Catherine Bell Takes a Leave from the Army for Some Family Fun

• Jan 18, 2008 03:00 AM ET
• by Erica Silberstein

Catherine Bell's trading in her army-wife stripes tonight for some supernatural potions in Hallmark's original movie The Good Witch (9 pm/ET). Best known for her roles as Lt. Col. Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie in JAG (NBC: 1995-6; CBS: 1997-2005), and currently as Denise Sherwood in Lifetime's Army Wives, tonight she plays the enchanting Cassie Nightingale, a newcomer to a small town who can't decide if she's a witch or not. We spoke with Bell about the film and Wives' upcoming season.

TV Guide: This is one of the more lighthearted roles you've done.
Catherine Bell: It's very different. That's exactly why I decided to do it. She's a little portion of my personality, actually, which is funny because I've played all these women who are a lot more stoic, I think, than myself.

TV Guide: Are you a fan of romantic comedies?
Bell: Definitely. I love movies like this, and it's a good family movie, too. I have a 4-year-old, so it's nice to do movies that we can all watch together.

TV Guide: What supernatural powers would you like to have?
Bell: Ooh, to fly. I actually want to get my pilot's license. It's something I've always wanted to do, and I finally just started. But it'd be cool to just be able to fly myself. [Laughs] Wiggle my nose, and up in the air!

TV Guide: Ever considered trying a love spell on someone?
Bell: Fortunately, I haven't had to. I've been with my beautiful husband [actor Adam Beason] for 15 years now. I guess I cast a love spell on him.

TV Guide: Season 2 of Army Wives is starting up this spring. Were you surprised by how popular it's become?
Bell: Yeah, definitely. I knew it was going to be quality just because of the [people] involved, but you just never know. You can have all those elements these days and still not have a hit. From the first episode, it did great and then through word of mouth, it kept doing better. And I love working with all those people, so it's nice to have other people appreciate it as well.

TV Guide: So, when will Wives be back?
Bell: That's a very good question. Probably about three weeks after the writers' strike ends, whenever that is. We were scheduled to start Nov. 26, and then with the strike, we just never started. We didn't have any [final] scripts ready to go.

TV Guide: Where do you envision Denise's character going this season?
Bell: Well, with what she went through in the first season, she's changed so much. So I hope she continues to change and keeps finding out more about herself and what she really wants in life.

TV Guide: How do you think she'll deal with Frank being deployed again?
Bell: That whole subject matter is so hard for me to wrap my head around. I have so much respect for the people that do that. I'll have to see what the writers write, and then see if I can fill those shoes.

TV Guide: Season 1 ended with the cliff-hanger of Marilyn's husband George walking into the bar with a bomb. What happens next?
Bell: All I can say is, it's a really good premiere. I haven't read the script, but I've heard what happens and it's intense. It definitely looked like that bomb went off, didn't it? But who knows how strong that bomb was? Maybe not everyone gets hurt or maybe somebody does. [Laughs] I have a feeling somebody might, but who is the question.

Find more of Catherine Bell in our Online Video Guide.

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