Tiffani Thiessen of the USA network series White Collar!

During our visit to the set of "White Collar" PCM was able to catch up with actress Tiffani Thiessen, who plays the character of Elizabeth Burke wife of FBI agent Peter Burke. Tiffiani spent some time during our in-depth Q&A session to give her thoughts on the series, the audition process, and why she won't be returning to 90210!

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Check out our interview with Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay and Willie Garson!

When asked about the audition process Tiffani states when she first auditioned for the role of Elizabeth the role of Peter had not been cast yet, so the casting directors were holding off on until Peter had been cast before trying to fill the role of his wife...

" So, they finally cast the role of Peter with Tim DeKay, which I was ecstatic about because I have been a fan of Tim's for a very, very long time. And so I remember calling my agent going, "Okay. So, what's happening?"
He's like, "Well, they kind of wanted to go in a different direction. They're going to start seeing-and these are the people that-the girls that they're testing for." And they were literally testing girls five years younger than I was. And I was like, "Okay, this is interesting."I mean, you know, Tim and I already have a little bit of an age difference, but like you put another five years. And I go, "That seems strange."

So, I guess, you know, and Tim can be the person to say this, which I am sure he has told you, I guess they went through a lot of different girls, a lot of young girls. He said like most of these girls, they could've been his daughter. Like he was like, he could not believe it. And so they finally came back. I got a phone call like a couple months later and they were like, "We want you to do a chemistry read with Tim DeKay."And I was like, "Yes. It's back on!"

I went in. We had chemistry from day one. He's an amazing actor, and he's such a great guy, as you guys, I'm sure, got to see. And I went in, tested for it once. And there's a very funny story with USA that it takes USA a very long time to make a decision on somebody. And I think I broke the record because I got the call three hours later that I got the job."

Tiffani claims she is best able to relate to her character because:

" Well, I think just myself, you know, being married. I've been married almost four and a half years now. And it's a relationship that I know-you know a lot of times on TV, and even movies, you see these relationships that don't work. It's always about the ones that don't work.

It's nice to see a relationship on TV that does work, and they've been together for a long time. And they really do have each other's best interest at heart. "
Tiffani goes on to talk about how the character of Elizabeth was originally supposed to work the job of an accountant, however no one wanted the character to be stuck in a office environment, so the idea was brought to the table the she was an event planner. Tiffani thought "what better way to show even more of the City? And secretly I've always wanted to be one."

Tiffani has also tried out her directing chops with the HBO series Hung; she shares her thoughts on the possibility of directing an episode of White Collar:

" Oh, absolutely! I wouldn't say no, absolutely not. I mean I would love to. First seasons are always the hardest to kind of get your feet wet with everybody that's on the show and stuff like that. So, I would love to. They know my interest. I would absolutely love to.
And, yes, Hung, I was actually supposed to shoot the end of this year. But now that I'm shooting this show, it's got pushed back. "

Throughout her career Tiffiani has played a variety of roles and it almost seems as if we have watched her grow-up on the screen from the sweet and innocent Kelly Kapowski on Saved By The Bell to the conniving Valerie on 90210, to now playing the wonderful and supportive wife on White Collar. Tiffiani shares her thoughts on type-casting and stereotypes:

" I think we all, as actors, fear that. I think there's always going to be a little bit of that no matter what. But I think, yes, when I read the script, I was automatically like really into the script and the role.
Like I had mentioned, I think one of the first questions was, just being that I'm finally playing somebody more of myself, which I really kind of liked, and kind of honing in on something that was a little more closer to home for me. "

Tiffani claims she was able to bring a whole new energy to the character of Elizabeth because she does not see herself as a nine to five girl and did not want Elizabeth to be caught in that type of world. Peter does not have a nine to five job, especially when is running around dealing with Neil's antics, so taking the character of Elizabeth out of that box was a good idea all around, definitely seems to make their relationship more relatable.

Tiffani Thiessen, who is now starring on her third successful television show, White Collar, as Elizabeth, the wife of FBI agent Peter Burke, and most recently filling the role of new mom, is perhaps most recognizably from her starring roles on Saved by the Bell and 90210.

In fact, she almost didn't get the role on White Collar because her look was too young.

"I went in and I read the script and absolutely fell in love with it and just really was adamant about wanting to do everything I could possible to try and get the job. I was put on what they call a short list, but they wanted to cast the husband first, which they hadn't found Tim yet.

I think about a month or two goes by and they finally cast Tim, and so I was waiting to get that phone call again to come back in, and what they do is like a chemistry read. I never got the call, and so I called my agent and I was like "Whatever happened to White Collar, that show? I was supposedly on the short list." And they said, "Oh, they actually wanted to go a different route. They thought you were too young." Then I started hearing some of the girls that were actually going in and auditioning with Tim and they were actually younger than I was. So I was like, wait a minute, that doesn't sound right.

So I actually thought I lost the job, but then supposedly they never found the girl, they were definitely trying to go younger and it didn't work, and so they called me back again. I did a chemistry read with Tim and we totally hit it off, and I knew it was my job, I knew I was going to get it, I had a feeling in my gut, and I did."

When PCM's Caitlin asked her whether she felt like it was hard to break away from her well-known youthful teen image, Tiffani replied, "I think you hit the nail on the head."

"I think that's exactly what people think of me at first. Because it was funny, when I auditioned for it and then to hear that they were actually bringing in girls that were younger than I was, I think people tend to forget how old I am, and maybe it's my good genes, knock on wood, I hope that's part of it too. I don't know." Tiffani explained.

"I'm 36 years old. I'm not in my 20s anymore, let alone my teens. But I think you're right." Tiffani agreed. "I think when you have a successful show, and thankfully so far I've had two and going on my third, that people sometimes have a hard time taking you out of that once it's over. But I worked really hard to get it and luckily I won the job. I won them over."

But Tiffani also sees the growing opportunities there are in the past decade for women in their 30s. "I think there's definitely much more in 30s and 40s both. I think you're starting to find people really seeing that - here's the thing. It's hard for me to say and know the experience how it was ten, twenty years ago because I was only in my teens and my 20s, but I know from watching TV myself and watching film myself I see a lot more 30s and 40s on screen, which just makes me very, very happy. It's what we should be watching."

Speaking of watching TV, when Caitlin asked Tiffani whether she watched White Collar herself, the immediate answer was yes. "It's funny, it's actually a show that I would normally watch even if I wasn't on it. It's the kind of TV that I absolutely love. It's the type of films that I go and see. I'm a total James Bond fan," Tiffani divulged. "I love the buddy cop films. I love when you have shows and film that have the combination between comedy and drama and suspense, and to me when you have something that has all of that it really makes for good entertainment."

And she certainly thinks that good entertainment is consistently found on USA Network. "This is the first time I've ever gotten to work for a cable network, and they've been one of the most passionate networks for their shows that I've ever worked with, and I've been doing this for 26, 27 years. I hate saying that sometimes. But yes, they're so extremely passionate and very connected to their actors and their writers and their shows. You can see it on screen."

She particularly loves her character Elizabeth. "I think probably the biggest thing that I was drawn to her character, even from the beginning when I read the script and even more so now that we've gotten to know her a lot more on the show is that she plays a woman that I strive to be every day."

"She really is a woman who takes her marriage, it's very important to her and her relationship with her husband and her home life, but as well really balances her career," Tiffani elaborates, "And I strive to do that every single day of my life, and now that I add the title "Mother" to it it's even more so."

"She's very diplomatic, which I really like. She's very reasonable. She seems to be a person that has a sense of knowing where to go down the middle when she's helping the relationship between Peter and Neal, and I like that about her a lot. She's almost like a little therapist or something." Tiffani continues, "I really admire her a lot."

But when asked whether she often improvised, her answer was slightly surprising. "Here's the thing, the funny thing is that the scripts are so good that we really don't need to actually change anything. But I will say our writers are very open to our ideas and even on the day when we're shooting and if we're playing around a little bit, they're all always very cool about that. It's very collaborative."

As for this season, it's already started off quite differently from the first season. "I just gave birth five weeks ago, almost five weeks ago, so I actually have been away," She points out. "What we did was because I couldn't travel or fly because I was really, really pregnant when the season started, we actually ended up shooting, which I'm sure you might have seen on the premiere episode this season, my one scene, a lot of those episodes in the first six episodes I shot here in Los Angeles on a studio with a green screen behind me. I couldn't be right in New York City to shoot with the rest of the cast."

(Feb. 13, 2008) PCM's Melissa got the opportunity to speak with 15-year-old hip-hop artist Tiffany Evans. This young charismatic singer beat out American Idol's David Archuleta on Star Search and got signed to a major record label all when she was only 10-years-old! For more information on Tiffany check out her MySpace Page and her Official Site!

M: Hi! This is Melissa at Pop Culture Madness. How are you?

Tiffany Evans: I'm good. How are you?

M: I'm great! Thank you. So, do you have a long day of interviews ahead of you?

TE: Oh, well, yes. It has been. I've been working so hard. (laughing) But this is the last one I think.

M: Oh really! Well, good. Okay. Save the best for last. (laughing) So then, lets get right into things. I read online that you have nine siblings. What is it like to grow up with so many brothers and sisters?

TE: Oh, wow! Hard. (laughing) It's really fun. The house is always alive, you, know? It's really cool, like we're not selfish. If I had been an only child I probably would have been a little selfish, but since I have a lot of brothers and sisters, we're just so tight. I just love being around my family. They're all really sweet, and we're all musically inclined.

M: Where do you fall in between them? Are you like in the middle or the oldest?

TE: I'd be lucky number seven.

M: Lucky number seven!

TE: Yes, lucky number seven! I know. It's a good number.

M: It is a good number. So, what got you interested in music?

TE: Well, I kind of think that I was two, after I saw Whitney Houston singing "I Will Always Love You." I really loved… I fell in love with her after that, and she is like my inspiration and she actually made me want to start singing and making this out to be my career.

M: Two seems pretty young to be thinking about a career. (laughing)

T: (laughing) I know it seems weird that I say two, but some kids are talking like at two years old.

M: That's true. Who else would you say is your musical inspiration aside from Whitney?

TE: Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, The Temptations, Otis Redding. Really a lot of the old artists. I feel like their music was the best music, and they paved the way for us to be here now. When you hear them sing it's like they're singing with so much passion, and even if they weren't going through it, (laughing) you felt like they were going through it, and it was just amazing how they just brought a song to life, you know?

M: I completely agree with you. Would you say that you try to mimic them in your music or have you developed your own style?

TE: Oh, most definitely! Listening to them I almost mimic them in my music sometimes. I might get a little chance to just go off and do a little Otis Redding or my little Fitzgerald or something like that, but I definitely have my own unique sound as well.

M: I read that you won the Juniors Singers Division of Star Search.

TE: That's back when I was ten.

M: Would you say that led to your contract with Colombia Records?

TE: Yes. I got signed right after that.

M: That must have been really exciting for you, right? For a ten year old to get a contract.

TE: Yes, that was very exciting to me. Everything was happening so fast. I did the Oprah Show twice, and, you know, just a bunch of shows and everything was just coming quickly at me, so it was overwhelming.

M: You're planning to release your new self-titled album soon, and I read that you worked with Ciara on one of your songs?

TE: Yes. Promise Ring.

M: How was that like to work with her?

TE: Oh, she is really cool! She is an amazing person. She is just so sweet and fun and just working with her just opened a lot of doors for me, so she is really cool.

M: That's great.

TE: Yep, and the whole album comes out April 22nd, so look out for that!

M: Ok. I definitely will! So, how are you handling being a teenager with your singing career?

TE: Well, basically it is…Well I don't really know what fifteen is like. I would say that I really don't know what fifteen is like, but I will say that since I have brothers and sisters they keep me youthful. It's really hard, because, you know, I have made a lot of sacrifices and this job is not the easiest in the world and it doesn't come easy, but I love doing it and anybody that is doing this now you have to love doing it. If you don't love doing it, then I don't see how anybody could deal with it, but it's something that I'm happy with doing and sometimes it gets hard, but I still love it though.

M: It certainly seems that you have a passion for music and that you have a strong head on your shoulders.

TE: Definitely. Thank you.

M: So, you are almost sixteen right?

TE: Yep. This year.

M: Are you planning on getting a car?

TE: You know what? I thought about that. I am going to tell you, my mother is forcing me to have a party and she is like "Yeah. We are going to get you a car and have a party." And I'm like "I don't want a party. I just want a car and I just want to go and leave you guys and drive my life away," (laughing) But basically I would get a car, but I'd rather wait until the top of next year, because I feel like my brother, he might total the car.

M: Oh, okay. (laughing)

TE: I feel like he might crash it, so I don't want anything to do with him messing up my car. I'm going to wait until the top of next year, when I am able to get away from him, get the car, and drive.

M: So, do you have plans to go on tour?

TE: Definitely. I am getting ready to promote the new single "I'm Grown" and after the album comes out a bunch of summer tours. So, get ready for that. You just have to keep your ears open and your eyes glued.

M: Okay, I definitely will. So, how does the experience of performing live compare to recording your album in the studio?

TE: Because it just brings everything to life. It is just cool to perform your songs in front of people and actually see the reaction, and the hype is amazing. I feel like an album it does you justice, but not as much as you performing the record live.

M: You think you prefer performing live to recording?

TE: Absolutely! I mean, we'll cut the album and listen to it, and then when you come see me in concert it is much better, because it is like woah, okay, this is the real deal. It's live and it is fresh and it's cool.

M: Right. And the passion, like, comes through better.

TE: Yeah, and then you get to sing for that person, whatever you want to do it's the hype in everything that comes out in the live shows.

M: So, you have some experience in TV and film. Is that something you are interested in pursuing more?

TE: Most definitely! I love acting, and I definitely want to make acting a big part of my career, as well and so I'm really… I am going to venture off into that area and show you guys the acting side of me.

M: Well, that should be exciting to see. You're very charismatic! I checked out your MySpace page. How involved are you in maintaining your page?

TE: Oh, I love MySpace. I do MySpace every other, well I can't really say every other day. I go on MySpace when I get the chance, but I gotta update my layout soon. I just needed to say that. I gotta update my layout, but I love MySpace, and I am very involved with it. I like talking to my fans and keeping in touch with them.

M: Yeah! So, I was going to ask you feel that you are involved with your fans? Do you try to respond to their posts?

TE: Yep! I want them to feel like I'm accessible, you know? I want them to feel like they can reach me. They can even talk to me. You know what? Everybody, like the girls, all the young girls and all the older girls they'll be like "Hey sis!" and they don't know me, but they'll cal me sis. The MySpace sister! So, it's really cool that I get to have that relationship with my fans.

M: Can you tell our readers one interesting fact about yourself that we wouldn't already know?

TE: That I'm weird.

M: That your weird? How are you weird?

TE: Like, I am just very weird. I don't like eating in front of people. I am very shy to order my food.

M: (laughing) Does it like embarrass you for people to know that you have to eat sometimes?

TE: Yeah. I don't know. I am just a very…I'm not shy, but I am shy when it comes to food, because I know I eat a lot and everything. So, I am very weird and I have a big mouth.

M: Okay. Wait. Your shy and you have a big mouth?

TE: Yes. I am shy and I have a big mouth. See, I am very weird.

M: That is weird.

TE: I have a very big mouth. Sometimes, when I whisper, its not really whispering, because my mouth is big, and I'm so loud, so I just don't whisper.

M: So everyone hears your secrets?

TE: Yeah, and stuff like that. I am very goofy and like to crack jokes.

M: You seem like you'd be very fun to hang out with, so I can understand why you have such a strong following on MySpace.

TE: Of course, I'm a partier. (laughing)

M: Where do you see the future of your career heading in the next coming months?

TE: God willing, a couple Grammy's later. A million records later, and just, you know, doing what I do best and being recognized for it and just reaching my goals. All of my goals, and that's to win a Grammy and win a bunch of awards, and show what I can do.

M: Those are very admirable goals and we wish you all the best here.

TE: Thank you so much!

M: It was very great talking to you. You are a very charming young lady, and I think you are going to have a very successful career.

TE: Thank you so much and God Bless you, Sweetheart.

M: Thank you. Have a great afternoon.

TE: Later!