12.10.95 Welcome and good evening from Harpo Studios! We are thrilled to be joined this evening by one of television's daytime elite, Deidre Hall. Welcome Deidre Hall! Question: Deidre: Having dealt successfully with secondary infertility and also having a twin sister (fraternal), I wonder if your twin sister also dealt with infertility and, if not, how did it make you feel? Deidre Hall: My sister Andrea was never able to become pregnant. She then adopted a 5 year old girl about the time we got the news that Robin was pregnant. Question: Does your close relationship with your surrogate interfere with your marriage? Deidre Hall: Gee what an odd question, I can't think how it could, and in actual fact, it doesn't! Question: Deidre: You are the best. What is difficult to play being possessed? Is this a part you would want to do again, or a one time deal? Deidre Hall: Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the story line! It was among the toughest and most fun stories I've ever played. The physical demands were the toughest: contacts, levitation, heavy makeup, etc. The most fun was being able to play a character that was absolutely hateful! I would do it again in a second. Question: What future do you envision for David and Tully? Deidre Hall: What I know they have already is a devoted and loving family. What I hope they come to have is wisdom and empathy and humor. Beyond that, whatever they chose for themselves, I will whole-heartedly support. Question: Are John and Marlena EVER going to be reunited? Deidre Hall: OH MAN! I hope so! Question: I absolutely loved the show "Our House". Do you still keep in touch with Chad Allen, Shannon Dougherty and the youngest kid (I forget)?? Also are you planning on staying on DOOL for many years (I hope you do). The devil in Marlena story was cool. Deidre Hall: I had contact with Chad for several years. Remember he played the part of my son David, so you must know how much I loved him. I would love to stay on Days for another 20 years! Question: Are you going to re-sign with the show when your contract expires in August? Please? Deidre Hall: Gee, is this Ken Corday? My contract ends in August, I hope to be invited to stay. Question: Did you get a judgment of paternity/maternity prior to birth of child? Deidre Hall: There is no judgment at the time of birth. The biological parents release custody for a step parent adoption. David has been adopted by me, and I am still in the process with Tully. Question: Hi Deidre - I can't wait to see your new movie! I just want to say the best thing you ever did was return to Days!! Can you please say hi to my friend Michele in Wisconsin, she is in the studio with us tonight. Deidre Hall: Hi Michelle! I am glad to know you will be watching tonight! I am so curious how people will be watching, and with whom they are watching the movie. Some fans are having dinner parties, some are watching alone, some with girlfriends, family, etc. Please write me a letter tomorrow and let me know of your experience. Send your letter to Deidre Hall, Days Of Our Lives, 3000 West Alameda, Burbank, CA, 91523. Also let me know how you heard about the film. Was it promos, print ads, Oprah, or a friend. Can't wait to hear from you! Question: Who will Lisa Williams be playing in the movie? Deidre Hall: Lisa will be playing the part of the receptionist at the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Beverly Hills. Question: When are John and Marlena going to get together? Deidre Hall: We have a lovely moment together on the Christmas show. Beyond that, I have no idea. Question: I enjoy your work on Days. Did the possession storyline affect you at all, personally or spiritually? Was it a difficult role to play? Deidre Hall: There were moments in the portrayal of the possession that I found difficult. Tom Langan and Jim Reilly were very good about allowing me to alter dialogue, especially in terms of religious cursing. Question: Did you have a surrogate birth with your egg or hers? Are you really typing this or do you have an assistant? Deidre Hall: There are two types of surrogacy. One is Straight Surrogacy in which the surrogate mother uses her own egg. The other is called Gestational Surrogacy in which the surrogate mother carries the embryo belonging to the husband and wife of the expected child. What makes you think I could type this well or this fast?! I can barely think this fast! Elizabeth from the Oprah Show has a hard duty! Question: Deidre, welcome! We love you and your work. Any plans to try for another baby with Robin? Deidre Hall: We have no plans to enlarge our family. Robin is happily married and moving on with her life and I can't imagine sharing this experience with anyone else. Question: How many children have you had by a surrogate mother? Deidre Hall: Two. Question: Do you ever see Chad Allen? Wouldn't he be the perfect Eric? Deidre Hall: Good idea! I'm not sure we could afford him, but he would be wonderful, whatever he does. And by the way, what Elizabeth and I are listening to, that you can't hear, is David racing his cars all over the floor! Question: How does it feel not doing "Our House" anymore? Deidre Hall: It was a wonderful show and I enjoyed the two season that we had. Creatively, I am happy on Days, but as a Mom I am hungry for this type of programming. Question: Deidre, Did you take any of the fertility drugs such as clomid, pergonal, etc.? If so what kind of side effects did you experience and how long did you take them? Deidre Hall: I took clomid for one year during artificial inseminations and then switched to pergonal during the invitro process, then switched to progesterone after surgery. Side effects were weight gain, hot flashes, incredible mood swings, and an overall feeling of sadness. Hope you are having better luck. Question: Hi Deidre! I am a 30 year fan of Days and you're my favorite. Do you plan on having any more children - a little girl possibly? Deidre Hall: I'm attracted to the idea of adopting a little girl from the Orient. But my husband and I both agree that our hearts and our arms are full! Question: Hello, I just wanted to see how you are feeling after your whirlwind promo tour. Oprah was great, btw. Deidre Hall: Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for signing on! I will be looking for your letter Monday morning, Question: Ms. Hall, you didn't say much about your 2nd child. Could you tell us more about him? Deidre Hall: Tully is 10 months old and taking his first steps - three at a time! He is sprouting a crop of surprisingly red hair! He adores his brother David, laughs easily and loves to snuggle above all else! Question: Any more movies, etc. coming up for you? Like say, another OpCenter? Deidre Hall: No plans at the moment, but thanks for asking. Question: How old are the children now? I have watched you on "Days" from the time you started. Deidre Hall: David is three - born Aug. 23, 1992. Tully is 10 months - born Jan. 19, 1995. Those dates will appear on the screen at the end of tonight's movie. Question: Has "Days" ever thought about resurrecting Don Craig? That would be quite a storyline for you! Deidre Hall: I don't disagree, but it has never come up. Question: How long have you been in show business?? Deidre Hall: My first job was 1971. That makes it, let me see....hmmmm..... Question: Here's a Days question: Now that John is going to go to bed with Kristen again, thus destroying him completely, can we get a new man for Marlena? Deidre Hall: Oh my god, is he really sleeping with Kristen? Question: Are your children going to know from the start about their biological mom? Deidre Hall: Yes. In fact, the other night, David wanted to discuss his birth and I asked him what he wanted to know. He wondered what he was wearing. I told him "Nothing, you were naked." He asked who was there and I told him "Your Mommy and your Daddy. We loved you so much, we couldn't wait to meet you." He asked "Was Tully there?" I said, "No, he wasn't born yet. He was in heaven." David said, "Really? He wasn't in Robin's tummy yet?" I think he gets the idea. Question: Are you maintaining a relationship with the surrogate mother? What is her relationship with your child? Deidre Hall: Robin sees the children here at the house occasionally. We want them to grow up knowing that she is always a part of their lives. Question: Why not adoption?? Deidre Hall: Adoption was on my list. So was going door to door and begging strangers. Surrogacy just worked first. Question: How much time off did you take off for raising your children from DAYS? Deidre Hall: Days allowed me 2 weeks maternity leave with both children, but continued to give me a very light schedule for several months after their births. Question: You are the best actress on daytime TV. Do you feel you are overlooked for many of the awards? Deidre Hall: Thank you. Question: Did you think the possession story line on Days was a little far fetched? Deidre Hall: Absolutely. That was the best part of it! I was afraid you were going to ask me if it were based on a true story! Question: Do you bring the boys with you to the Days set? Deidre Hall: Very rarely. I only work a few hours a day and they would be very restless in my dressing room. Question: How did your struggle with infertility affect your career on a daily basis? Deidre Hall: I took two years off from my acting career when I was going through the invitro surgeries and infertility treatments. Luckily, Days was still welcoming when I was able to work again. Question: Is Jennifer really leaving Days? Deidre Hall: She has already left. Question: I am very upset that I can not have children, what advise can you offer me? Deidre Hall: It is worth everything you will ever go through, if you want to stop at nothing. There are many children in this world who need your loving arms. Just find them. Question: Why is the movie on ABC instead of NBC? Deidre Hall: Three years ago, NBC optioned the movie and hired a woman named Nancey Silvers to write it. When I read that script, I considered it unshootable and refused to go forward. NBC's option lapsed two and half years later and ABC took a meeting and asked to do the true story. You will see it tonight. Question: Ms. Hall: You have had a long and successful career...are there any goals you achieved with your new movie? Where do you want to be five years from now? Deidre Hall: It was my first experience as an Executive Producer and I loved it! I would do it again eagerly. In five years I hope to be the mother of an 8 and 5 year old. Question: How does it feel to be a Mother? Deidre Hall: It is wonderful past all my abilities to express it. Question: Do you have any advice for women who are looking for surrogates? Deidre Hall: I am very careful not to give advice, but there is one lesson I have learned from seeing mistakes made, which is you must use a woman who has given birth and is raising her own children. Question: That's an amazing story: twice over. Will you ever consider resuming your stage career? Deidre Hall: Why, yes! I go back to Days Of Our Lives at 6:30AM!! Question: Was it hard for the surrogate to give up the babies? Deidre Hall: Robin says this was never an issue for her. She had created a child intended for us and the joy she received was in watching us complete our family, and being an intimate part of those moments. Deidre Hall: It was grand being able to visit with you all. Thank you for your interesting and informed questions. Enjoy the movie. It is a source of great pride for me. I look forward to your comments as I do my children's in 10 or 15 years. Have a happy holiday. Know that it is a joyous time for me having such a wonderful family and such devoted and loving fans. Deidre. Thank you so much for joining us! "Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story" airs tonight, December 10th, 9-11pmET on ABC. Our thanks again to Deidre Hall for being here with us this evening! Have a great night everyone and enjoy the movie! |