Glee Cast at Golden Globes Awards!

      

Glee Cast at Fox Winter TCA All-Star Party! (Jan 8, 2013)

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2012 Breakout Stars: Melissa Benoist Pulls Back the Glee Curtain!

Before Glee's fourth season started, everyone was focused on what was to become of Rachel (Lea Michele), Finn (Cory Monteith), Kurt (Chris Colfer) and the rest of the McKinley gang. But we (almost) forgot about all of that the first time we laid eyes (and ears) on Melissa Benoist's character Marley. And that is why she is one of our Breakout Stars of 2012.

She proved to be a refreshing and talented addition to Glee, and while we adore the New York storylines, we don't mind staying at McKinley to see what happens with Marley. We hopped on the phone with Benoist to talk about her big Glee debut, Michael Fassbender mania and what those long hours on set are really like.

Did you know how big your character was going to be when you auditioned?

Melissa Benoist: It was pretty much under wraps. I knew vaguely about her. The breakdown for the role said: "a girl guys might have a crush on." [Laughs]. I did know initially that she was poor and the storyline with her mom was a part of the audition.

What resolutions would you make for your favorite TV characters?

How was your first day on set? Did you feel nervous joining a cast who had already been together for so long?

Of course I was. I was really nervous. It was a strange feeling of intimidation, but they are the most welcoming and fun group of people. It's infectious to be around them. On the first day, I think I was there for 12 hours in the choir room, and within the first five hours we were all already joking around and having a ball.

Glee fans are very passionate about the show. Were you worried about any backlash from the Gleeks?

Of course I was. They are...a different breed of fan. Thankfully, it's been a lot of positive support. But there are people who just have very strong opinions about what they like and what they don't like on the show. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes it is a bit jarring reading what fans have to say.

Marley had a very intense storyline with her eating disorder. What was your reaction when you found out you'd be tackling that heavy topic?

I feel very fortunate. I really like that kind of stuff. Part of the reason I do what I do is I like exploring issues like that. When Ryan Murphy first told me, it was my first week of work and he brought Jacob Artist and I into his office and said: "I really want Marley to be relatable and I think she's going to have an eating disorder and go through something like that, so do your research now. I want it to be truthful and honest." And that was something that I was really striving for.

So what's coming up next for Marley?

There are bright things for her future. I think she had to do through what she went through to really appreciate her strengths and recognize her weaknesses. It's a new day for her coming up.

If Glee gets a season five, would you want to be apart of it?

Oh, of course I would. I'm having so much fun working on the show. It's the greatest group of people and I'm learning so much. We're working so hard and so much, every day feels like a class. It's just awesome.

What entertainment stuff were you obsessed with in 2012?

I'm obsessed with Michael Fassbender. He's unbelievable. I think he's a modern day Brando. Every movie that he's done in the past couple years I just died for him. He's extremely fascinating.

Now that 2012 is coming to a close, what do you hope to see for yourself in 2013?

I don't know. I have a very optimistic view of my future right now. I'm very excited to see where it goes, but I try not to make plans just because I know how unpredictable life can be. Especially the life of an actor, and especially the life of an actor on Glee. I just want to be happy and healthy and surrounded by people I love, as cheesy as it sounds.

Glee returns with new episodes on Jan. 24 on Fox.

source: E! Online

All I Want For Christmas Is...

Christmas Favorites: Songs!

Melissa Benoist: "Something Drastic Needed to Happen" to Wake Marley Up!

Attenion all Gleeks! Melissa Benoist, who plays Marley Rose on the Fox musical comedy, has a very important announcement.

"Some people tweeted me that they thought she was dead, but she is not dead," Benoist tells TVGuide.com. "She is alive."

Phew! But just because the glee club newbie survived a fainting spell brought on by her eating disorder during Sectionals, her battle is far from over. Not only will Marley have to start taking better care of herself — physically and emotionally — but she'll also have to work to win New Directions over after jeopardizing their shot at Regionals. Benoist talked to TVGuide.com about Marley's road to recovery, her research for the "daunting" storyline and the possibility of another Glee tour.When did the writers first tell you that Marley was going to have such a dramatic story?
Benoist: The first week of work, [creator Ryan Murphy] brought Jacob [Artist] and I into his office and [was] just talking with us about what his vision was for the characters. He said, 'I'm really thinking about Marley having an eating disorder and dealing with bulimia. It definitely was a daunting thing to hear, but in the best way. As an actor, you can only hope for something with that much depth and something to dig into that much.

What was your first reaction when you read the script and saw that this story line would go that far?
Melissa Benoist: I had an inkling. I knew that something drastic needed to happen to knock some sense into Marley or to make her realize that what she was doing was extremely damaging to her psyche and to her physical well-being.

Where does the next episode pick up and what are the next steps for Marley?
Benoist: She's at this point where she can wipe the slate clean, really. It's at this point now where she needs to rebuild in a certain sense.

Is there a person in particular who will help her through this?
Benoist: Obviously, her mom is going to be a huge part of her recovery and there's therapy. [It's] just her being very open and honest about it from this point. But it's definitely not over.

Kitty was kind of the one who originally put these thoughts about weight into Marley's head. What's next for their relationship?
Benoist: It will be a slow process for them to gain trust, but luckily, there is some forgiveness and a breakthrough in a sense for the two of them. I had a lot of fun working with Becca Tobin in the next episode. Marley and Kitty have some great moments.

So far, it's been hard for viewers to warm up to Kitty. Do you think there's hope that she can be redeemed?
Benoist: I definitely think so. We keep saying that something had to have happened to Kitty for her to make the decisions that she has and say the things that she does. ... I think there is something going on that we might see in the future with Kitty. In this next episode, you'll see a softer side to her and Becca does a wonderful job portraying that.

How will the rest of New Directions handle the incident?
Benoist: It's an interesting dynamic. I think there are some characters who just want her to be better, but she really put the well-being of New Directions in peril. She didn't mean any harm, of course. She just wanted to win so bad and put so much pressure on herself. There are some kids in the glee club who are not too happy with her.

How will she deal with those new dynamics?
Benoist: I think she will learn a lot from her mistakes and it will be easier for her to take it in stride. At the same time, it gives her a lot of determination to prove herself again and really make everyone see just how much she cares about the glee club. Everything she did, she did out of love for all of her new friends and the club. In this next episode, Marley interacts quite a bit with Finn because she really feels the need to show her devotion to glee club and they collaborate together.

How was it working with Cory Monteith in the episode?
Benoist: It was an interesting dynamic. Ryan Murphy tweeted a picture of us together on set that day and he said "old school/new school." It definitely felt that way.

Have you been able to go to him or anyone else in particular from the original cast for advice?
Benoist: Everyone's been really great about sharing their experiences for the past couple of years, and about making Becca, Jacob, Blake [Jenner] and I feel included and feel safe and comfortable in this new atmosphere that's so different and difficult at times. One day, I sat down and had a really long conversation with Kevin McHale about the tour and his experiences on that. It's fun to hear about everything they've gone through.

Murphy has expressed interest in touring. Is the cast definitely going on tour this summer?
Benoist: We don't know for sure as of now, but all of us new kids keep talking about how much fun we think it would be. If there a tour, I would be on it in a heartbeat.

How has it been handling the fame so far?
Benoist: I've only been approached a handful of times, so it hasn't been crazy the way it is for some of the other people on the show. But that's kind of nice. I cherish my anonymity, so that's been good. On Twitter, it's great. I really enjoy interacting with the fans and seeing what they have to say. Last week for the "Thanksgiving" episode, everyone was tweeting me and asking me if I'm alright.

Have you heard from people who have suffered from eating disorders?
Benoist: I definitely have. It's been really reassuring and nice to hear that a lot of girls have been inspired and have been so grateful to see their story brought to life and portrayed on a show that so many people watch. I hope that gives them hope. I hope that girls can learn from what Marley goes through.

What kind of research did you do before shooting?
Benoist: I read some blogs of girls who were very open and vocal about their disorders on Tumblr. It's very odd. For something that is such a private thing that most girls in their daily lives really try to hide like Marley did, on the Internet there are some people who use their blogs as diaries almost. It was weird because I felt like I was invading someone's privacy and reading something I shouldn't see. But it gave me a lot of insight as to what they were really feeling and their motives as to why they were hurting themselves so much.

After this heavy storyline, are there lighter moments ahead for Marley?
Beniost: From here, things are uphill here for her. Her fainting was the kind of the drastic climax that she needed to go through to realize just how much she was hurting herself. Now, I think that she is just going to purely focus on getting better and being her best self and loving herself a lot more than she has been and not focusing so much on everyone else and the needs of everyone else. So there will be some lighter moments. It's not going to be easy, but she's on her way up.

Glee airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Fox.

source: TVGuide.com

Melissa Benoist: Marley and Kitty's Feud Hits an 'Epic Pinnacle' at Sectionals!

New Directions newbie Marley Rose shed her previous "Wall Flower" persona and became "Woman Fierce" during last week's "Dynamic Duets" hour in which she stole a page -- and a guy! -- from frenemy Kitty. But will Marley's newfound self-assuredness last considering Kitty's claws come out every time Jake's involved?

As McKinley heads to Sectionals, will Marley's Kitty-induced skewed self-image bring the Wall Flower back or will her fierce alter-ego show up? Or worse: Might Kitty (Becca Tobin) strike back and cost New Directions its comeback on the biggest stage of the new group's young season? The Hollywood Reporter turned to Melissa Benoist to preview what's ahead for one of the glee club's biggest new voices as she navigates a love quadrangle, anorexia and the pressure of performing for Quinn, Santana and the current National Champions.

The Hollywood Reporter: Last week, Marley shifted from being a "Wall Flower" to what Kitty dubbed "Woman Fierce." How long can we expect that attitude to last?

Melissa Benoist: From this point on, it's going to be an uphill battle for Marley no matter what. We'll see glimpses of that strength that she's found through "Woman Fierce," but she's not finished battling her inner demons.

THR: Will her anorexia intensify?

Benoist: I don't think she's very healthy and it will intensify. It's not something that was just a thing she was trying out. Kitty really got into her head and she's definitely going to keep battling a lot.

THR: Ryder (Blake Jenner) and Jake (Jacob Artist) have both told Marley that she has a skewed vision of herself. What's it going to take for Marley to start listening to these people who are telling her how beautiful she is?

Benoist: At this point, she's so far gone -- she has such a different view of herself than everyone else does. You could say she is a pretty and smart girl but she will never see that. At this point I think it's going to take something very drastic to happen for her to realize -- and it's going to be no one but herself -- that something is terribly wrong and she needs help.

THR: Kitty has really gotten into her head. How is Marley not suspect of Kitty's motives?

Benoist: Perhaps it's because of all the male attention Marley's gotten from Ryder and Jake and the friendship she found in Jake from the start -- they really see eye to eye on a lot of things because they come from the same background. With Kitty, Marley is excited to have a female friend and someone who is popular and someone who does fit in -- or seems like they fit in well and easily. Marley is in such an insecure state that it gives her a sense of belonging -- in the wrong way.

THR: How much does Marley trust Kitty at this point?

Benoist: I don't know if Marley really completely trusts Kitty. I don't know if she'll ever forget everything that happened with Jake, she got really stung. One of the things I really love about Marley is that she's good at seeing the bigger picture when it comes to people. She's very accepting of everyone, even with all their faults just because she has this inherent kindness. She sees some of Kitty's meanness, but when it deals with her body image and insecurities, she only hears what she wants to hear.

THR: Kitty's move to take a dig at Marley after Ryder cancels their date -- with Marley responding by asking Jake out -- winds up biting her in the ass. How can we expect Kitty to respond? Will she step things up with Marley as a result?

Benoist: I loved that! (Laughs) Definitely; it's like a chess game between the two of them. They're constantly making moves around each other and Kitty has to one-up Marley every time. She feels like she needs to be on top of things when it comes to Marley.

THR: Could that ultimately harm New Directions at Sectionals?

Benoist: Oh yeah, for sure. Sectionals is a really dramatic episode. How far Kitty has penetrated Marley's mind really affects everyone. It's such a negative thing and Marley is so affected by it that everyone can see and sense it and it's such an epic pinnacle.

THR: How will Marley handle the pressure of Sectionals with such skewed self-awareness?

Benoist: It's difficult for her because Sectionals is the first time she's performing for such a large goal and it's been a huge dream of hers since she was very little to perform in front of people this way and show what she's passionate about. In that respect, the pressure is mixed with an excitement and anxious will to do the best job she can.

THR: What will Marley's interaction with Quinn, Santana and the rest of the graduates be like?

Benoist: It brings a huge excitement and raises the bar and the pressure that everyone is under but at the same time all the new kids really look up to the graduates and can really be inspired by them.

THR: Marley and Finn (Cory Monteith) seem to be cut from the same cloth, could she wind up having more of a connection with him?

Benoist: They are cut from the same cloth: they're both loyal people and very determined and want to do what's right. They both care about this glee club like crazy and in that respect, they definitely see eye to eye. Marley and Finn do have a connection but I don't know if it's anything more than just their love for the glee club and their passion to do well.

THR: Now that Ryder and Jake have this bromance going, will Marley come between them?

Benoist: I think they overcame the roadblock that Marley was between them because of the issues they were both dealing with and what they shared during "Dynamic Duets," which was really personal for teenage boys to be sharing with each other. Marley, at this point, they both recognize that the other just wants her to be happy and to get everything she deserves because they both genuinely care about her and think she deserves really good things. She's definitely an obstacle for both of them but their friendship seems pretty solid at this point.

THR: Could we see Marley wind up dating both of them or could she eventually pick one -- or neither?

Benoist: Marley has her sights set on one (laughs). It's a tough competition; they're both such great guys for her.

THR: How is Marley's mother going to respond when she learns of her daughter's anorexia?

Benoist: What's great about Mrs. Rose is she's such a supportive and loving mother that obviously it's going to be a touchy subject between the two of them just because she didn't raise her to be weak; they're women who have had to fend for themselves and are a single-parent family with not a lot of means. Aside from being extremely painful to see your daughter go through something like that, there might be a little disappointment because you'd hope that your daughter would have the strength to overcome that, especially after everything Marley has been through in the past with people making fun of her.

source: Hollywood Reporter

Kevin, Melissa, and Blake performing at the American Australian Association's benefit dinner!

 

  

via ontd_glee

'Glee': Meet the 'Superheroes'! - First Look at 4x07 "Dynamic Duets"!

McKinley High's superhero club explodes in popularity during Glee's Nov. 22 episode, leading Finn to conceive of a glee-club lesson called "Dynamic Duets" (also the episode's title). "There's a lot of great superhero-themed numbers," such as David Bowie's "Heroes," teases co-creator Ryan Murphy. But, given the theme, Gleeks should expect New Directions to face off against a villain or two. Explains Murphy of the photo: "They're running down the hallway because they've just found out that their trophies have been stolen by an archenemy." To be continued...- TIM STACK

Glee Cast at FX's 'American Horror Story: Asylum' Premiere Screening (10/13)