karma

Did you attend this camp as a 10-12 year old? Never in a million years did I think I would get to confirm what I remember. I've held this in for 6 years with no real way to confirm if my memory is true.

If no, you can stop reading here, as I am about to make a fool of myself. If yes, you can stop reading here unless you want to read me making a fool of myself.


I went to a camp a couple of times as a kid. My mother was a very poor single mom and somehow got me enrolled into a welfare program in which I got to go to camp. The camp had an Indian tribe theme and I was in the Cherokee tribe.

So I got to go off on my own for a week. I thought I was the man. I might actually be cool because these were a totally different group of people.

Well on one of the nights there is a dance. I got dressed up as best someone could with no clothes at the age of 11.

No girls wanted to dance with me. I got depressed and I went down to the lake to cry like the little wuss I was at 11. (okay I admit, this was a tactic I used up until I was like 25) One of the counselors saw me and came down to talk to me. She brought me back and I guess she made some girl dance with me.

The girl was smoking hot, as smoking hot as an 11 year old could be. I still remember the hair, red outfit, and falling instantly in love. After all, she didn't protest to dance with an extremely growing awkward prepubescent me. So it was definitely love.

My confidence shot through the roof. I was walkin' high.

I asked her name. She said, "Ali". I said "what?" She said "Ali". And I said "what?" and she then shouted "Alison!" At me.

Then something bad happened. I turned to find her dancing with Jon Davies. Jon Davies was the only kid at camp that went to my school. So he knew how much of an unpopular kid I was, His mother once made me eat a grilled cheese sandwich and I did not like her.

And now he was dancing with my Alison.

I was immediately hurt.

At the end of the night, I wrote up on a pad of paper a letter to my love Alison. I remember writing about how Jon was dumb and he goes to my school and how mean he was.

How could you Alison?

I planned on giving her this letter before we left camp in attempt to sweep her off her feet. I hope she would write me and be my girlfriend in a weird crush only an 11 year old boy could have.

Sometime in the next few days we ended up at the same lunch table. Somehow we got into a fight over who should clean the table because it was both our tribes turn to do so. I remember protesting and my beloved Alison was mad at me.

On the last night, we have a meeting with an adult dressed as a tribal chief. We are supposed to do feats to impress him. I tried to put both my legs behind my head and failed. It was almost as humiliating as walking into the female counselors bathroom accidentally while they were taking showers(something I did that year too, I was a stupid kid). So I again humiliated myself in front of my dear Alison who I could no longer speak to and who I never gave my letter to.

So my question is this, are you the little girl whose name I carved into my bookshelf? The girl who until the age of 20, (what can I say-I was/am a loser) that I thought about as the one who got away?

As a side note, when I first saw Final Destination, there was something else very remotely "different" feeling. I never made the connection. Just like every other male, I thought, "wow she is attractive".

Until one day in like 2006, I looked her up on IMDB, and I saw she was from Cherry Hill, NJ, and her given name was Alison... She is the same age as me, so that fits... holy shit... could it be?

Then a wave of nostalgia flooded back and I remembered my Alison was from Cherry Hill. I remembered the "Ali" "Alison" conversation. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

So I've been going around telling my friends about how, I, a really fat and unappealing man may have once danced with one of the most beautiful women in the world. Am I delusional?

And fuck Jon Davies.

edit: I'm confused. She said she was at camp when she was a little girl. Yes, this would have been around both our ages of 9, 10, 11, 12... I think it was 11, but not positive

So close... haha

This photo will prove it one way or another... do you remember lining up in front of this dining hall?

Oh jeeze people, I'm not a stalker. You have one 25 year old memory and all the sudden peop.... ok yeah, it is a bit weird.

For reals, I just wanted confirmation that my memory was that good. That is all. Nothing more,

final edit: http://i.imgur.com/vvBGP.jpg

It wasn't her.

Thanks to Ali for being a good sport about it. :) Ya'll can downvote me to hell now for making a fool of myself... haha

AliLarter1433 karma

This is an awesome story...but I haven't been to camp since I was a little girl, and I don't think it's me. But sometimes fantasy is better than reality.

So I've been going around telling my friends about how, I, a really fat and unappealing man may have once danced with one of the most beautiful women in the world.

I changed my mind, it was me. ;)

EDIT: Sorry, I don't recognize/remember that structure.

MNOutdoors1355 karma

A couple of years ago, myself and a group of friends were in a cabin and somewhat intoxicated. We were quite bored and decided to attempt to film Varsity Blues from memory. Do you have any desire to see our interpretation of your whip cream bikini scene?

AliLarter1442 karma

Yes.

coz1288 karma

[deleted]

AliLarter1833 karma

I was born at 9:18am, whippersnapper.

TimMitchell1181 karma

What do you think about the way Heroes ended?

AliLarter1942 karma

Disappointed.

astroaero864 karma

Ali, will you go to the Air Force Ball with me? :D

AliLarter943 karma

Where and when?

And: are you really in the Air Force?

EDIT: Proof. Thank you for thinking of me. Someone reached out to you this morning from another acct....

Rountree85698 karma

What was it like working with Kevin Smith?

Edit: You are awesome in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, by the way.

AliLarter869 karma

Love Kevin. He is a gentle, sweet soul...underneath a crass exterior. Was fun working with a fellow Jersey guy.

MustStopMasturbating679 karma

I like personal questions. What is your favorite meal to cook?

AliLarter1023 karma

Meatballs.

theberg13596 karma

best on-screen kiss?

AliLarter978 karma

Colin Farrell.

jarvis_duck545 karma

What has been your favourite piece of work been and why?

As a professional actress what's your view on SOPA/PIPA?

AliLarter1702 karma

Working in a creative industry, I am obviously concerned about piracy and copyright protection. I just don't think the laws, as written, truly address that...we shouldn't trade piracy for censorship. It's a slippery slope.

slitheringmadness534 karma

Hi, welcome to Reddit.

Are you working on any cool projects we should know about?

AliLarter764 karma

I'm developing a TV show. I love the brainstorming and creative process...exciting to be a producer, help guide the show, and be an actress.

I've also been working on a cookbook about entertaining. I started traveling at a young age, and cooking/entertaining was a way to create a familial environment everywhere I went.

rabidferret313 karma

What's the TV show going to be about? Can you give us any details?

AliLarter1083 karma

It's a dark comedy based in the charity world...it's about doing bad in the name of good.

carsontl528 karma

Did you have any trouble with working with so many different versions of yourself in Heroes?

AliLarter968 karma

I did not initially know I was going to play someone with multiple personalities (or multiple characters). It was like playing a new character every day, and I got to dive into Jungian theory. Win/win.

Bruncvik484 karma

Hi Ali,

One question that was always intriguing me is how you deal with your fame. In particular, the part where star-struck people on the Internet publicly fantasize about you. Are you amused, disgusted, or do you simply ignore that?

Thanks.

AliLarter884 karma

I ignore it. I have a fantasy world/life, too.

GWJStryker471 karma

Hi Ali,

Just curious what your favorite movie and TV show is?

From someone in the industry, I'd be interested to know what you like to kick back and watch when not working.

Thanks!

AliLarter1515 karma

Truly obsessed with Breaking Bad. I was blown away they didn't get recognized at SAG awards and Globes. I thought the last season was one of the best things I've ever seen on TV. Took me a while to get into it but ended up loving Boardwalk Empire...I like to watch it late at night in bed, it slows down my heartbeat. Modern Family is always an easy watch. Very excited for Mad Men to come back. Oh - and Downton Abbey...Mary, enough said.

puredemo338 karma

Thanks for coming!

What is the most absurd situation you've been in while shooting a film?

PopcornJockey398 karma

I'll be very surprised if it isn't the whipped cream bikini.

AliLarter782 karma

That's definitely up there. Let's just say shaving cream isn't quite as tasty as whipped cream.

Ikouze275 karma

Are you a gamer? Do you play any games from time to time?

AliLarter550 karma

Scrabble. I bought my husband a backgammon set for Christmas and promised we would learn. Don't really play video games.

ardenriddle250 karma

1) What's your dream role? (Is there any character or character-type you would like to have the opportunity to play that you haven't? Or any existing character you'd love to be able to inhabit?)

2) If you could have a Heroes superpower in real life, which one would you want?

AliLarter376 karma

  1. I respond to work that bisects human psyches. I want to work with filmmakers that have a comment on the "hero's journey." I love Jessica Lange in "Frances" and "Blue Sky" but she inhabits those roles so completely I would never dream of tackling them. It's more about inspiration that wanting to take over a role.

  2. Invisibility.

PopcornJockey225 karma

How did you get into acting?

AliLarter327 karma

It is a creative way for me to express my feelings and comment on life. I've worked with different coaches...different classes...I feel it's ultimately the study of one's self.

dean_c220 karma

Tell us something we probably don't know about Heroes, and what was your favourite moment working on the series?

AliLarter373 karma

I adored working with Bryan Fuller, one of the writers. He's great at developing female characters.

hsim216 karma

  1. What would you say your worst habit is? (e.g. talking during movies, biting your nails, badly timed jokes)

  2. Use five words to describe yourself. (e.g. a leader, loud, timid etc.)

  3. Can you give Canada a little shout out?

Thanks!

AliLarter411 karma

  1. My worst habit is being self-critical.

  2. Adventurous, decisive, curious, loyal, passionate.

  3. What's up, Canada!

throwaway_likeafox215 karma

[deleted]

AliLarter522 karma

I just finished Hunger Games trilogy, Wanderlust; The Psychopath Test is next. Ultimate favorites include Shantaram, She's Come Undone, Madame Bovary.

(Many years ago I was traveling through London with a boyfriend. He was busy with work so I went off to Bath, England, and I sat in the lavender gardens and read Madame Bovary. And I felt such despair for this woman, and the expectation of how she was supposed to live her life. I spoke to my parents about it and my Dad asked "why would you respond to that whore?" and I just didn't see her like that...I felt sorry for her, and responded to her passion to seize/live life on her terms.

Hark_An_Adventure206 karma

Hey Ali!

Who have you worked with who is very different off-camera than you would think?

AliLarter475 karma

Amy Smart! She's a horrible human being. Just kidding...she's my best friend. :)

Ecuno193 karma

Thank you for doing this AMA! Just curious what your favorite acting role has been for you so far, and why?

AliLarter322 karma

I have been very lucky to have roles that have created incredible times in my life, from my first movie (Varsity Blues) to working with Reese Witherspoon on Legally Blonde to the Heroes pilot.

parliamentlites185 karma

Ali, from a fellow New Jerseyan, how do you feel about the stereotypes of New Jersey? Thanks so much for the AMA!

AliLarter327 karma

I laugh at them. I am so proud to come from New Jersey. I grew up going to Stone Harbor and LB Island, the cranberry bogs and the Pine Barrens, plus there's the beautiful Jersey corn and tomatoes...and I love that people speak their mind and have a sense of humor.

Mrithu156 karma

What was your experience working on the 2007 movie Marigold? Whats Salman Khan like in person??

AliLarter255 karma

He is amazing. Just saw him last week and had a Marigold reunion with him and Ian Bohen. One of the best adventures of my life. It was unforgettable living in Bombay and Jodhpur for a month.

I am sorry to inflict my singing and dancing on everyone.

Reesy140 karma

Hi Ali! A good few years back I sent you a fan letter which you signed for me, it was just after you did the first final destination film, would like to thank you now for this as I never had the chance to before! Boring question I guess but what is your favorite movie and genre of music? I'm trying to go volunteer working for a few months to CA come this summer, pros and con's of CA? Thanks :D x

AliLarter232 karma

I have a handful of favorite movies:

  • The Kids Are All Right
  • Blue Valentine
  • Igby Goes Down
  • The Anniversary Party

In LA, the Santa Monica's farmers market, oysters on the deck of Shutters at Sunset, Sunday afternoons @ The Abbey, Mozza Pizzeria.

Ashhh135 karma

Will you admit once and for all that you are also the jazz singer Diana Krall?

How's being married to Elvis Costello? Does it ever get weird having the double life as a Canadian Musician / Jersey Actress?

AliLarter251 karma

We were just cast to play twins in the Heroes movie!

(That's a joke.)

leavingplanet134 karma

Dear Ali, How did you like being able to portray Clear Rivers in the first Final Destination film, from 2000? Could you describe how you felt about her character in your own words?

I only ask because I think you brought such a unique and captivating character alive in that movie, and I can't help but find myself mesmerized by her every time I see it. Your character was just so perfect, and that's more than I can say for any other fictional person I've come across.

I just really wanted to let you know. :)

AliLarter143 karma

I thought it was an edgy, interesting script when I read it. It was fun to get to play against type.

needsmorememe115 karma

If you could play any role in the history of film, who would it be?

AliLarter278 karma

I would rather try something that's never been done.

trevdak2101 karma

Are snail-mail fan letters still common for celebrities? Do you read and respond to them? What's some of the craziest stuff you've been mailed?

AliLarter166 karma

I don't and never will respond to anything that comes to my home.

Someone brought me a Heroes lunchbox when I did Regis & Kathie Lee, that was pretty neat.

chiefcardinal59 karma

How were you approached for the initial Allegra Coleman article, and how long did you manage to keep the charade of Allegra Coleman going for? That's one of the most creative ways to break into hollywood I've ever seen.

AliLarter68 karma

It was a photographer I was working with, and he "cast" me in the part and it ended up being a really interesting comment on the industry's desire to manufacture stars.

Did not encounter any backlash.

PeacockDoom57 karma

Hi Ali! You often played roles in horror films - House on Haunted Hill, Resident Evil, Final Destination, etc. As an actress, how do you get into the mindset of a horror film? What's your process? Thanks!

AliLarter126 karma

I approach it through character, not genre.

mmz956751 karma

what is your favorite movie/tv show that you starred in or worked on? and why is it your favorite? P.S. You are one of my favorite actresses

AliLarter86 karma

Heroes is the only TV show I've been a regular on, so that's my favorite...by default.