Kristin Chenoweth on Her New Beau & Owning her 40s
Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. (Photo: Getty)
Even though Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth is on the cover of this month’s Social Life Magazine, she says her own social life really takes a backseat when she’s performing. The actress who is currently starring on Broadway’s On Twentieth Century, has to preserve her voice, so she goes without speaking for long stretches. She’s even learning to sign (with an app of course). Clearly heading out less and putting the kibosh on talking has paid off, she has an Emmy and a Tony to her name.
During our interview with the delightful and hysterically funny force-of-nature, we discovered that Chenoweth not only has a range of acting and singing experiences, but of beauty too: “I can go with Chanel, or I can go with Neutrogena,” says the Oklahoma native. Here Chenoweth talks boyfriends, beauty, and owning her age.
Yahoo Beauty: You told Social Life Magazine that you have sacrificed your social life for Broadway. What other sacrifices have you made for the stage?
Kristin Chenoweth: It’s true! While I’m doing the show, I don’t do a lot of talking outside of work. I also hosted the Tonys and for a month, I was doing double duty. I’m still kind of recovering from that. I have to get a lot of sleep. I have to take care of this voice. That means a lot of no-speak. It means a lot of not going out to places that are loud. I don’t go out very often.
How do you communicate with friends and family?
I use a board to write on. My boyfriend – I met him three months ago – I thought it was kind of cute to try to meet somebody while I wasn’t talking. He’s been hanging in there with me. We just do a lot of mime.
Are you learning sign language now?
Yes, and actually Marlee Matlin is one of my good friends. She has an app, and I’ve downloaded it, so I’m learning to sign.
Speaking of your boyfriend – does he ever borrow your beauty products?
No, but I did teach him something last night. I use a product that’s for men. It’s Molton Brown – a hydrating serum. I found it in London, and I’ve used it for two years. It might be a good secret for women to know. It’s really good for your skin! I put it on him. He’s like, “It feels kind of good!” It’s good stuff. I highly recommend it.
What makes you feel most confident?
Sometimes we think it’s a pair of shoes. I can be like a lot of women and a lot of shoes help or don’t help. I can all of a sudden lose my confidence if I feel I wore the wrong thing, but when you’re with people who love and support you – that makes you feel the most comfortable. When I’m with the people that really love me – like my best friends or my parents – people that really, really love me, and they say, “Ya done good,” then I’m okay. It’s more of that feeling. And, let’s face it: hair extensions.
What about being from a small Oklahoma town has impacted your beauty routine?
I’m looking around at the [New York City] air. We have such clean air in Oklahoma!
What was your beauty regimen in Oklahoma?
I didn’t do a lot of beauty-stuff. I washed my face. I was breathing the clean air.
What’s your beauty routine now?
As I get a little older, I started going, “Holy crap! I actually have to moisturize.” I just think it’s important to moisturize and drink water. That has been the trick since I was a little kid. And I don’t wear a ton of makeup. When I’m not working, I don’t wear any.
At 46, what’s your take on aging in Hollywood?
I thought Patricia Arquette, at the Oscars this year, really nailed it when she won. She was like, we have to really own it – as women in your 20s and your 30s, and now I’m in my 40s – I own that. Anybody that thinks that’s too old or too young, or whatever, for a role – then it’s not right for me anyway. I think the important part is to have a realistic view of who you are and play the roles that feel right. I’m not going to go out for a 25-year-old [role]. I couldn’t even do it, because I’m not even there anymore. I don’t know if I could play a 35 year old. I could probably play a 40 year old – 40 and up, but I’m not going to try to play young. I’ve already lived that life.
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