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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Interview With Kristanna Loken

AE: What was it like working with Jennifer Beals?
KL:
We didn't really have that much to do together one-on-one, so you know, she was fine. She was fine.

AE: Did you have a chance to work with Pam Grier?
KL:
Yeah, Pam was great. Pam has a great energy; she's really fun, really out there, doesn't take herself too seriously, very light. She's very likable.

AE: And how do you feel about the character of Jenny [played by Mia Kirshner], the one that everyone loves to hate?
KL:
[Laughs.] Mia. Well, actually, Mia — I've known Mia for a long time on a personal level, so it was nice to see a familiar face on set. And I think what she's done with the character is really kind of interestingly conniving.

AE: If you were a character on The L Word other than Paige, who would you be?
KL:
I really like Leisha [Hailey] and what she's done with her character [Alice Pieszecki]. I think she's really a talented actress, and she just kind of embodies … a woman who's confident of herself and her sexuality and doesn't need to wear it on her arm to prove it.

My sister's a lesbian and extremely feminine, and I really respect her choice of who to love and be confident within that. So I think Leisha's character is really a character that more women should see and know about. And young girls too, to know that it's OK if you want to wear … what you want to and be feminine and be confident of who you are and who you choose to love — that that's all right.

AE: Leisha Hailey and you are some of the actors on The L Word who have chosen to be open about your sexuality. [Daniela Sea, who plays Max, and Jane Lynch, who plays Joyce Wischnia, are also openly queer.] Have you ever worried that might be detrimental to your career?
KL:
I don't really care, you know what I mean? Like … you go to a bakery and they say, "This is the best apple pie you've ever had." Well, not everybody's gonna think that. So people are gonna either choose to like and endorse me for my work, or they're not, and that's up to them.

But I'm confident with who I am and being openly bisexual, and I think … it's up to my generation to be open about that and to let people know that it's OK to be confident with who they are so that prejudice and judgment can become less through the years and for future generations.

AE: Some of the cast members simply refuse to talk about their sexual orientation — a lot of actresses are like that, actually. Do you think that's just a personal choice?
KL:
I think it's fear. I think it's fear of "Oh, I'm not gonna get the job," or "Oh, they're not gonna want to hire me for this," or "Oh, they're not gonna want to do that." Well, I can't live in fear of my life. If you hold yourself back personally, I think you hold yourself back professionally; that's just how I feel. And I think people can see it in the work. If you're not honest with yourself, how can you be honest in your performance? That's kind of how I feel.

AE: Well, if you could date any character on The L Word, who would you date?
KL:
Hmm … I would say Daniela. [She's] definitely got a hot thing going on, and she's just really a sweet, interesting person, too.

AE: Daniela as the character Max?
KL:
Yeah.

AE: All right. Are you dating anyone now?
KL:
I'm in a committed relationship right now.

AE: What is the status of your relationship with Michelle Rodriguez now?
KL:
We're great friends. She'll always remain a great, close friend of mine. I'll always love Michelle.

AE: Is there anybody that you'd particularly like to work with in the future?
KL: I've always loved Kate Winslet. She's one of my all-time favorite actresses. Ever since Heavenly Creatures, I just fell in love with her and think she's so gifted and gives so much and is so free in her choices and with who she is, and I would just love to work with her someday.

AE: Is there anything you'd like to say to your lesbian and bisexual fans? I know you have a lot of them.
KL:
That's good! Hmm, I don't know, let me think about that. … I guess just growing up in the community with my sister, it's always been a really important part of my life, and I can't imagine not being open with my sexuality or with who I am.

For many, many years I struggled with even just choosing a gender. I'd be in a relationship with one, and I'd want to be in a relationship with another one — I mean as far as gender went, and it was really confusing for me until I accepted the fact that I'm simply attracted to a person and loving them on that level, and gender really becomes secondary.

I think the bisexual community is really a difficult niche, because you're not really taken seriously by either the straight community or the gay community, so it's hard to find that acceptance. But I guess I would just say: Be confident with just being able to love who you choose, whether it's a man or a woman, and know that that's OK.

Painkiller Jane debuts on Sci Fi on Friday, April 13, at 10 p.m. EST.

Leenaomi's picture

Kristanna Loken

She's not only HOT, but smart and wise.

I totally agree when she said: " I think the bisexual community is really a difficult niche, because you're not really taken seriously by either the straight community or the gay community, so it's hard to find that acceptance. "

And I can anderstand perfectly her struggle to choose a gender. I'm still struggeling.

Regarding her character Paige. I did notice that she was wearing flats all the time. It made me smile a bit to know that someone was unconfortable with K L height. lol

I have to say, since we didn't have tibette sex-scenes this season, Paige was doing a great job brigging that heat on screen. I had to say, most off her sex scenes made me ... I know, Rose and Leisha also did an excellent job. But they were MAKING sweet pationate LOVE. But paige and shane, danm that was some Hot, (almost hard core) SEX!!!!!. I just loved Paige body language, face making and moaning during those scene. Sorry was caught up in those scenes, i didn't mean to right that long about it. LOL

I agree that Max character is very intresting, and that Daniela Sea is cute. But please, Daniela is killing Max. She just can't embrasse it. Let's be frank : the girl CAN'T act.

I'm looking foward to see K L as Jane. She's a bad ass girl, who needs fighting scenes and walking or runing with arms. I'd love to see her opposite Angelina in a kick ass movie.

Great interview !!! Thanks Melinda

GATA's picture

KRISTINNA!

SHE IS SO AMAZING!! I LOVE HER WORK , I REALLY DO!

IM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE THE LW4TH SEASON,, YES,,IM VERY BEHIND BUT ILL GET ON TRACK WITH THAT,,.

I LOVE THIS INTERVIEW,, BECAUSE I CAN READ HER HONESTY AND SINCERITY WHEN SHE EXPRESSES HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THINGS AND THAT MAKES ME LOVE HER EVEN MORE!KRISTINNA,,, YOU GREAT, AMAZING, AND HOT!!!

ALWAYS WISHING THE GREATEST OF LUCK FOR HER!

raven's picture

Kristanna Loken

Thanks Kristanna for a great interview! I loved her character Paige on TLW. I am sorry to hear that she won't be back for season 5 other than to tie up loose ends. I do look forward to PainKiller Jane. I wish her the best of luck. She IS smokin hot,intelligent and honest to boot. What's not to like??
Jessi's picture

Are you sure Kristanna

Are you sure Kristanna won't be on next season? Guess ill just be drooling over Lisha  then :) 

Shelby's picture

Smokin Loken

I am so inlove with Kristanna, it's not even funny! That girl is smokin!

 ~Shelby Girl~

notl33t's picture

Hooray! More visibility a definite plus.

It's nice to see successful women in showbiz who don't identify as straight or lesbian. Whew. Makes me think that I could be successful as well, someday.

Great interview! I like how it seems fairly uncensored and more off-the-cuff than a lot of other interviews. Keeps it more intersting. Especially the whole Hungary/Romania thing. I saw Bloodrayne and I can't tell whether they shot it in a backlot in California, Canada or some European country. And I'm supposed to be a fan!

Amy M's picture

I love her too

I love her too. She's a much better role model for out bi women than so many of those other actresses who give lip service to being bi but only seem to date straight men (Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Bai Ling, etc)
Slym's picture

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME

Thank you, thank you thank you!!! for an awesome interview.  I fell in LOVE with KL on the L Word and wanted to know more about her and now I DO!!!

Kristanna, if you come back to read these blogs, know that I TRULY ADMIRE AND AM TOTALLY SO INTO Y-O-U (as I'm sure are so may others of your fans).  Were it not for you, Season 4 of TLW would have flopped so much more.  You've got the right attitude, approach and not to mention the brain/smarts to go along with it!!!

Would love to get with U!!! (But I know i'm standing in a line probably long from the Caribbean to Timbuktu).  I think you are the epitamy of SEXY HOT!!!

I hope all of your dreams come true!!

And you guys at AE - as usual - thanks for keeping your fans TOTALLY SATISFIED!!

dypole's picture

I never expected it, but I

I never expected it, but I think Kristanna Loken might just be the most eloquent interviewee ever on this site.
Harpy's picture

...

Great article.  I had not heard about this new series before and, wow, it starts tomorrow!  I need to make sure I TiVo it when I get home.  :)
Melissa Hsu's picture

Thanks

For doing this interview, AE, and for posting it and for some great pictures. What a brilliant woman, actress and everything. To the point that she made me want to ALMOST forgive Uwe Boll and Gwen Turner (because she could have written a certain scene or two). Almost.

It's not about the end, it's about the beginning.

Aidan P's picture

this interview

was awesome. Thanks for talking to Loken. She's so freaking hot and blunt. I really appreciate that she's not afraid to say what she thinks and apologizes for nothing.

jo90's picture

WoW!

How cool is she!

Anyone know when Painkiller Jane is on in the UK? - We're usually at leat 8 months behind.

:-(

jennifer from pittsburgh's picture

Painkiller Jane

SciFi has been talking about Painkiller Jane for years, so I'm pleased that we're finally getting it and that KL's in it.
Jessi's picture

PainKiller Jane

We just heard about the show this week! So we are behind in the show. How many episodes have we missed so far. We know their is going to be one on tomorrow night and do plan on watching it. And I will miss her on the L word this comming season. I love her and Alisha on the show. At lease alisha will still be on :)

ssch's picture

Congratulations!!

Thank you for being such a great example of an inteligent, strong and beautiful women.The world would be a much better place if there were more actresses like you! Thank you!!

Nathiest's picture

flop

I love her but this new show of her's has no chance, maybe 5 years ago, but no, not today. We got HERO's and thats good enough.

Cool that she'll be on next season of the L word.

-Nathiest

Kate's picture

great interview!!! I loved

great interview!!!

 

I loved how honest and forthcoming she was.

 

Too bad she's not involved with Michelle anymore :( Anyone knows if she's seeing a guy or a woman? (not that it matters anyway, as long as she's happy, I'm just curious)

wryterzblock's picture

Move over Saffron Burrows...

Kristanna Loken is officially my new bisexual female celebrity hero. 

 

 

 

 

We're here, we're half queer, get used to it!

AfterDiane's picture

Knew her sister's ex.

Well, I knew her through several years of IM's.  Back in the late 90's I had a net friend that I talked to every day. I remember sometime near 2000 or so, she told me to start watching this show on tv that had Kristanna on it, sorry, can't remember the name now. She told me she used to date her sister.  I haven't talked to this person in years now and if she reads this I hope it's OK. I haven't given out any names so I hope she doesn't mind that I mentioned this because Kristanna does say in this interview that her sister is gay.  And, Hey, if you do read this _____, I miss talking to ya! We've both obviously changed e-mail names since then and lost touch.  It's great to see that Kristanna did make it in the Biz! She was still a kid when my net friend was discussing her desire to go into acting. Now she's "all growed way up!" and is Executive Producing too! Very proud.

Mara's picture

Thank you for the Kristanna interview

It was an interesting read :)

Funny to see that Kate Moennig didn't like Kristanna "towering" over her. Silly Kate: tall woman = more hotness. Heh.

(I'm a shorty myself.) 

_ _ _ _ _

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

Rachel JW's picture

It's true

Bisexuals aren't taken seriously and are often left along by the lesbian community though guys flock to them. Awesome interview! -Rachel
Jenny Hong's picture

Visibility is key. Bravo!

Visibility is key. Bravo!

xevus's picture

Comming to Budapest???!!!

when, when, when?? Please, if someone knows, post a note! So I know when will I have to be lurking around the castle district? the city center? the labyrinth? where do they keep those neuros???

I love when they film foreign productions in Budapest, it is sooo funy to see the shopping street as a mysterious, dark place where werewolfs hunt the innocent, or the avenue where I have my hair dresser as Buenos Aires or München :))

Anyway, great interview!

tiff's picture

it's nice to see a different

it's nice to see a different side. all people ever hear about kristanna loken is how difficult she thought the cast was. glad to see something new.
Cait's picture

set straight... ish.

i'd heard that although stunning, our dear kristanna was dumb as a post.

very glad to see that's not accurate. and SO glad to see a strong female lead! especially in sci-fi.

 i always meant to see the movie as well.  emmanuelle vaugnier is quite lovely.

ozlemtekin's picture

so cute and attractive !!!

i think a woman is the best work of art in the world...Kristanna Loken is one of them...she's so successful actress...i love her...my old girlfriend looks like her..and i look like Shane..shane & paige = us ...we 're separated now...i would like to see Kristanna Loken at The L Word Season 5...
durty dr. des's picture

bravo!

Kristinna Loken, you're amazing! so beautiful, and not just physically.

 

"If you're not honest with yourself, how can you be honest in your performance?"

 

It's great to have actresses like you we can all look up to, admire and support!

I do hope you stay on for the 5th season of the L Word.

More Power to yah!

 

and Ms. Lo, great great questions. great interview. I love it. keep it up. =D

 



LET'S GET IT ON!!!

~H~'s picture

Excellent!

That was a great interview!
Thanks!

There's a certain sexiness about a woman who is so open, honest and confident.
:-)

I thought it was interesting when Kristanna said...
"For many, many years I struggled with even just choosing a gender. I'd be in a relationship with one, and I'd want to be in a relationship with another one — I mean as far as gender went, and it was really confusing for me until I accepted the fact that I'm simply attracted to a person and loving them on that level, and gender really becomes secondary."

I dream of a day when people will consider gender secondary to the relationship that two people share and can see the beauty in each loving relationship (whether it's between a man and a woman, two men or two women).

Each year, on our college campus, our Allies organization (which is an on-campus organization for straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students to come together in a accepting and open environment) has a Halloween Dance and it is SO enjoyable to see the young straight and gay couples dancing freely (and happily :-) ) together.

That's when I have a chance to catch a glimpse of that dream.

Well...that was a bit of a tangent, but I started reflecting when I read Kristanna's comment.

HannaKristine's picture

Wise Woman

Very interesting interview! I think we got to know another side of Kristanna once again!

Well, I totally agree with the bisexual subject and with not fitting in anywhere.
I've been bisexual for many years, even though I'm not that old. And I still have alittle doubt inside myself, saying "oh, what if I find a guy that is everything I'm looking for?" or if I see/get to know a man that I become attracted to.

Sometimes it seems like it's harder to go back from being lesbian to bisexual or straight. Like, maybe some others say "she's confusing me, what does she want?!"
That isn't really up to that person to decide. What happens, happens.
Maybe you'll lose friends, gay friends when you go from gay to straight/bisexual. Or in the straight women's case, lose straight friends because you turn to gay/bisexual.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, we can't controle all aspects of our life. Some things just happens!
I still wonder if I might be bisexual, even though I've labeled myself as a lesbian. And I also am alittle scared of what people might think about that.
...haha, I'm weird. I'm afraid of what people think if I might be straight! hehe

one thing is for sure; I'll always love, adore, be attracted by and fall in love with women! We are absolutely Amazing!
so atleast I'm bisexual. I know that for sure.
all that's left now is if I'm bisexual or lesbian...

 With Love, Hannah <3

~H~'s picture

Can Identify

I can identify with what you are saying...
I used to say that I was bisexual, but I finally realized that it was women who made me weak at the knees and made my body feel electrically-charged. I can enjoy the company of men, but it's women I respond to in a sexual manner. ;-)

Oh..and if you lose friends due to your sexual orientation, then...they're not true friends at all.

jEfFeRsOn_AiRpLaNe's picture

What A Lady!

I freakin' love Kristanna Loken . She is so beautiful. It's hard to believe she likes women.

lezxotic's picture

Not so hard to believe

The fact that Loken is so beautiful makes it easier for me to believe that she likes woman, not harder. She knows what works and what doesn't, and most men are sexually and emotionally selfish and inadequate.
lezxotic's picture

The Dirt

In Hollywood it is safer to identify as bisexual. It doesn't mean Kristanna is bisexual (I've never seen her with a guy in "that" way (with the exception of the naked kiddie pool picture).

So maybe she is just playing it safe for her career by identifying as bisexual. All the actresses are doing it. Only the really brave and strong ones are totally out.

So this leaves me to comment on the fact that lesbians will support a straight actress playing a lesbian (like on the L Word) but not a lesbian playing a straight character (Painkiller Jane).

Sure I'd prefer to have seen Loken play PKJ as the bisexual character that was originally created, but the show is getting better and I have decided to continue my support regardless.

I understand that Loken doesn't want to be typecast or become a character actress.

jack kelson's picture

womyn

if you were serious about supporting women's/lgbt rights/emancipation, you would acknowledge and respect the fact that bisexuality is real and that there are people who are actually bisexual. of course, this would require that you relinquish your need to believe Ms. Loken is a lesbian and not really bisexual. more importantly, if Loken were gay, i dont think she would hesitate to publicly say so.
whataslacker's picture

Painkiller Jane rocks

Here's hoping they get another season [or two]. Especially since SCIFI will no longer have BSG after this season.

 Check out the new comic book too. Any book that ends issue 1 with girl on girl action has my attention.

Jessi's picture

PKJ

Think I read that Sci-fi pulled the plug on PKJ. I hope that I am wrong....

Lyttleman's picture

I Heart Kristanna her

I Heart Kristanna her character in TLW was smoken HOT...yea I drooled over her many a times so I am also sad she wont be around in Season 5. Im actually quite disappointed. Dammit y dosent shane ever stay in a relationship. Shanes lucky she soo EFFIN cool or id be very unhappy with her. 

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach