Rebecca Herbst (Liz on GH) deflowers her good-girl image with a complex turn as Barbi Benton in USA's "Hefner: Unauthorized." Dumping Elizabeth's sun dresses for Barbi's provocative lingerie is exactly what the Emmy nominated actress had hoped to pursue for her first project away from Port Charles waterfronts. However, being able to flip flop personas wasn't the only reason behind Herbst's enthusiasm for the Hefner project.
"Its a true story and I'm very interested in true stories," explains Herbst about her choice to do this film on Playboy originator Hugh Hefner. "I also liked that I got through the entire script without seeing ‘As the young girl runs through the woods in her thong bikini....'
This is what so many of the scripts I get these days contain because of the age group I'm in. So, it was great to read one that didn't have nudity." While Herbst remains covered throughout the film, playing one of Hefner's early lovers did require some suggestive scenes in the bedroom.
"Yes, I had my first love scene," admits Herbst. "Randall (Batinkoff Hefner) wore pajama bottoms and I had on like the ‘40s-style bathing suit that cut down on the thighs and it was strapless on top."
Herbst even recieved an education in movie magic: Romance ambiance is not a criteria for making love on screen. "Randall was supposed to roll over on me like we had just finished (making love)," begins the actress, "but everytime he did, he would take the sheet with him. So, they had to have people on both sides of the bed, holding the sheets down."
Like most actors, Herbst juggles her GH gig iwth "Hefner." Sleep deorivation aside, the excitment of doing something "new" allowed the affable actress to maintain her high energy most of the time. "I'd come home exhausted and say to my sister,'Jennifer, I've worked three weeks ina row. I can't believe it!!'" remember Herbst with a laugh. "And Jennifer would be like,'What are you talking about? That's life!'"
Besides having gained insight into the workers five day labor pains, Herbst also claims to have learned a lot about the film's sunject, who has been labeled a promiscuous entre preneur by most people. "Who everybody thinks Hugh Hefner is .... he is ," confess a candid Herbst. "But he is also a smart man who wanted to shock the world and do something different. He thought that the naked body was beautiful enough to be explored."
With one project completed, Herbst is already auditioning for others to add to her diverse resume. But don't expect a Playboy cewnterfold to be one of them.
"I'd never do something that I wouldn't want my dad to see," she explains. "When I get my house, I'd love to have a picture taken of my naked back coming out of a lake with waterfalls. I think that is cool. But I'm not going to publish it in a magazine." Fans wouldn't expect anything less from their favorite daytime darling. "Hefner: Unauthorized" premieres on USA Network on December 12.
Rebecca Herbst (Liz on GH) deflowers her good-girl image with a complex turn as Barbi Benton in USA's "Hefner: Unauthorized." Dumping Elizabeth's sun dresses for Barbi's provocative lingerie is exactly what the Emmy nominated actress had hoped to pursue for her first project away from Port Charles waterfronts. However, being able to flip flop personas wasn't the only reason behind Herbst's enthusiasm for the Hefner project.
"I'd come home exhausted and say to my sister,'Jennifer, I've worked three weeks ina row. I can't believe it!!'" remember Herbst with a laugh. "And Jennifer would be like,'What are you talking about? That's life!'"