Tinsley Mortimer Talks RHONY Season 11 and Her Favorite New York City Date Spot
Ahead of tonight's Real Housewives of New York premiere, Tinsley Mortimer sat down with T&C at the Plaza Hotel Bar, to have the best kind of afternoon coffee (a glass of wine!) and to fill us in on what to expect from season 11.
How did you feel coming back to film this season?
This season is my best so far. When I first came on the show, I was a bit broken and had a lot to take in and deal with-it felt very therapeutic. This season, I feel like have a stronger voice. I’ve developed closer relationships with the other girls-you know I knew Sonja, but I’m now closer to the other girls, and I stand up for myself a little bit more this season. They usually treat me like the kid sister, but I’m trying to change that.
How are you getting along with this season's new cast member Barbara Kavovit?
Barbara is great. She’s definitely a different sort of style girl than I am-not just from what she likes to wear. She’s in construction and a tough girl, but she's sweet and nice. She’s been with LuAnn through a lot of the things and is a supportive friend. I’m just getting to know her, but from what I’ve seen, I like.
Are you still living the hotel life?
I can’t leave! When I moved into the hotel I did it as a quick fix to get out of Sonja’s townhouse, but honestly it’s too nice and I can’t beat the room service. I’ve adapted well (laughs). The only downside is my mom is an interior designer, and I have beautiful family pieces and fabrics-I miss some of my french chairs and having my personality in design because I love interior design. But, I’ll sacrifice that for room service.
Did anything surprise you filming this season?
Nothing really surprises me anymore. You put yourself out there-you’re open and honest with what you have to deal with. This season I’m emotional about a lot of things and getting through them. It’s never easy to think what you’ve said and done and look back at it, but it’s always [about] a learning lesson. At the end of the day, this show is about women who support women. We fight like crazy but we make up and help each other through the things that come at us.
Did you notice a shift in dynamic with Carole not there?
I do love Carole-towards the end we had a bit of a falling out, but I felt a good connection to her and a friendship. But, not having her there forced me to make friends elsewhere and connect with some of the girls I haven’t connected to as much.
Now that I’m in my third season, the girls know me better. I came into the series with girls that have been doing it for like, eleven years or so. It’s hard to be the new girl and break in with all of them. Also, I’m 43; I’m not young, but I'm the youngest one of the crowd. So, not only was I a newer girl, but I’m a younger girl-it puts me in a different world. I don’t have any children so I can’t relate to them with that, either-but none of us married so we have that.
Speaking of being single-do you have a favorite first date spot in the city?
I like Le Bilboquet. I know it’s been around for a while, but it’s a classic. I do love a hotel bar, too. Anywhere dark too is a great place to go. I haven’t dated that much in New York since I’ve been back.
You’ve seen New York shift a lot from what it used to be in terms of nightlife. What’s something you miss from the early days and something new you love?
I miss Bungalow 8. I totally miss Bungalow 8-old school Bungalow 8. And I really like Omar’s uptown. I think that’s fun. I’ll be honest too-I have fun at the Regency bar as well (laughs). It’s funny cause it’s become such a Housewives-y spot now, but I like it.
Ramona’s Mario appears in a few promos-what’s happening there? And are any other people coming back from the past?
I don’t know what’s going on between them-[but what I do know is] they have a lovely, smart daughter, so they will of course all be close in some way. Who knows-you never know what’s going to happen. I think it’s great that they can be out in public together and have a friendship together, and I think it’s wonderful for their family and daughter. Ramona’s hot to trot, though, so you can’t really slow her down.
What do you hope people take away from who you are this season?
First of all, the audience sometimes forgets that they’ve just been introduced to a castmate or someone on the show. You have to give them time to get to know them better. You can’t view them based on the other girls you know for so many more years. I think they met me at a time of my life when I was not myself and broken. Hopefully, people get to see a little bit more of who I really am and my actual personality. Life doesn’t always end up where you want it to go; you have to be an optimist and keep moving forward.
I also hope people know that I might be a little bit emotional about some things going on in my life, but that doesn’t mean that I’m whining. I’m going through it. If I put cameras on you every day, you’re gonna be emotional and nothing will be perfect. You have to allow people to be people. My storyline is my life. If it’s not interesting enough for you, that’s because it’s my life, and I’m focusing on what makes me happy.
The Real Housewives of New York City premieres tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT
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