In a collection of rare books of mine, there is a first edition of Shelley’s ‘Essays & Letters’ published in 1840. The famed poet of the early 1800’s, during a six week tour through parts of Europe, Percy Shelley wrote while in Germany, "At one of the inns here we saw the pretty woman we met with in the course of our travels. She is what I would conceive to be a truly German beauty; green eyes, slightly tinged with brown, and expressive of uncommon sweetness and frankness. This added to her countenance, by adorning it with an appearance of extreme delicacy." He may as well have been recalling his encounter with Elisabeth Rohm. This vivacious 27 year old with striking features, stands 5’-8" tall. Born in Dusseldorf, she still holds a duel citizenship with the beloved country of her birth.

Talking with her I discovered a mind and heart full of excitement for life and an understanding of where her perspective on the world in general comes from. She sees things in a totally differentso iht, I think, speckled with perhaps an analytical view but from a philosophical angle and a poetic outlook. Already boasting quite an array of acting experiences including a starring role in the BBC mini-series Eureka Street shot in Ireland, Elisabeth’s first break came when she starred opposite Kyle MacLachlan (best known for his roles in Dune and Twin Peeks) in Dick Wolf’s Fox pilot The Invisible Man. Following this, she landed a supporting role in the recent NBC’s mini-series, The ‘60s. But there is more to this woman than a commanding resume. As we delve into the woman who is Elisabeth Rohm you will find a creative force that will take her far in this world we all struggle to conquer in our own style. As for Liz, she’s well on her way!

INSPIRATIONS & THE COLLEGE LIFE

With her family spread as far away from her as possible, Liz finds she can now visit more often thanks to the rewards of a successful career. When she was younger she didn’t get to visit all that often. "My dad and my mom lived (in Germany) for two years and then had me and about a year later moved back to the states," she begins.

"It totally happened as a surprise to me personally because I definitely wasn’t a performer in my opinion."

"I’ve tried to go back there at least once very two years and at best I’ve gone back twice or three times a year. But that’s been more recently when I’ve had the time and the independence myself. As a kid you don’t really have the money to go to Europe all the time." What is unique about her career is that while she attended Sarah Lawrence College, acting wasn’t on the front burner of her career goals. Nor was it on the back burner, in fact, it wasn’t even on the stove at all. Her true interests resided in History and it was just a fluke that she found herself on stage and acting . . . and loving it. "Well, I actually went to college not to act," Liz confirms, "It totally happened as a surprise to me personally because I was very - I wasn’t shy but I definitely wasn’t a performer in my opinion. So I went to college to write and I was always into history. I’ve always loved mystery. Probably why I love doing Angel because I love the mystery of it. I love Alexis’ (Denisof) character who’s always got his nose in the books. I’ve always loved to research and get to the bottom of it. I love the unknown and knowledge. What’s happened in 1562? I was always that kind of person and I went to school because I thought I was going to be a novelist and then I ended up doing a play just completely, completely by accident."

"I find the human heart interesting. That essence that we are." ~ Liz

She goes on to tell us how that exactly came about. "I wanted to get to know a group of girls in my Freshman year. They were Seniors and they were like all in the theatre world. So they asked me if I wanted to audition and I almost choked on my pizza. I gulped and I said, ‘yeah sure, I’ll audition for it!’ I was a nervous wreck and I got four little parts in this play and then I just continued." The play was David Henry Huang’s Bondage (Madame Butterfly). "At first I was just intrigued by acting. Well, what was it to take on these different characters and make it you? And then I just really grew to love it. I really love acting." Growing up so close to New York City, you would think this new interest in performance would start Liz craving the Broadway stage. "I was actually," Liz confides, "being in college, for the most part, I just did plays. I actually did do a little theatre in New York but at just one theatre. Then I immediately got on a soap." As you’ll discover in the course of this interview, Elisabeth has quite a grasp on life and the ideals that she surrounds herself with. For someone so young you have to believe she’s passed this way before and perhaps just knows something more about the world that we wish we did. "Life is what you make of it but life is also what happens to you when you’re making plans. What’s that great quote?" she asks herself, " ‘If you want to see God laugh, make a plan.’ I don’t know, I guess life came in and put me in front of the camera before I could really make a decision about what I (wanted) but I think I probably would have gravitated to film." Camera work versus theatre work she clarifies.

A lot of actors view the stage as the ideal platform where they can build upon their craft. You’re exposed to many different facets to developing your character over a course of time. Liz muses about this idea, "I guess in a way you do if you’re like David Boreanaz who’s been doing a character for how many years.

"Everybody always tells me, ‘you should have been a Psychiatrist Liz.’"

If you’re not taking advantage of that opportunity of having a character where you can really get deeper and deeper, then you’re not as profound an artist as I would think. I think if you’re doing theatre or doing TV where you’re doing something over and over and over you’ve got to take advantage of that opportunity and get deeper and deeper into the character. Just like you and I are stuck with our bodies and our souls for however many years, it’d be a shame if we didn’t have the courage or the interest to get deeper and deeper into ourselves." Perhaps she should been a Philosophy major! "I think I was," she confesses. "You know, I mean in a way, just by being into history." So if the acting thing didn’t work out? I tease as she laughs in response, "Everybody always tells me, ‘you should have been a Psychiatrist Liz.’ I don’t know, I find that’s basically what acting is ultimately. You try to be an expert on the human heart. I find the human heart interesting. The heart that’s shaped like a heart not the one that’s beating. That essence that we are, I find that interesting." And not surprisingly she also writes! With a poetic nature so close to the surface of this imaginative young woman, a novel is in the works but that’s a separate story and one we’ll touch on later.

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