Q&A with Terri Garber: North and South

Terri Garber as Ashton Main (North and South BookII)

One of the MAIN characters in North and South was Ashton Main; the evil little sister to Orry (Patrick Swayze) and older sister to Brett (Genie Francis).

Actress Terri Garber was one of the characters you loved to hate, yet at times you could not help but feel empathetic to her. She was strong, self serving and manipulative. She would seductively stop at nothing until she got what she wanted. But as in life her character had to eventually atone for all the things she had done.

I personally thought Terri Garber deserved an Emmy for her portrayal of this sassy southern bell.  

Ashton also had the BEST wardrobe of all the cast in my humble PROFashional opinion too. What a gal wouldn't do to get in that fantasy closet.

I caught up with Terri recently to take a trip down mini-series memory lane.

LG: Costumes - Can you explain the costuming process for NAS (North and South)? Were all the costumes designed for "Ashton" before hand? or did you have input into them? Who was the costumer/designer? 

TG: The basic costumes were done when we went into fittings then they added little things here and there while we were having them fitted.  We didn't have a say about what we did and did not like nor would I try to assume that stance.  The costumers were the best and I couldn't have been more pleased with what they created.  Chuck McClain, one of the exec. Producers, was in on the fittings and he would give his comments.  I trusted him implicitly so I knew I was going to look the part.

LG: Did you get to retain any of the costumes? (I saw one of Ashton's costumes recently sold ) Do you know where they are now?

TG: The only thing I kept was the beautiful little purple hat that Ashton wore when she went back to Mont Royal to show off.  Sadly, I don't know where it is right now.  

I have no idea what happened to the costumes since they were part of Western Costumes in Hollywood and they closed down several years ago.  I assume another costume house or Warner Bros. Has them.

LG: What was your favorite costume or costumes and why?

TG: There were so many beautiful costumes it would be dissimulation to choose from.  I loved the bright red one that Ashton wore with James to a ball.  The color and fit were perfect. 

I also loved a pink and white striped one because it was so demure and obviously worn to entice someone.  I could go on and on.

LG: Any fun stories the fans may enjoy from set? or can you share a find memory?

TG: In the south, there are these bugs nicknamed No-see-ums.  They were hard to see and loved to get into our wigs and costumes. Between each take we would take out a long teasing comb and dig it into our heads or bodices and poke away. 

LG: Are you surprised with NAS continued success and longevity?

TG: I'm not surprised the show has longevity.  I mean that was one hellav a cast.  The best of the best.  I mean, I actually got to meet Jimmy Stewart.  How cool is that?

Jimmy Stuart in NAS Book II

LG:  Would you be interested in participating in the new production?

TG: There is the part of Madame Conti that Elizabeth Taylor played in the original that interests me to play in the remake.  How perfect would that be???

Elizabeth Taylor as Madame Conti

LG: What have you been up to since the NAS days?

TG: NAS was a long time ago and thankfully, I've mostly been employed in the acting field.  I recently moved and got married so life continues to be wonderful and I'm so thankful.

Terri resides in Florida where she is still a working actress and 'tartist'. 

Check out her baked goods HERE

Terri pictured with her husband and daughter.

Connect with Terri on TWITTER

TV Time: North & South

I love that Blog's provide random people with a digital forum. My intent is to share what I love and what I do here. I feature celebrities that I adore, interesting products and experiences. My hope is to inspire and empower my reader in some way. It is also a forum for me to be self indulgent and highlight the things I enjoy and support. Since I was a little girl I have loved the mini-series North and South.  Some of my fondest memories with my mother and dearly departed grandmother was being able to stay up "late" on Sunday nights when it originally aired in my tiny little town in Ontario, Canada.

Elizabeth Taylor as Madame Conti and Philip Casnoff as Elkanah Bent.

I immediately fell in LOVE with the costumes and characters. Over the coming weeks I will explore the series, the costumes and cast of this epic series. I applaud it's historical accurateness and hope to share new insight into the series that I have adored for so many years. I have had the great pleasure of interviewing a few cast members and I am also on the hunt for the original costume pieces for future blog's in this feature series.

Did you know? Lionsgate Entertainment is partnered with Discovery Channel and is producing a re-make of this epic series. I'm hoping to obtain current details on the project.

The series is based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes.

 The series aired book 1 (leading up to the civil war) in 1985 and it remains the 7th highest rated miniseries of all time. Book II which covers the civil war aired in 1986 receiving critical acclaim with amazing performances by it's all star cast. The final installment, Book III - Heaven and Hell aired in 1994 to poor reviews. It covered the post civil war era.

If you have not seen it here is a synopsis of the show: "The saga tells the story of the enduring friendship between Orry Main of South Carolina (Patrick Swayze) and George Hazard of Pennsylvania (James Read), who become best friends while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point but later find themselves and their families on opposite sides of the war. The slave-owning Mains are rural planters, while the Hazards, who resided in a small Northern mill town, live by manufacturing and industry, their differences reflecting the divisions between North and South that eventually led to the Civil War." Source

Did you watch the series? or Read the books?