Donna Feldman InterviewCalifornia based model Donna Feldman, with her sultry eyes and brilliant dark hair on her shapely 5'10'' hot curved body - is everywhere. She is the hot babe that seduces Enrique Iglesias in his music video "Tired of Being Sorry", she played Gloria on Fashion House and soon you'll see her starring in a new Adam Sandler movie. She is a versatile model, who can easily convey a complex web of looks - from Editorial to Commercial.Author: Jonathan.L - owner Models Observer October 2007 | |
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* Donna, how are you? Thanks for participating!
Donna Feldman: I'm wonderful! Thanks for having me on your great site. So far it's been the best year yet for me! * So, what influenced you to choose your career? At what point did you choose it? Donna Feldman: I was approached throughout highschool but parents had bad experience when my older sister was trying to get into the industry so I focused on school. Then when I was studying fashion marketing/business management at FIDM in Los Angeles I thought a good way to netowrk with designers and also make extra money was to become a fit model for different companies like Lucky Brand jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Anne Cole simwear, Nautica, etc.. and then it grew from there. I had an agent who started sending me out for print work and then that lead to commercials and then eventually to acting as well. It's been 6 years now and honestly each year has been better than the last! I must say that hard work does pay off! |
 Donna Feldman. |
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* Currently we can see you as the lead in the Enrique Iglesias' music video for "Tired of Being Sorry". What were your
experiences like working with Enrique? What was it like to play the
seductress/vampire?
Donna Feldman: Enrique is extremely professional and I was impressed that nobody had to give him any direction at all! He kind of reminded me of myself because he seemed to be perfectionist and very hard worker who wanted his work to look the best possible. Playing the seductress is a role I'm quite familiar with, but I certainly have never played a vampire so that was very fun! How often does a girl get paid to seduce Enrique Iglesias and bite on his neck? It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it! (smiles). * You work in an incredibly competitive market. What are your winning strategy and tactics for staying prominently one of the most coveted talents in LA? What are their costs and benefits? Donna Feldman: With more experience comes more knowledge and I have learned very quickly. I learned right away that producers/directors who want to "network" at night are much more interested in getting in your pants. Business hours are 9-5 and that's what I stick to! The next thing that I've learned which has helped so much is not to take things personally. If I don't get the job, it doesn't mean that I'm not attractive and should just give up. It means that I wasn't right for that particular role or ad campaign. Perhaps they were looking for a blonde or redhead that day... you never know! Just keep smiling and stay positive! The other thing I've learned which has given me an advantage is not to be a diva on the job. Always be pleasant, don't complain, and always thank the photographer, directore, etc.. and let them know you had a great time working with them, get their business card, and stay in touch! I've learned the importance of following up with people, staying in touch, and doing a lot of my own networking. An agent can only do so much. You have to make sure that you leave a good impression and that they remember you so that next time they are booking a job your name comes when they can recommend someone to work with! Lastly I have learned that this business can make you a very self conscious person, but the more you focus on yourself and not compare yourself to others, the more you will succeed! Take advantage of your market and run with it! I might not be the best candidate for a Prada campaign where they're looking to hire an anoriexic looking model, but I'm definetly a candidate for any high end jewelry line, cosmetics, haircare, lingerie, jeans campaign, etc.. so instead of focusing on why I'm not getting certain jobs that toothpick looking models get, I focus on what my market is..and do the best I can with it! So far that way of thinking has been working out quite well! * What can make you feel more motivated? Is there any secret? Any magic recipe? Donna Feldman: What makes me more motivated is the traveling involved, the great pay, and the fanmail I get from around the world! The traveling aspect by far is the best part for me. This is certainly a tough business but the more jobs I get where I get to travel and meet new people,experience new clutures, the more I appreciate what I do for a living and it motivates me to work harder. * What has been your most rewarding accomplishment so far? Donna Feldman: My most rewarding accomplishment so far has been the tv show Fashion House because it opened up new doors for me. I never wanted to become a serious actress but it was the first pilot I ever tried out for and I landed it!I was a series regular shooting 65 episodes in 13 weeks! I was very tough for me. You can compare it to an acting bootcamp, a wonderful learning experience and it's only lead to more work, more exposure, and opened the door into the acting world which I absolutely love! * If you could make your "dream movie", who would you want to direct and produce the movie? And what would the story line be? Donna Feldman: I would most definetly want to create a new Bond movie where I play the lead female. I would love for the storyline to involve lots of action, adventure, mystery, and sexual tension. Daniel Craig is doing a great job so I would play alongside him and it would be an interesting change to have someone like Steven speilberg direct it. * What has been your favorite role till date? Donna Feldman: My favorite role has been playing Gloria on Fashion House because she is the complete opposite of me. It's fun to put yourself in someone else's shoes and experience emotions and life experiences that you will never go through in your real life. Playing the trouble maker is much more fun than playing the good girl because I'm already so good in my own life. It's fun to stir things up when you're playing a character. * This summer you were officially placed on the "100 Sexiest Women in the World List" coming in at #17 in FHM South Africa. And this wasn't the first time you were chosen as one of the sexiest women alive. Two years earlier, Maxim Magazine included you in the annual Hot 100 List of 2005. How do accomplishments such as those feel? Donna Feldman: They feel unreal. They feel amazing and so flattering of course! Who would've though that the akward tall girl with braces that got teased by boys would be voted on these lists. It's funny and unbelievable at the same time. 
* In practical terms, how did these rankings influence your work and strengthen your brand name? Donna Feldman: These lists are wonderful for strengthening my brand name. A lot of people in the entertainment industry look at those things to see who is up and coming, who they should look out for, who they should cast that the public is taking notice of. It is great for agent and publicist to be put that info in a press kit, etc. It can only lead to more bookings and further your career in my opinion. * Give us a little insight on Adam Sandler new movie "You Don't Mess With the Zohan". How were you offered the role of "Michal?" Who is "Michal"? Donna Feldman: Adam Sandler happened to be looking through my layout in Stuff magazine and thought I might be able to pull off playing an Israeli girl. My parents grew up in Israel and Hebrew was my first language so it couldn't have been more perfect. His production company got a hold of my agent and I went in to meet with them and they liked me so much that they had me meet Adam that same day and we hit it off. Him and I had a great talk, lots of laughs, and took it from there. I read for various parts in his new movie and ended up with the role of Michal. Michal is in his group of friends and the movie takes place in Israel. He plays an Israeli Mossad agent whose dream is to move to Ny and become a hairdresser. It's out of control hilarious and I'm so happy to be involved with the project. * What is the craziest thing you have ever done? Donna Feldman: The craziest thing I've ever done is take my brothers car out for a drive before having a drivers license. My parents were out of town and I thought I could get away with it. I was in for a big shocker. They came home early! Just as I was pulling up to the driveway, they were staring right back at me waiting for me! It was a nightmare. * Who is your ideal man? Do you think an icon as you can fall in love with an anonymous guy? Donna Feldman: My ideal man would be my best friend. He would be someone I could tell all my secrets to, all my insecurities to, and he still wouldn't judge me. My ideal man would be funny and honest and loyal and passionate and stylish and well traveled and family oriented and smart and business minded. Could I fall in love with an anonymous guy? My boyfriend is not in the industry and it's a wonderful thing! So my answer is most definitely yes! * What do you like to do in your free time? Donna Feldman: TRAVEL! I love seeing the world and going on vacation, laying on the beach, relaxing, shopping, listening to great music, dancing, eating wonderful food, and amazing desserts! * What specific goals, including those related to your occupation, have you established for your life? Donna Feldman: I have many goals. I would love further my acting career and do many movies, tv shows, etc. I would love to do campaign in the next year or 2 for BEBE, Guess/Marciano, Revlon, etc. Also appearing in Sports Illustrated, more magazine covers worldwide, have endorsement deals and many more tv commercials. Basically, my goal is for Donna Feldman to be a brand. At that point I will combine my degree in fashion marketing/business mgmnt with the certificate I have in professional makeup and eventually launch my own line of cosmetics. For my personal life I plan on one day having an amazing marriage and children. I plan on traveling with them and showing them different parts of the world, learning new languages, educating them and myself on different cultures, and spending quality time with the people that are most important to me. In the meantime you can always see what's new in my world by visiting www.donnafeldman.net/main. 
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