Dinah Lenney, author of Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir and a writing teacher at USC, was born in New York City and moved to Los Angeles 25 years ago. “It took me a while to get used to things,” she said. “But I think transplants are proprietary about L.A. We’re proud of it.” Below, Lenney, who played Nurse Shirley on “ER” for 15 years, tells us more about herself.
Q. What is the last habit you tried to kick?
A. Popcorn.
Q. Who was your childhood hero?
A. Rosalind Russell.
Q. What do you consider to be the greatest simple pleasure?
A. Peanut butter.
Q. Where would we find you at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning?
A. In Elysian Park.
Q. What do you do to clear your mind?
A. I walk.
Q. What music have you listened to today?
A. The Rolling Stones.
Q. What is your favorite word?
A. Contemplate.
Q. If you could take only one more journey, where would you go?
A. I don’t think I’d go anywhere.
Q. What profession would you like to practice in your next life?
A. I’d like to be an actor.
Q. Whose talent would you like to have?
A. Virginia Woolf’s.
Q. Who is the one person living or dead you would most like to meet for dinner?
A. Virginia Woolf.
To read about Lenney’s interview with Meghan Daum, click here.
*Photo by Aaron Salcido.
