Coif-y Talk
Soap Opera Digest
June 15, 2004
by Russell Patrick Latham
Ever since GUIDING LIGHT's Laura Wright (Cassie) cut her trademark flowing tresses in 2003, Digest has been deluged with letters and e-mails from readers wanting to copy her style. Here, Wright reflects on her transformation and even reveals the name of her salon, so before dashing off another desperate missive to "Star Style," read on....
Soap Opera Digest: Why did you cut so much of your hair off?
Laura Wright: I've wanted to do it forever! Everyone - the producer, even my father - was always telling me that the best thing about me was my hair. "You can never cut your hair." "Oh, I wish had your hair." And that always made me want to go, "Oh. yeah?! I'm not just about hair. I can cut my hair and still look good!" For the past five years, I've really wanted to cut it. Former Executive Producer Paul Rauch was not going to let me cut my hair. [Procter & Gamble's Executive In Charge Of Production] Mickey Dwyer-Dobbin wouldn't let me cut my hair. And then [then-Executive Producer] John Conboy comes on the scene and I went down and asked him if I could cut my hair. He looked at me as if I was insane. And then I begged him; I said. "No one would ever let me cut my hair, and I just thought that you would," in a very little girl, whiny voice. John then looked at me and said, "Only if we can write it in." I took him the cover of Allure with Meg Ryan on it. And he hated it. I said, "Well. I love it! Don't you want to make me happy?" John said he needed to think about it and talk to the writers. Then, he called me in a week and asked me when I wanted to do it.... We cut it off on-air! We had this great actor who was playing a hairdresser.
Digest: Actor? Hello!? I was available! Why didn't they call me?
Wright: I dont know, Russell! Anyway, Cassie goes, "Out with the old, in with the new, and he took one small piece and cut it all the way off. We cut the scene there. I ran downstairs and [GL Hairstylist] Christine Fennell did the real haircut.
Digest: What have all the naysayers said?
Wright: My husband says he likes it. But what the hell is he going to say [laughs]?!
Digest: What are you doing color-wise these days?
Wright: I go to Peter Coppola on 65th and Madison [in New York City] and Mel colors my hair- he's awesome! He does my highlights. I don't do anything to the back at all, so it's dark back there, and blonde with blonde streaks in front and on the top.
Digest: Do you ever miss flinging the hair?
Wright: Not for a second. I love my short hair. I love everything thing about it. I love who I am now. It kind of goes with my life, though. I'm a different person. Cutting the hair was like getting rid of "stuff." We constantly grow. We constantly learn. And especially when you have children, then you're going through every stage with your kids when they change - and it's even less about you. I think that cutting my hair kind of pushed me into the next stage of my life.
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